What a nightmare spinning class taught me about business growth
I had heard about spinning for years and assumed it would snap me in two and spit me out. This had kept me out of the fray for years, until finally, I decided to give it a go.
My suspicions were confirmed.
I walked into the dimly lit studio, illuminated in dark red lights, and found my bike.
Well actually I didn't find my bike.
Someone found it for me because NEWSFLASH I am over 35 and I might as well have been walking through a cave, or traversing the floor of the ocean.
For some reason we are all assigned bikes, which I have yet to understand the purpose behind, but WHATEVER.
I am trying to go with the flow.
The instructor's name is also Laura.
She's also blonde.
That's where our similarities end.
I imagine that she's the younger, hotter version of what I could never be.
I make up stories about Laura.
I assume she's probably lived in an ashram and gets up at 5am and drinks green juice before hearing her doorbell ring and seeing a line of men falling at her feet.
Also, she's very nice.
She helps me set up my bike.
I had been given the option of renting a cushy bike pad for $3 prior to the class starting, but I brushed this off.
I have all the cushioning I need BUILT IN.
This was a miscalculation on my part. But we'll get there.
Laura mentions that the heat is still on from the hot yoga class that was in the room prior. And she decides to keep it on.
But we can let her know if it's too hot.
IT'S TOO HOT and I haven't even begun moving.
I'm sure my cycling furiously in 95 degree heat with no air is going to be fantastic.
The class begins.
Laura is at the front of the room on her own bike, giving us commands and pedaling away as we lift ourselves off the seat to pedal, lower back down, bend side to side and raise our arms up and down in hand motions best suited for synchronized swimmers WHILE PEDALING, increase tension on the bike, decrease tension and go faster, faster, FASTER.
We have been given a towel, but about 15 minutes into this, my towel now resembles a wet mop.
It has lost all ability to clean up my sweat and is now functioning to just spread it all over my body.
Also, I have realized two things:
1. Laura informs us that was just the warmup and now we are ready to really get going.
2. I wonder if anyone in here knows CPR.
I am so covered in sweat that the weight of the sweat had actually distended the shape of my oversized tank top, which is primarily pooling around my stomach and is no longer covering my sports bra.
So I'm basically tits out for the next 45 minutes.
Laura tells us we are going to do a sprint. We are supposed to pedal as fast as we can and to keep challenging ourselves.
3
2
1
Sprint!
And I pedal, pedal, pedal and experience a sensation I've never felt before.
My legs are moving so fast that my fat cannot keep up.
My thighs are literally flapping around at a different speed, as my fat attempts to reach an event horizon where it just is flung clear off my legs.
Unfortunately, this does not happen.
Laura gives us several breaks through the course of the class.
I use these to try and remember if I can self-administer CPR.
I stare at other class members and realize that I am the only one who had to grab multiple towels to mop up myself and my bike and can no longer read the computer readout attached to my bike because I am inclined to drip all over it.
Laura looks dewey and fresh.
I begin to wonder if it's possible to slip off the bike, because my bottom is so wet, I'm having trouble staying mounted on the seat.
ALSO, my lady parts begins to hurt.
About 40 minutes in, I begin to feel increasingly uncomfortable as the tip of the seat seems to be attempting to shove its hard nose into me.
I feel like I'm being assaulted by the seat and keep chanting in my head, "NO MEANS NO!"
It hurts too much to sit, so I take to standing over the bike as much as possible.
But given that I can no longer feel my legs, this poses a unique set of challenges.
The only benefit to how heavily I have been sweating is that my soaking wet clothes are now cooling me down.
I'm pretty sure everything needs to be burned.
"Three more songs til cool down!" Laura exclaims.
She looks so happy.
We have been listening to the Top 40 and I begin to pray that Rihanna sings faster.
We begin the cool down, but are still pedaling, so this seems like a total bait and switch.
I finally melt off the bike.
There just aren't enough wet wipes to clean this up.
My Fitbit records that I've burned 800 calories. That seems low.
I waddle to the car, put a blanket over the seat, and head home in search of a glass of wine and ice pack.
Why am I sharing this story with you?
Because it probably made you laugh, and we could all use more laughter.
Anything that’s different or a new challenge is going to seem hard, bewildering, confusing and maybe throw us for a loop at first! THAT’S NORMAL.
At first, everyone is going to look better than you, popping wheelies like they’re no big deal, while you’re still learning how to ride the bike!
Don’t give up.
I didn’t.
Not in business and not in spinning.
That story I told you? That first spinning class was four years ago.
I didn’t give up, probably because I’m a stickler for a challenge.
Laura and I became friends and I came to love her enthusiasm and support.
In business, I’ve spent months and years learning, growing and refining my business. THAT’S NORMAL.
But you don’t have to go it alone.
Everyone needs a Laura in their life. Whether she’s a spinning instructor or a business coach. Find someone who is ahead on the journey to show you the path.
It makes all the difference.
Laura Khalil is a business coach and advisor that helps entrepreneurial women work only with clients they love and double their revenue. See how easy it can be to double your revenue in the ten minutes.
She has consulted for some of the world’s most recognizable brands on marketing including GE, Intel and Twitter. She is host the Top 125 Apple Podcast, Brave by Design. She is a frequent speaker to audiences on personal branding, bravery and clear communication. She’s spoken at WeWork, Paylocity, Creative Mornings, Zingtrain and more.
