MariaRomaine.com
Maria Romaine, 26, Fitness Instructor, Indianapolis, Indiana
Why do you Spin? I teach Spinning (and attend) because it’s the BEST high intensity workout while still being easy on the joints, while being great training for outdoor biking (another love).
How long have you been Spinning? 7 years
Do you compete? I compete in outdoor biking (triathlons, 100 mile races), so attending Spin and teaching Spin aligns with those goals.
Most challenging aspect of Spinning: The most challenging part about attending a Spin class is forcing yourself to get out of your own way, and instead make the most of every interval, pushing yourself as hard as you can for an hour – even though your physically sitting in one place.
Most fun aspect of Spinning: I LOVE the dark room, awesome loud music, similar crazy adrenaline sucking people. It’s a party!
Most rewarding aspect: The most rewarding aspect of Spinning is the amazing high of pushing as hard as you could, all along to the beat of head escaping music, and looking down at how many calories you burned, or watts you maintained, or miles biked. Its knowing you did it with a room full of people who are similarly gasping for air like you are. Triumph and community – can’t beat it.
Who/what inspires you when you’re feeling weak? When I’m feeling weak or less than motivated, especially when I teach, I like to look out to the room and realize that if someone’s dragging, including myself, it’s on me. I can’t be drained, or mediocre; it’s on me to pick up the energy in the room. When I push, I can see, feel, and know that they’re pushing just a little bit harder as well.
Advice for others who’d like to get started: My advice for future new Spin instructors is to go to as many other instructors classes as you can to:
- gain experience and watch what they do right and
- network so that you can start teaching
Instructors are the best advocates for future instructors. Each class you could be auditioning!
Your must-have equipment for Spinning: My must-have equipment, especially at the beginning when breaking yourself in, are Spinning shorts. Hello butt pad! But more importantly, and always … Spin shoes. It keeps the legs using the large muscles with proper form, minimizing injury, and just plain helping the smoothness of your ride.
Favorite training song: I love to use anything Skrillex, Deadmau5, Girltalk, or Pitbull. Remixes rock.
Favorite healthy food: I love my daily nutrient dose of Shakeology.
Favorite not-so-healthy food: My not-so-good treat is a hearty brownie with Cookies N’ Cream Ice Cream and Fudge.
Funniest /weirdest/most awkward experience Spinning: One time I played a horribly inappropriate song with lots of mothers and fathers in the room. Embarrassed and judged, I shook my head at myself. Sometimes you download songs without listening to them all the way through. I considered it a lesson learned!
