List 5 things you do to prepare for teaching a class.

Teaching cycling, I get to pick my own music and create a ride profile, so I spend a lot of time creating a profile and defining the purpose of the ride so I can best explain it in class. I also find the best music for the profile so that the class is ride driven as well as music driven.

I listen to the music the entire way through on my way to my office so if something is wrong (like forgetting to use the clean version of song or the remix version has a funky beat in the middle that doesn’t work), I have time to change it up.

Have everything ready for me to leave for the gym the night before. I have my gym bag ready with extra batteries for the microphone, water bottle, towel, a charged MP3 player, my windscreen for the mic all prepped the night before so I can grab my bag and walk out the door. I also have my clothes ready so I don’t have to look for anything I need, right down to my ponytail tie!

Have a clear head! Give yourself plenty of time to get there and set up so you’re not running around when members are coming in.

Have mood music playing when peopple come in the room. If you’re not teaching right after another class, get in early and pop in some music so there is no dead air. And have music playing until the last person leaves the room.

Learn from others – I get some of my best class ideas from other instructors.