update....

I got some positive feedback on my new fusion class of cycling and yoga the other day. I had one of the members tell me that prior to taking this particular class she enjoyed *neither* cycling *nor* yoga but now she loves *both* of them. That made me feel great. And I too have to say I am starting to love this format. Teaching cycling is probably my least favorite class but with the addition of a great standing yoga practice at the end coupled with a shorter and more do-able ride it is becoming a very dynamic and fun format to teach.

I've been very careful about choosing music. No top 40, no radio tunes, no rock and roll or pop music.....actually I try to avoid songs with lyrics completely. Mostly to keep people's attention off of the words and divert it to the rhythm and beat of the music. Lots of driving instrumentals, percussion pieces, some techno, a few world beats and a little bit of dance. Cirque du Soleil soundtracks and Blue Man Group offer some good options, and I'm absolutely in love with Safri Duo here lately.  

I'm also finding really interesting and fun ways to use our bikes as far as yoga balance poses go. I can't tell you how nice it is to be able to fully open yourself up into a dancer pose (Natarajasana) and have a nice set of handlebars to reach down and touch if you get a little bit wobbly. Or use the center frame of your bike to place the hands on for a standing straddle twist or a forward fold. Stand in front of your handlebars, a foot or two away from the bike and hinge forward into a warrior 3 while holding onto them? It's pleasantly different to be able to focus on lengthening the spine and keeping the hips square rather than obsessing about trying to balance on that one grounded foot. So far I've kept all of the yoga to the standing poses and standing balances. Short on time and not wanting to get people down on the floor so soon after a vigorous cardio workout this has been a bit of a compromise.

Which brings me to this: people are actually asking for more yoga. Instead of a 45 minute ride and a 15 minute yoga practice they want a 45 minute ride and a 45 minute yoga practice. Definitely something to ponder and something to approach management about.