Animal science senior Gina Taurian always loved going to the Cal Poly spin classes, otherwise known as Breakaway. From the upbeat music to the fast choreography, she loved it all. She especially loved a specific instructor who taught during her freshman year.
“I really loved her teaching style, she was the only one that did rhythmic spin at the time,” Taurian said.
Devastated to hear she was graduating, Taurian wondered who would fill her spot.
“I hope they’ll hire somebody who can teach that kind of style in the future,” Taurian thought.
Little did she know, that person would be herself.
Taurian is now one of the 14 student instructors out of the 42 total instructors at the Cal Poly Recreation Center. She has been instructing since the fall of 2022.
Students get into teaching classes for a multitude of different reasons, but it’s almost never planned, according to the assistant coordinator of fitness at the Recreation Center, Eric Alexander.
A student instructor with a different backstory is kinesiology senior Maija Shaw. Similar to Taurian, Shaw began taking spin classes during her freshman year. Having previous spin experience, one of Shaw’s friends recommended that she apply for the position.
Shaw was then hired by Alexander in the winter of 2023. The application process is just like any other job kind of application, according to Shaw. Aside from filling out the application, aspiring instructors must complete a 20-minute ride-along with the assistant coordinator of fitness.
The ride-along is essentially a shortened version of a class, according to Alexander. During the ride along, Alexander examines the instructor’s class setup, form, communication and ability to provide modifications.
“The audition portion is really just to give me an idea of how they’re going to interact with students,” Alexander said. “Are they giving clear directions? Are they speaking too fast? Are they speaking too slow? Are people waiting around for you to get to the next thing? Are they having a hard time following you because you’re moving too quickly?”
Additionally, students are required to complete a cycling certification through the American Sports and Fitness Association. The course is fairly easy and requires common sense, according to Taurian. After passing, instructors pay $349 for the official certificate.
Having a student instructor can provide a different connection that feels more like a peer-to-peer relationship according to Alexander.
Business junior Kate Ostermeyer has been going to Recreation Center group fitness classes since her freshman year.
“I really enjoy spin because, especially with the younger instructors I found at the Rec, they’ll have their classes centered around the beat of the music,” Ostermeyer said.
“I don’t know if it’s just like personal preference, but I feel like in my experience, I think they just play music that I would normally work out to,” Ostermeyer said. “I feel like the music and choreography that the younger instructors use aligns more with what I want to do when I work out.”
Taurian uses songs on the radio to come up with her playlists. “[I] find the beat, and then I think in my head, ‘how can I put this in a spin class?’” Taurian said.
Student instructors are able to use their classes as a learning experience.
“I went into my first class ever teaching with confidence. I literally was like, ‘You know what? I’m just gonna fake it, nobody’s gonna know that I’ve never taught before,’” Taurian said.
From there, Taurian has refined her class based on student feedback and cycling TikTok videos she’s seen. She does her best to stay on the bike during the entire workout. “I feel like, if you’re having people do the workout, you should be able to also do it,” Taurian said.
Being up on the podium and in front of her peers is an almost indescribable feeling, according to Taurian. “I walk into that room and it’s kind of like my social hour. I know all the girls, and they will come up to me and say things about how I really help them along their fitness journey,” Taurian said.
While being a student instructor has its positives, like many things, there are difficulties in teaching workout classes as a student.
Shaw currently teaches two days a week from 4:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.
“I feel like that’s always kind of a time of the day where I’m just tapped out. So sometimes it is very hard to go to the spin room, and I have to perform for so many people and also bring energy into the classroom,” Shaw said.
Along with having to put on a performance, being a student instructor doesn’t pay the best according to Shaw. Instructors at the Recreation Center, like most other student employees, make minimum wage.
Since classes are only 45 minutes long, instructors walk away from each shift making less than minimum wage and aren’t compensated for the additional time it takes to create playlists and come up with choreography.
Despite the struggles, student instructors say it’s worth it.
“I don’t even think that teaching cycling is a job for me,” Taurian said. “I seriously love it.”
‘A safe haven’
Recreation Center group fitness classes provide a safe haven for Cal Poly students afraid to go to the gym alone.
“I think classes are a lot less intimidating,” Ostermyer said. “I know a lot of people sometimes have anxiety just going to the Rec alone and working out.”
Taurian makes sure that her students feel safe and supported in her class.
“I think having a good relationship with working out is very important, especially to females,” Taurian said. “I want to help them fall back in love with fitness, to a point where it’s a good relationship, not an unhealthy one.”
While student instructors provide a feeling of safety, they also cultivate a level of inspiration.
“I’ve had someone tell me I’m the only reason why they work out, which is very touching,” Shaw said.
Students favor instructors for a variety of different reasons, whether it’s the fast pace or energy they bring.
“I really like to go to Maija Shaw’s classes. She’s my favorite instructor because I just feel like she has the best practice,” Ostermeyer said.
Student instructors are often friends with their students.
“Since I’ve been teaching for three years out of my college experience, I feel like the amount of connections that I’ve made through spin and the amount of friends that I’ve made has been great,” Taurian said.
During her sophomore year, instructor Shaw regularly taught a group of girls in the sorority Alpha Omicron Pi.
“I’m still friends with all of them today,” Shaw said
Taurian currently teaches twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays from 4:30 p.m. to 5:15 pm. After graduating, Taurian hopes to apply to Pelaton to keep up her new found passion.
“It’s really cool to be a part of giving them[the instructors] something that they weren’t necessarily expecting to happen when they enrolled at Cal Poly,” Alexander said.”
“I hope that there’s more instructors like them after they graduate,” Ostermeyer said.
