A Love Letter

By the time you read this, I will have taught my last Saturday 8am Cycle class. But this is not a “Dear John” letter; this is a love letter. Saturday mornings were the spark that ignited my fitness career. Shortly after returning to Fitness Incentive as a member in 2017, I began taking what was then Carmella’s 7am Cycle class on Saturday mornings. She, along with Cor, encouraged me to get Spinning Certified so that I could cover some classes. As someone who always likes to learn new things, I decided to go for it. Also, how could I say “no” to these two badass fitness queens?

How Lucky Am I?

After getting certified, I became a substitute instructor, mostly covering the 7am and 8am Saturday classes. Like every young, new instructor, I longed for the coveted “permanent class.” When the 8am Saturday Cycle opened in the Fall of 2017, it was offered to me. I jumped at the chance to take it! The class had previously been taught by a popular instructor who filled the class each week. I thought to myself, ‘How lucky am I to fall into this full class?’ I could not have been more naive. I walked into that first class with just two attendees.

Themes are the Theme

I was a new instructor with a lot to learn, and furthermore, people didn’t know me. I began thinking of ways to get people into my class. I started creating themed classes to try to get people to notice me. The first official theme class was an Oscars ride in March of 2018 that featured an all Oscar-nominated movie soundtrack playlist. From there, came a St. Patrick’s day theme, Cinco De Mayo, Decades like an all 1990s class, a WLIR inspired all New Wave class, Summer Beach Parties, “Hair” bands, Love Songs vs. Break Up Songs for Valentine’s Day, an Americana theme for patriotic holidays, a full blown Game of Thrones theme complete with the Iron Throne on the wall (thanks to our amazing marketing genius, Paul Smith), a Super Bowl class with a box pool for prizes, Thanksgiving rides featuring food-themed playlists, “Ugly” holiday sweater themes, “Under The Covers” cover song classes, a Stranger Things 80’s class…I even had an eclipse-themed class and an earthquake theme! Perhaps the most well-received themed class, though, is the Halloween Cycle Spooktacular. Each October, we have had a costume contest, complete with a Randy and Paula to my Simon Cowell, judging the contest (that would be Liz Keller and Sharon Donnelly. You decide who is the Randy and who is the Paula). Brian Roche nailed the costume contest one year by dressing up as ME! It seemed like I was doing a themed class every Saturday. We even had a “No Theme” theme! All of these themes inspired me to switch up the music regularly, and soon I became the girl with the great playlist.

Even The Pandemic Couldn’t Stop This Train

My plan worked. Within a year, the class was packed with an overflow of people trying to get in. What a great group of people I have had the pleasure of teaching every Saturday for the past 8 years. Even during the pandemic in 2020, Saturday Cycle remained strong. It was a few of my Saturday regulars who suggested that I join in on the virtual fitness classes that Fitness Incentive was offering. I set up my camera and my ring light in my dark, unfinished basement every Saturday for the nearly six months that the gym was forced to be closed. Every Saturday, people at home would tune in and comment on the feed that they were riding with me. Even my Saturday morning co-worker, Little Mary, who didn’t have a bike at home, would sit and drink her coffee and tune in to see my familiar face cycling away each week.

When I became a certified Personal Trainer in April of 2021, it was my Saturday morning Cycle regulars who signed up to train with me immediately. One of them, Irene Roche, won 1st place in the Spring Fitness Challenge that year, my very first contest. Many of my Saturday Cycle members have become good friends, like Mia Flanagan, who later became an amazing Cycle instructor herself.

All Things Must Pass

After teaching the class for eight years, it’s very bittersweet for me to give it up. I’ll be happy to be there for my family on Saturday mornings, but I will miss that Saturday Cycle energy. Thank you to everyone who has made it such a special class for me over the years. It will forever hold a special place in my heart. Without Saturday Cycle, I don’t know if I would be where I am now, the Director of Cycle, a Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach, VIPR and TRX Certified, and a group fitness instructor. I am forever thankful to Carmella and, of course, Cor, for believing in me and encouraging me to get certified and start subbing those Saturday classes.

I Will Always Love You

Saturday Cycle, I love you. This is not “goodbye,” but more of a “see you later.” I’m sure I will put my subbing shoes back on once in a while (with a theme, perhaps?), and of course, you will still catch me in the Cycle room on Wednesdays at 6am, and in the main studio on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6am. Speaking of the main studio, I will be teaching my Power Sculpt class on Mondays at 9:30am starting in September! I hope to see some of my Saturday friends there!

About the Author

Theresa Christensen

Theresa Christensen is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and the Director of FI’s Cycle Program. She is also the founder of Christensen Gallery in Babylon Village.