ClassPass Top Instructor 2021 Kamesh Waran On Spin Cycle Post-Pandemic
Will fitness remain ubiquitous as the world reopens?
M: How did you get into fitness?
K: My unfitness peaked in poly from supper and drinking culture. One day, I tried on clothes. Realised I looked bad. This was a turning point. But I thought NS would bring the change I sought. Past BMT, however, I was still unfit. I could only do so much in 4 months. I knew: eat clean, don’t drink, work out. But thought once I’d sweated, I’d worked out. Gave excuses like my bones were heavier. Some people do store fat, lose muscle easier than others. But we can overcome that.
I made friends who’d to go the gym during free time. It was my first time lifting weights, doing lat pullovers, chest presses. I didn’t see aesthetic changes, but felt stronger. Being obese, I developed a sort of body dysmorphia. After a year of working out, I still saw myself as unfit. Only when people commented on my physique was I convinced it might be working.
I’m doing better. Still learning. I’ve learnt to accept my loose skin, stretch marks. I want to inspire others in their fitness journeys too.
After I ORDed, Platinum offered me a part-time job handling branding, marketing; free gym, income, the opportunity to speak to the PTs with years of experience.
A trainer at STILL invited me to a class. I never did a HIIT class, boxed. I loved it. Went regularly for 6 months. The head trainer said I spoke well. Asked if I wanted to be an instructor with them. Being a fitness instructor was not on my mind. 4 months later, I accepted her offer. Trained under her. Today, she remains one of my fitness career mentors.
I also met Timothy Felix, owner of Active, who offered me a job as spin instructor. People mention my boxing classes sound like spin classes because of my playlists, conversations I have with boxers: how do we progress? What drives us? How can we inspire ourselves?
M: Before fitness, what did you want to do?
K: I wanted to be a radio DJ. But Spotify launched. I didn’t know where I stood in the industry. I’m glad to know all are still doing okay. I then tried social media marketing. It was fast-paced, competitive; led me back to binge-eating, drinking.
I applied skills in communication, music and controlling DJ systems to fitness training.
M: How did COVID hit the fitness industry?
K: COVID taught me it’s not just about studios, but mindset. All the free weights were sold out at Decathlon. Workouts had to be less strength-based, more functional. I ran 10km daily.
It’s common for trainers to use social media. After all, we’re service providers. I use it for after-class engagement. Talk about body image issues, reaching higher versions of ourselves. Share schedules, things going on.
M: Why is spin popular?
K: During Circuit Breaker, many people rode at home. It cost ~$700 to rent a bike. By Heightened Alert, it was ~$450. Studios did Zoom classes. While some people turned off cameras, it was one of few ways to be part of a community. I instructed a group of young mums who videoed and tagged each other on Instagram as motivation to ride together.
AARMY was built on online classes. They became so popular, there was demand for pop up studios. We tend to be best when surrounded by people.
Spin is one of the top fitness activities in the world. 2 years ago, I would’ve never imagined a spin studio in a heartland.
M: What are the consequences of studio saturation?
K: Set up cost is expensive. A Stages bike costs ~$2,500. Studios may have 50 bikes. Plus rent, staff, lighting systems, etc. Spin classes are ~$27. Studios who charge $12.5/class shift the market rate, riders’ expectations.
Trainers of spin instructors need years of experience, understand cycling, how to build classes, manage teams. Commercial studios may lower barrier to become an instructor, at ~20 hour training programmes. Training used to be ~9 months.
For first-time riders, one bad experience can represent the entire industry. I didn’t want to be a half-assed fitness trainer. People pay good money to attend classes. If you don’t like what you’re doing/only doing it for money, it reduces authenticity.
Boutique studios focus on building communities, have been less affected by saturation.
M: Tacky stand-out gimmicks?
K: Building impossible classes. It creates the false narrative that the instructor, class is good. Triple time is supposed to be done for a short time: 20 to 45 seconds. Seasoned instructors, riders will struggle/find it impossible to hold a triple time at 180BPM for 3 minutes. Instructors are trained to stagger intervals within class. A difficult class is not necessarily good. Spin is about riding together. To burn more calories too, our heart rates need to go up, down, up, down.
Stages bikes can’t withstand it either.
For a Bollywood-themed class around Deepavali 2021, an instructor did stereotypical Indian dance moves, played “Jai Ho”. “Jai Ho” is by Pussycat Dolls. Slumdog Millionaire is not a Bollywood movie. I called out her actions; not her or her studio.
Her response was basically, she wasn’t racist because:
- She loved Bollywood movies (shared screenshots of the ones she’d watched)
- She had Indian friends and clients
- Her Indian clients hadn’t complained about her
I was intrigued: no one quality checked her class or videos of it before they were posted on social media. This shows why diversity matters.
The day after, the F45 incident happened.
M: Misconceptions of fitness trainers.
K: It’s not a real job. Spin is not a real workout. The inspirational things instructors say are fake, Googled.
I choose to believe instructors say what they mean.
M: Influencers as fitness trainers.
K: There are studios filled with influencers. If influencers are good at and passionate about fitness training, they should be free to do it. But people pay good money for classes. The point is to make other people feel good, not yourself or to boost following.
Without authenticity, it’s impossible to build real relationships.
Some instructors get one negative review on ClassPass; spiral, get defensive. We cannot please everyone.
I build relationships with riders mainly through talking in-person.
M: How was winning ClassPass Top Instructor 2021?
K: I found out about the nominations after people tagged me on IG. My riders went all out. I love them. We always cheer each other on. We also won Top Fitness Studio. It showed me power of the communities we’d built. It was a win for all of us.
M: How will fitness be affected with post-pandemic living?
K: COVID placed health a high priority for all of us. Some of us prefer WFH because it saves time. We will need to evaluate how to schedule fitness in our lives.
M: Is independence something you’re looking for?
K: I have a lot of independence with POPSICLE and SUGAR. I’m still learning. What’s a 3rd concept I can focus on, maybe?
