Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Track List - #totalrequestride, Wednesday, December 31, 2014

1. Partition (remix) - Beyonce'
2. Jealous (remix) - Chromeo
3. Telephone (remix) - Lady Gaga featuring Beyonce'
4. Chandelier (remix) - Sia
5. Me And My Girlfriend - Jay-Z featuring Beyonce'
6. Turn Down For What - DJ Snake & Lil Jon
7. Larger Than Life - Backstreet Boys
8. Dirty Pop - Nsync
9. A Sky Full Of Stars (remix) - Coldplay
10. Wrong Message (mashup) - DJ Mixmstrstel featuring The Police, Nico & Vinz
11. Stay, Adam (mashup) - DJ Mixmstrstel featuring Rihanna & Blink-182
12. I Have Nothing (piano instrumental) - Tariq Wingrove

Well, this morning's #totalrequestride was the final Ride with Tommy! of the year! And it didn't go off without any hitches. As those of you that were there in attendance know, I was locked out of the computer so that I couldn't play the requested videos. And I had doubled up on videos since I missed last week's class. And I had also planned to play another video mashup of the year's top hits, but I couldn't do that either. So, all the fun and exciting stuff I had planned for class this morning, well, let's just say that I wasn't able to do it and leave it at that. I was disappointed. I always have it backed up on a cd (prehistoric I know!), but I didn't this ONE time! Ugh! Oh well, I pulled together some previously played music, including some of the requested songs for today's class, and I think we all ended up having an amazing Ride! So a great big 'THANK YOU!" to everyone who was there and who worked so hard to make 2014's final Ride with Tommy! a great one!

There will be no 7:00am Sexy Spin tomorrow morning, Thursday, January 1st. Be sure to check the front desk for the official class schedule and gym hours. I will be back in the instructor saddle on Friday morning at 9:30am! I hope to see you there!

I want to thank everyone who rode with me in the year 2014. As I often say, I wouldn't be there without you. So I thank you and want you to know that I do not take you for granted! I am grateful for the opportunity to teach spinning at Crunch on Sunset. I am able to do something I love that helps people and at one of the best and funnest (yes, I said funnest!) gyms anywhere! And I've taught at a lot of gyms so I really mean that when I say it!

I wish the best to all of you in 2015! Health, happiness, love, prosperity, friendships, great workouts, new goals, positive changes, less time in traffic, more time surrounded by good people, and all the best that life can possibly offer! And I hope that the Ride with Tommy! will be part of that. I will be honored to Ride with you, create Rides and challenges with you, and reach goals and see results with you.

I wish each of you a happy and safe New Year celebration. All of us can always celebrate something. So find that positive. Set the positive. Begin to see it. You deserve it!

In good health,

tommy

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Happy Holiday Subs for the Ride with Tommy! Dec. 22-29, 2014

Below, please find the list of amazing instructors that will be covering my classes for me while I am away celebrating Christmas with family. Thanks to you all for your support of the Ride with Tommy! and for your support of the wonderful subs while I'm out. See you on Tuesday morning, December 30th at 7:00am! Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah!

Monday, Dec. 22, 9:30am - Christina Fulton
Tuesday, Dec. 23, 7:00am - Beth Phillips
Wednesday, Dec. 24, 9:30am - Christina Fulton
Thursday, Dec. 25, 7:00am - NO RIDE!
Friday, Dec. 26, 9:30am - Kyler Madeira
Saturday, Dec. 27, 9:45am - Christina Fulton
Monday, Dec. 29, 9:30am - Kyler Madeira

Happy holidays everyone!

In good health,

tommy

Track List - Saturday, December 20, 2014

1. Wash All Over Me (remix) - Avicii featuring Madonna
2. Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars
3. Welcome To New York (remix) - Taylor Swift
4. Pop Danthology 2014 (mashup of 66 songs!) - DJ Daniel Kim featuring Ariana Grande, Iggy Azalea, Jennifer Lopez, Katy Perry, Maroon 5, Nicki Minaj, etc.
5. Jealous (remix) - Nick Jonas
6. 7/11 - Beyonce'
7. Workout (mashup) - DJ Robin Skouteris featuring Jennifer Lopez, Iggy Azalea, Sir Mix-a-lot, MC Hammer, Missy Elliott, Britney Spears, Eminem, C+C Music Factory, etc.
8. Beautiful (remix) - Kylie Minogue featuring Enrique Iglesias
9. Sledgehammer (remix) - Fifth Harmony
10. Waves - Mr. Probs
11. Halo - Beyonce'
12. A Thousand Years - Christina Perry

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Track List - Extra Special "Give The Shirt Off Your Back" Sexy Spin - Thursday, December 18, 2014

1. Wash All Over Me (remix) - Avicii featuring Madonna
2. Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars
3. Welcome To New York (remix) - Taylor Swift
4. Pop Danthology 2014 (mashup of 66 songs!) - DJ Daniel Kim featuring Ariana Grande, Iggy Azalea, Jennifer Lopez, Katy Perry, Maroon 5, Nicki Minaj, etc.
5. Jealous (remix) - Nick Jonas
6. 7/11 - Beyonce'
7. Workout (mashup) - DJ Robin Skouteris featuring Jennifer Lopez, Iggy Azalea, Sir Mix-a-lot, MC Hammer, Missy Elliott, Britney Spears, Eminem, C+C Music Factory, etc.
8. Beautiful (remix) - Kylie Minogue featuring Enrique Iglesias
9. Sledgehammer (remix) - Fifth Harmony
10. Waves - Mr. Probs
11. Halo - Beyonce'
12. A Thousand Years - Christina Perry

Well, we did it! Again! This year was another one for the books! The now annual and famous (or infamous) Extra Special "Give The Shirt Off Your Back" Sexy Spin is now behind us. And what a great one it was! Once again, we had a (very, very!) Sexy Santa help collect clothes for our clothing drive to benefit the LA LGBT Center's Homeless Youth Program. And we even had a second Sexy Santa come help out with awarding the prizes at the end of class! There are so many people to thank! First, thanks to everyone who attended and took part in such an exciting and fun workout (yes, workout! we don't sacrifice our workout...even on a fun-filled day like today!) Thanks to Kyle Pierce for being the Sexy Santa #1! Kyle is so very obviously sexy that I don't need to tell you how excited I was that he agreed to help out this year. And it wasn't easy. He is a first year law student and in the middle of final exams! Wow! Thank you so much, Kyle! And to Sexy Santa #2, who just so happens to be the Sexy Santa for Kitson's current holiday campaign for 2014! How cool is that? Thanks, Matt! Thanks so much to the businesses that donated items for the gift bags and drawings at the end of class! Sexy Nutrition, right across the street from Crunch on Laurel Avenue, provided an amazing gym bag with 4 t-shirts and some protein! (And isn't it just a natural to team up with Sexy Nutrition for one of our special Sexy Spins?!) Burke Williams donated a 3-day Spa Service pass for each gift bag! Veggie Grill donated a free entree for each gift bag! BodyFactory donated 3 free tanning sessions! And Universal Body, owned by Crunch member, Scott Sykes, and soon moving to its newest location right here at 8000 Sunset, downstairs from Crunch! A great new store featuring men's and women's clothing as well as gifts and nutrional supplements! And thanks to Davey Wavey, Youtube star and sensation for being a special guest! And thanks, of course, to everyone who brought clothes for the clothing drive. You all rock! You all are amazing! Thanks to all of you for your support of this special class and for the Ride with Tommy! all year 'round! Be sure to check out the Ride with Tommy! Facebook page for pictures!

I'll be out next week celebrating the holidays with my family in Texas, but check back here for a list of all my wonderful subs!

In good health,

tommy

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Special Intro Teaser Class: The New "Threshold Ride", The New #totalrequestride, and The New "Ride Yogi Ride"

This morning was a special class indeed. The always amazing and high energy and beautiful Amy Rollman co-instructed the intro or "teaser" class that was made up of 20 minutes of the new "Threshold Ride", 20 minutes of the updated #totalrequestride, and then 20 minutes of yoga. What a lot of intense, different, challenging and fun things to do in one hour!

The new Threshold Ride will kind of take the place of the old Red Line Ride. It will not be heart rate based, but it will have a lot of information for the rider to soak up and learn so much about how the body works as you workout! We will be using the computers that are already on the new bikes along with the new huge 70" flat tv screens recently placed in the spinning room. In a nutshell, after a brief warmup, you will work as hard as you can for 3 minutes to set your threshold. Then, the rest of the class will be based on percentages of that threshold. You'll be able to watch and learn as you Ride, and then see some summary results that will enlighten you even more!

The new/updated #totalrequestride will be pretty much the same except that we will be including videos shown on the new huge 70" flat tv screens. Each week, 3 videos will be selected from requests all across the country and played in the #totalrequestride. Song or video requests should be tweeted to @crunchgym followed by the hashtag #totalrequestride. Each tweeted request enters the member into that week's drawing for an iTunes gift card!

Finally, another new class called Ride Yogi Ride will be introduced in the new year. Amy will be teaching this one and she is amazing! It will be a 45-minute Ride immediately followed by a yoga class in the group fitness room right next door to the spin room. How awesome is that?!

So thanks so much to Amy and everyone who attended this morning's teaser class. There were a few technical hiccups (and there will probably be a few more!), but I want to thank you all for supporting the Ride with Tommy! and Crunch Fitness - Sunset!

We will be offering another teaser class this Friday at 9:30am, too, so I hope to see you there!

In good health,

tommy

Monday, December 15, 2014

Track List - Saturday, December 13, 2014

1. The Walker (remix) - Fitz And The Tantrums
2. On Top Of The World - Imagine Dragons
3. Love Runs Out - OneRepublic
4. Summer (remix) - Calvin Harris
5. What A Feeling (remix) - Alex Gaudino featuring Kelly Rowland
6. Not A Bad Thing - Justin Timberlake
7. Mmm Yeah - Austin Mahone featuring Pitbull
8. Party Ain't Over - Pitbull featuring Usher & Afrojack
9. Chandelier (remix) - Sia
10. When Love Takes Over (remix) - David Guetta featuring Kelly Rowland
11. Life Of The Party - Shawn Mendes
12. Human - Christina Perri

This upcoming week will be a very big week for the Ride with Tommy! and indoor cycling at Crunch Fitness - Sunset!

Monday, December 15th, 9:30am will be the very LAST Red Line Ride offered at Crunch Fitness - Sunset. When we started this program almost 6 years ago, we were the first in the world to offer this type of class. Well, today, we will be using this technology for the last time. It has been a great program. I have learned so much. I have seen so many riders learn so much about how their heart works as they workout. It has been fun, educational and so very rewarding. But technology changes. And with the new bikes here at Crunch Fitness - Sunset, we already have new technology in place. We will be replacing the Red Line Ride with a new class called THRESHOLD! This class will be utilizing the computers you see on the new bikes. We will also be using the brand new huge TV screens installed in the classroom. There will be so much more to learn! And it will be so much fun!

And speaking of the new THRESHOLD! Ride, we will be offering a "teaser" class as to what the class will be like on both Wednesday and Friday of this week, December 17th and 19th, at 9:30am. It will be a special 1-hour class for these two days only. The first 20 minutes will consist of an intro to the THRESHOLD! Ride. The next 20 minutes will be made up of the new updated #totalrequestride using videos on the brand new huge TV screens. Finally, if you so choose, we will walk over to the Group Fitness room and have 20 minutes of yoga led by the amazing Amy! This "teaser" class will also serve as an introduction to a new class that Amy will be teaching that will consist of both the Ride and yoga. How cool is that?!?!

On Tuesday, December 17th, I will be taking over Crunch's instagram account! I will be the guest instructor of the day and offer a peek into what life is like as an instructor! Be sure to watch for it!

Finally, on Thursday morning, December 18th, I will be hosting the now annual and infamous EXTRA SPECIAL "GIVE THE SHIRT OFF YOUR BACK" SEXY SPIN! Sexy Santa will be there with his big bag to collect your slightly used clothing for the LA LGBT Center's Homeless Youth Program. And can I just tell you now, that this year's Santa puts the sexy in Sexy Santa! Just sayin'! And as always at the end of my extra special classes, there will be bike numbers drawn and prizes awarded! And don't forget that nobody leaves empty handed! Special prizes! Special guests! Special music! And the same intense Ride will not be sacrificed for the extra fun! And it is all for great causes: the LA LGBT Center's Homeless Youth Program, and the improvement of your own mental and physical health and well-being!

So I hope to see you a lot this week! And it is the last full week of 2014! How did that happen? Where did the year go? Let's celebrate all that we have accomplished so far and continue to commit, push, challenge, strive, drive and achieve in the year ahead!

In good health,

tommy

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Track List - Sexy Spin, Thursday, December 11, 2014

1. Control - Janet Jackson
2. I Love Summertime Cool Kids (mashup) - DJ Titus Jones featuring Icona Pop, Lana Del Rey, Echosmith & Nonono
3. Superbad - Jesse McCartney
4. Baby Baby (remix) - Amy Grant
5. Be Okay - Oh Honey
6. Boom Clap (mashup) - DJ Mixmstrstel featuring Charli XCX, Gwen Stefani, Paramore, Kurtis Blow, Busta Rhymes, Ashlee Simpson, DJ Jazzy Jeff & L'Trimm
7. Come With Me Now - Kongos
8. Stay With Me (remix) - Sam Smith
9. A Sky Full Of Stars (remix) - Coldplay
10. Wrong Message (mashup) - DJ Mixmstrstel featuring The Police, Nico & Vinz
11. Stay, Adam (mashup) - DJ Mixmstrstel featuring Rihanna & Blink-182
12. That's What Love Is For - Amy Grant
13. I Have Nothing (piano instrumental) - Tariq Wingrove

One week from today, it will be baaaaack! The annual Extra Special "Give The Shirt Off Your Back" Sexy Spin! Sexy Santa helping collect your clothes for the LA LGBT Center's Homeless Youth Program. Special guests! Special prizes! Special music! Don't miss it! Make plans now to attend! It'll be the same intense Ride that you want/need/expect. It'll be just a lot more fun and exciting! And you will not walk away empty-handed! So be there or be square! Get up early and get your workout on! And over and done with! Until then, in good health! tommy

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Track List - #totalrequestride, Wednesday, December 10, 2014

1. Scream - Michael & Janet Jackson
2. Break Free - Ariana Grande featuring Zedd
3. Shake It Off - Taylor Swift
4. Maps (remix) - Maroon 5
5. Fancy Groove (mashup) - DJ MixmstrStel featuring Madonna, Iggy Azalea & Charli XCX
6. Hard - Rihanna featuring Young Jeezy
7. Rather Be - Clean Bandits
8. Survivor - Destiny's Child
9. Really Don't Care (remix) - Demi Lovato featuring Cher Lloyd
10. Best Song Ever (remix) - One Direction
11. Back For Good - Boyce Avenue('s cover of Take That)
12. Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper featuring Sarah McLachlan
13. Against All Odds - Phil Collins

This morning's track list from this week's #totalrequestride is a bit of a throwback. This is the track list from a #totalrequestride back in August. A great one. One that I felt was worthy of a repeat. I hope you all enjoyed it this morning. I did. And I hope it helped you make a difference. A positive change. And I hope you had a little fun while doing it!

Tuesday, December 09, 2014

I will be subbing the 9:30am class this morning, Tuesday, December 9, 2014

I will be subbing Guy B's 9:30am Ride this morning at Crunch Fitness - Sunset. I hope to see you there!

Track List - Saturday, December 6, 2014

1. Send Me An Angel (remix) - Slyngshott featuring Bernadette DeSimone
2. Black Widow - Iggy Azalea featuring Rita Ora
3. L.A. Love (La La)(remix) - Fergie featuring YG
4. Main Chick (remix) - Kid Ink featuring Chris Brown, French Montana, Yo Gotti, Tyga & Lil Bobby
5. All You Need Is Love - Willy Chirino featuring Flo Rida & Black Dada
6. Steal My Girl (remix) - One Direction
7. Replay - Zendaya
8. Trumpets - Jason Derulo
9. Love Train - IDMC Gospel Choir
10. Rolling In The Deep (remix cover) - Aretha Franklin
11. Bang Bang (remix) - Jessie J featuring Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj
12. Jealous - Nick Jonas
13. Steal My Girl - One Direction
14. Life Of The Party - Shawn Mendes

Thursday, December 04, 2014

Track List - Sexy Spin, Thursday, December 4, 2014

1. Send Me An Angel (remix) - Slyngshott featuring Bernadette DeSimone
2. Black Widow - Iggy Azalea featuring Rita Ora
3. L.A. Love (La La)(remix) - Fergie featuring YG
4. Main Chick (remix) - Kid Ink featuring Chris Brown, French Montana, Yo Gotti, Tyga & Lil Bobby
5. All You Need Is Love - Willy Chirino featuring Flo Rida & Black Dada
6. Steal My Girl (remix) - One Direction
7. Replay - Zendaya
8. Trumpets - Jason Derulo
9. Beautiful (remix) - Kylie Minogue & Enrique Iglesias
10. Jealous (remix) - Nick Jonas
11. I Want It That Wave (mashup) - DJ MixmstrStel featuring Mr. Probz vs. The Backstreet Boys
12. Boulevard Of Happy Dreams (mashup) - DJ Poulpi featuring Green Day & Pharrell
13. Just Give Me A Mirror When September Ends (mashup) - DJ Shahar Varshal ft. Pink, Michael Jackson & Green Day

Below is the link to yesterday's Sexy Spin track list! And just below that is the track list for this week's #totalreqeustride. There is a lot going on and coming up in the world of indoor cycling here at Crunch Fitness - Sunset and the Ride with Tommy! As most of you all know by now, we have all new bikes! That is awesome, exciting and very cool! There is also a computer on each of the bikes. We haven't used them yet (nor do we know how to use them...yet!), but very soon, as soon as Wednesday, December 17th in fact, we will be offering a "teaser" or intro class to the new technology that is part of the new Ride here at Crunch! The current Red Line Ride will be retiring on Monday, December 15th. Crunch was the first in the world to offer this kind of class. Now, after 6 years, we are undertaking a new way to learn more about how our bodies work when being worked out hard! So make plans now to attend the final Red Line Ride on Monday, December 15th, 9:30am. Then join us for the teaser/intro class to the new technology on Wednesday, December 17th, 9:30am.

Also, on Thursday morning, December 18th, 7:00am, we will be having our now annual and famous Extra Special "Give the Shirt Off Your Back" Sexy Spin! Really, give the shirt off your back! And bring any additional clothing you'd like to donate. Sexy Santa will be there to collect it all in his big bag! And it will all be for a great cause! Clothing will be donated to the LA LGBT Center's Homeless Youth Program. But we won't sacrifice the benefits that you expect from the Ride! There will be just more of everything! And special, too! Special guests! Special prizes! Special music! Having more fun! Doing more good! Join us, won't you?!?!

Wednesday, December 03, 2014

Track List - #totalrequestride, Wednesday, December 3, 2014

1. Against All Odds (remix) - Kira
2. Rhythm Nation - Janet Jackson
3. Every Heartbeat (remix) - Amy Grant
4. Spice Up Your Life - Spice Girls
5. Bang! Bang! (mashup cover) - Blake McIver
6. Blurry - Puddle Of Mud
7. Good Vibrations - Marky Mark And The Funky Bunch
8. Maps - Maroon 5
9. Break Free (remix) - Ariana Grande featuring Zedd
10. Secrets (remix) - Mary Lambert
11. It Gets Better - Blake McIver
12. Invisible ((RED) edit) - U2

Monday, November 24, 2014

Thanksgiving Week Subs for the Ride with Tommy!

As most of you heard as I announced at the end of my classes last week, I will be in Chicago visiting family for the week of Thanksgiving. But don't worry, as always, I have provided you with amazing instructors to help you stay committed to your Rides, your workouts and all the benefits that you need...especially at this time of year!

Monday, 11/24/14, 9:30am - Matt Ryan Conrad Krupka (this will be a regular Ride, not a Red Line Ride!)
Tuesday, 11/25/14, 7:00am - Kirk Allen
Wednesday, 11/26/14, 9:30am - Guy B.
Thursday, 11/27/14, 7:00am - Thanksgiving - NO CLASS!
Friday, 11/28/14, 9:30am - Kyler Madeira (this will be a regular Ride, not a Red Line Ride)
Saturday, 11/29/14, 9:45am - Matt Ryan Conrad Krupka (he also teaches the 11:00am class so do a double!)

I will be back in the saddle on Monday, 12/1/14 at 9:30am for another Red Line Ride!

Until then, have a great Thanksgiving! We have so much for which to be thankful! Enjoy yourselves! Have fun! Be safe! Stay healthy! Don't beat yourself up too much if you eat too much or don't work out as much as you could or should!

Until next time, in good health!

tommy

Track List - Saturday, November 22, 2014

1. Of The Night (remix) - Bastille
2. Never Been In Love - Cobra Starship featuring Icona Pop
3. Love Runs Out - OneRepublic
4. Blank Space (remix) - Taylor Swift
5. September - Earth, Wind & Fire
6. Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars
7. Habits (remix) - Tove Lo
8. Rich Girl - Gwen Stefani
9. No Mediocre (remix) - T.I. featuring Iggy Azalea
10. Turn The Beat Around - Gloria Estefan
11. Last Days Of Disco - Robbie Williams
12. I Look To You - Whitney Houston

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Track List - Sexy Spin, Thursday, November 20, 2014

1. Of The Night (remix) - Bastille
2. Never Been In Love - Cobra Starship featuring Icona Pop
3. Love Runs Out - OneRepublic
4. Blank Space (remix) - Taylor Swift
5. September - Earth, Wind & Fire
6. Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars
7. Habits (remix) - Tove Lo
8. Rich Girl - Gwen Stefani
9. No Mediocre (remix) - T.I. featuring Iggy Azalea
10. Turn The Beat Around - Gloria Estefan
11. Last Days Of Disco - Robbie Williams
12. I Look To You - Whitney Houston

Well, this is the last week before Thanksgiving. The holidays are upon us. We've been working all year so hard at achieving our goals. We've worked so hard to lose a pound or two. Or an inch or two (around the waist). Or a percentage or two (of bodyfat). Now comes the hard part. Can we keep working at reaching our goals or at least maintaining what we have accomplished so far? It is so easy to stop working out and just eat as much as you want of whatever you want. Sure. That's easy. But it seems like forever to get back to the point where you are now after letting down your guard. So take a good look at where you are now. At how much you have accomplished. At how good you feel about yourself, mentally and physically. Now think about how you feel after stuffing your face and your belly with way too much food that is so not good for you. Think about how uncomfortable you feel when you eat way too much. Also think about how disappointed you feel when you don't work out after all these months of establishing a healthy routine or habit. Now think about both of those feelings. Not very positive. So I encourage you to celebrate all that you have accomplished so far. Truly celebrate it. But don't throw it all away over the next 6 weeks. Workout when you can. Eat healthy when you can. Don't beat yourself up for those times that you don't or can't eat healthy or when you miss your workout. Missing a workout or not eating right are two things that are so easy to do. But I encourage you to stay committed and focused on all the good you have done and all the good you can still do during this holiday season. Then you can hit the ground running again after the start of the new year. I will be out of town next week with family for the Thanksgiving holiday. I am so thankful for all that I have. I am thankful for so many things. I am thankful for being able to teach spinning in a great facility with and to great people. I am thankful for and honored by the trust so many put of you place in me. I do not take any of this for granted. I commit to working hard to being the best instructor I can be. And that's not going to change over the holidays. I will post my subs for next week here on my blog and on Facebook by tomorrow, Saturday. When I return, I will be providing you all with more details about the upcoming Extra Special "Give The Shirt Off Your Back" Sexy Spin where we collect clothing for the LA LGBT Center's homeless youth programs with Sexy Santa's help. I look forward to celebrating such an amazing time of year with all of you while we stay as committed as possible to keeping or building upon what we have worked so hard to achieve. Thank you all! In good health, tommy

Track List - #totalrequestride, Wednesday, November 19, 2014

1. Of The Night (remix) - Bastille
2. Never Been In Love - Cobra Starship featuring Icona Pop
3. Love Runs Out - OneRepublic
4. Blank Space (remix) - Taylor Swift
5. September - Earth, Wind & Fire
6. Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars
7. Habits (remix) - Tove Lo
8. Rich Girl - Gwen Stefani
9. No Mediocre (remix) - T.I. featuring Iggy Azalea
10. Turn The Beat Around - Gloria Estefan
11. Last Days Of Disco - Robbie Williams
12. I Look To You - Whitney Houston

Saturday, November 15, 2014

No Ride Classes at Crunch Fitness - Sunset Saturday, November 15, 2014!

There will be no Ride classes at Crunch Fitness - Sunset this Saturday, November 15, 2014. Crunch will be holding a Spinning Certification course. This is a great opportunity for existing Crunch instructors to renew and refresh their certifications to teach, and it is also an excellent chance for Crunch to certify new instructors that may soon be on the schedule and that may very well become your favorite instructor in the not too distant future! I am sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. This provides you with the perfect opportunity to mix your workout up! Do something different! Change it up! Shock your body. Shock your system! And then I'll see you back in class on Monday for the next Red Line Ride at 9:30am! Have a great weekend!

In good health,

tommy

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Track List - Sexy Spin, Thursday, November 13, 2014

1. Heroes (remix) - Alesso featuring Tove Lo
2. Rather Be - Clean Bandits
3. Shower (remix) - Becky G featuring Tyga
4. Adios (remix) - Ricky Martin
5. Good Time Gangnam Style - DJ Dan Mei featuring Psy, Alex Clare, Nicki Minaj, Ram Jam, Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen
6. Booty - Jennifer Lopez featuring Iggy Azalea
7. Thong Song (remix) - Sisqo featuring Lil' Kim
8. The Monster - Eminem featuring Rihanna
9. Think About You (remix) - Jade Starling
10. 50 Ways To Say Goodbye - Train
11. Voices Of Babylon - The Outfield
12. The Writing's On The Wall - OK Go
13. Who You Are - Jessie J

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Track List - #totalrequestride, Wednesday, November 12, 2014

1. Heroes (remix) - Alesso featuring Tove Lo
2. Rather Be - Clean Bandits
3. Shower (remix) - Becky G featuring Tyga
4. Adios (remix) - Ricky Martin
5. Good Time Gangnam Style - DJ Dan Mei featuring Psy, Alex Clare, Nicki Minaj, Ram Jam, Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen
6. Booty - Jennifer Lopez featuring Iggy Azalea
7. Thong Song (remix) - Sisqo featuring Lil' Kim
8. The Monster - Eminem featuring Rihanna
9. Think About You (remix) - Jade Starling
10. 50 Ways To Say Goodbye - Train
11. Voices Of Babylon - The Outfield
12. The Writing's On The Wall - OK Go
13. Who You Are - Jessie J

New bikes! Requests. 50. 500. The rest of the new bikes have arrived and are in place! The spin room at Crunch Fitness - Sunset is now completely filled with new spin bikes! Beautiful, clean, bright, shiny, new, sexy spin bikes! Yes! Very exciting! And today is the first day that all of them are in place. So this morning's #totalrequestride was the perfect place to play members' favorite songs on the industry's new favorite spin bike! the Schwinn AC Performance Carbon Blue. Look it up! Here's a short video showing it off:



And as most of you know by now, I celebrated my 50th birthday last weekend. I mention this again for no other reason than to also mention that I burned my 500th cd for my class track list last week! Yes, I still burn cds! Yes, I will soon transition to an mp3 player. But for now, I'm 50! And I can kick and stretch and (spin and Ride and burn cds and) kick! 'Cause I'm 50 years old! Just thought that was funny. Thanks to everyone in class this morning! See you all again tomorrow morning for Sexy Spin at 7:00am at Crunch Fitness - Sunset! In good health, tommy

Saturday, November 08, 2014

Track List - Saturday, November 8, 2014

1. Weekend - Janet Jackson
2. All I Wanna Do - T. Mills
3. Life In A Northern Town (remix) - Dream Academy vs. Dario G
4. Melt With You - Modern English
5. We Can't Stop (remix) - Miley Cyrus
6. Molly - Cedric Gervais
7. The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone) - U2
8. Rocket Man (remix) - Elton John
9. Secrets (remix) - Mary Lambert
10. I Melt With You - Modern English
11. Life In A Northern Town - Dream Academy
12. Don't Tell Me We Can't Stop (live mashup) - Madonna & Miley Cyrus

Well, this is a time for reflection. At least for me. See, this weekend, Sunday, November 9th, I turn 50 years old. Yikes! Many people don't like to talk about their age. This is Hollywood! You can't tell anyone how old you actually are! It is more important to let anyone that asks know what age range in which you could play! I've never really been that reluctant to talk about it. Until recently. Maybe it was that discussion with my personal trainer. The one where I mentioned the year that I graduated from high school. And realized that my trainer hadn't even been born yet. Ugh! So thanks to the amazing Zack for helping me learn more about those all important twitch muscles...both slow and fast...and fast 1 and 2! And for teaching me the effectiveness of explosive workouts! Yes, for the first time in my life, I hired a personal trainer. "5 Weeks To 50!" I finally admitted that I couldn't make the kind of changes that I wanted in my body on my own. I could use help. Yes, I have been a fitness instructor for 16 years (I started when I was 15!) But yes, I had become way too comfortable in my workouts. And we/I need to make changes in our workouts to obtain changes in our bodies. In our minds. In our outlooks. In our confidence. In our results. So yes, I tried to make some changes in my body in 5 weeks. By the time I turned 50. I did make some changes, too. Not drastic changes that are extremely obvious to the casual observer. But positive changes that I noticed. That I felt. "I want to see my abs by my 50th birthday!" Yeah, I said that. Who am I kidding? I have never had really defined abs in my whole life! Ha! How would I obtain that definition needed to see my abs in 5 weeks?!?! Now that's funny right there. I don't care who you are! (yes, I'm quoting Larry the cable guy!) So yes I said that. But no, I didn't really mean it. Not really. Or when my amazing and beautiful husband wanted to do something special for my 50th. I didn't jump in wholeheartedly. I mean, don't get me wrong. I love a party. But one that celebrates my reaching the half century mark? Hmmm... I usually celebrate with an extra special spin class. And I still will. In a couple of weeks. I am going to combine my birthday spin with the annual Extra Special Christmas "Give the Shirt Off Your Back" Sexy Spin where I collect clothing for the youth program at the Los Angeles LGBT Center. There will be special music. Special prizes. Special guests. And of course, Sexy Santa. So make plans now to attend! (see what I did there? see how I still managed to promote my class as I am being reflective?) So, like I said, I have never really been one to be shy about my age. I really don't even like too much "touching up" in my headshots. I've always believed that the face that a casting director sees in the picture should be the same face that they should see when I walk through the door! (well, see how far that has gotten me...I mean..."We found your coat."...yeah, that line by Coat Check Guy on "Will & Grace" was the highlight of my television acting career...a highlight for which I am extremely grateful!) But it took a commitment by me to hire that personal trainer. I had to make a commitment to make a change. Funny, I have been talking in my classes for all of 2014 about making change. A positive change. Well, it was time I made that commitment in my own workouts. And I'm glad I did. And now, as I reflect, I realize that I am extremely lucky. I get to do something I love to make a living. Well, maybe not make a full "living." A partial living. Yeah. Like my granddad always said, "It's beer money!" That's what he called his oil income. Meaning he could use that money to buy beer. But he wasn't really a big beer drinker. Neither am I. I mean, if I drank much beer at all, I would be making the kind of changes that would change me right out of my 31-inch waist jeans! So, I do love teaching spin. And if I can make just one person happier in life. By reaching one of their fitness goals. By helping them change their outlook or self image. By encouraging them to have fun while working so hard on the spin bike attempting what so many call "torture". Then I have accomplished something. Something that I take very seriously and absolutely do not take for granted. And I consider myself lucky. I have an amazing and beautiful husband that always puts me first. I have two amazing twin 6-year old boys that keep me young. That keep me on my toes. That keep me guessing. That keep me questioning. That keep me laughing. Yeah, they do that a lot. And I have great family and friends. So, yes, I consider myself lucky. And I am grateful. And I am blessed. And I am happy. Am I doing exactly what I thought I would be doing when I set out to create my life 25 years ago? (again, I was 5!) No. But I'm doing what I love. I'm doing something good. And I'm good at it. So as I end this (long-winded...much like my talk in my classes) reflection, I want to say thank you to everyone in my spin classes. In my life. Today. Yesterday. Tomorrow. Thank you for letting me make a difference in your life. Thank you for making a difference in mine. Let's continue making a positive change as we head into the future! Whatever we do! And as always, in good health! tommy

Friday, November 07, 2014

Track List - Sexy Spin, Thursday, November 6, 2014

1. Send Me An Angel (remix) - Slyngshott featuring Bernadette DeSimone
2. Black Widow - Iggy Azalea featuring Rita Ora
3. L.A. Love (La La)(remix) - Fergie featuring YG
4. Main Chick (remix) - Kid Ink featuring Chris Brown, French Montana, Yo Gotti, Tyga & Lil Bobby
5. All You Need Is Love - Willy Chirino featuring Flo Rida & Black Dada
6. Steal My Girl (remix) - One Direction
7. Replay - Zendaya
8. Trumpets - Jason Derulo
9. Beautiful (remix) - Kylie Minogue & Enrique Iglesias
10. Jealous (remix) - Nick Jonas
11. I Want It That Wave (mashup) - DJ MixmstrStel featuring Mr. Probz vs. The Backstreet Boys
12. Boulevard Of Happy Dreams (mashup) - DJ Poulpi featuring Green Day & Pharrell
13. Just Give Me A Mirror When September Ends (mashup) - DJ Shahar Varshal ft. Pink, Michael Jackson & Green Day

New bikes! The first 2 and a half rows in the spin room at Crunch Fitness - Sunset are filled with new bikes! They just arrived this Wednesday. The rest of the new bikes should arrive in the next few days. Then we will have all new bikes that look great, ride great and give you all a great Ride! These bikes can also do more. There are monitors that will be able to provide us additional information during our Rides, but we instructors have not yet been trained on them. We will be soon and then we can get even more out of our Rides! I look forward to riding, learning and gaining more from our Rides with you! Exciting!

Tuesday, November 04, 2014

NEW SPIN BIKES AT CRUNCH!

I am very happy to announce that Crunch Fitness - Sunset will definitely and indeed be getting new spin bikes! To take the time to install them properly, there will be no classes on Wednesday, November 5, 2014. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause. Classes will resume bright and early with Sexy Spin on Thursday morning, November 6th at 7:00am on the sexy, shiny new spin bikes! I look forward to seeing you all there! Yay!

Saturday, November 01, 2014

Subs for the Ride with Tommy! Saturday, Nov. 1 through Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014!

I will be out of town this Saturday through Tuesday, November 1st through the 4th. I have the following amazing instructors covering my classes for me:

Saturday, 11/1, 9:45am – Guy B.
Monday, 11/3, 9:30am – Guy B. (regular Ride, not a Red Line Ride)
Tuesday, 11/4, 7:00am – Kirk Allen

There will be no classes on Wednesday, 11/5 as we are receiving and installing all new spin bikes at the Sunset location!

I will be back teaching on Thursday, 11/6 for the 7:00am Sexy Spin.

I hope everyone had an amazing and safe Halloween! Please stay committed to your workouts, and I'll see you Wednesday!

In good health,

tommy

Friday, October 31, 2014

Track List - Sexy Spin, Thursday, October 30, 2014

1. Send Me An Angel (remix) - Slyngshott featuring Bernadette DeSimone
2. Black Widow - Iggy Azalea featuring Rita Ora
3. L.A. Love (La La)(remix) - Fergie featuring YG
4. Main Chick (remix) - Kid Ink featuring Chris Brown, French Montana, Yo Gotti, Tyga & Lil Bobby
5. All You Need Is Love - Willy Chirino featuring Flo Rida & Black Dada
6. Steal My Girl (remix) - One Direction
7. Replay - Zendaya
8. Trumpets - Jason Derulo
9. Beautiful (remix) - Kylie Minogue & Enrique Iglesias
10. Jealous (remix) - Nick Jonas
11. I Want It That Wave (mashup) - DJ MixmstrStel featuring Mr. Probz vs. The Backstreet Boys
12. Boulevard Of Happy Dreams (mashup) - DJ Poulpi featuring Green Day & Pharrell
13. Just Give Me A Mirror When September Ends (mashup) - DJ Shahar Varshal ft. Pink, Michael Jackson & Green Day

Happy Halloween! Here's a scary scenario. Missing your workout! Don't let it happen to you! Stay committed and focused on your health! I've already been talking a little bit about the holidays that are fast approaching. It starts today with all the candy floating around the office, being purchased to hand out but ends up being eaten instead, and that will soon be left over and/or on extreme sale at the local grocery store. Don't give in! Yes, there is some truth to the belief that we work out so hard so that we can indulge on occasion. That is fine. But true lifestyle changes that are made to help you obtain your fitness goals must be worked on, paid attention to, focused on to work as they are supposed to. So remember that a moment of weakness here and there, a cheat day or a cheat meal or a cheat snack is not that big of a deal. But keep your eye on the prize! Stay focused on what it is that you really want. What you really want to accomplish. Maintain that commitment to a healthy lifestyle. Keep losing that weight. Keep getting stronger. Keep improving your mental and physical well-being. It can happen in the Ride with Tommy! I hope to see you there soon! In good health, tommy

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Track List - #totalrequestride, Wednesday, October 29, 2014

1. Send Me An Angel (remix) - Slyngshott featuring Bernadette DeSimone
2. Black Widow - Iggy Azalea featuring Rita Ora
3. L.A. Love (La La)(remix) - Fergie featuring YG
4. Main Chick (remix) - Kid Ink featuring Chris Brown, French Montana, Yo Gotti, Tyga & Lil Bobby
5. All You Need Is Love - Willy Chirino featuring Flo Rida & Black Dada
6. Steal My Girl (remix) - One Direction
7. Replay - Zendaya
8. Trumpets - Jason Derulo
9. Beautiful (remix) - Kylie Minogue & Enrique Iglesias
10. Jealous (remix) - Nick Jonas
11. I Want It That Wave (mashup) - DJ MixmstrStel featuring Mr. Probz vs. The Backstreet Boys
12. Boulevard Of Happy Dreams (mashup) - DJ Poulpi featuring Green Day & Pharrell
13. Just Give Me A Mirror When September Ends (mashup) - DJ Shahar Varshal ft. Pink, Michael Jackson & Green Day


Change. Way back in January, I began discussing "change" in my classes. For that month, I talked primarily about even the smallest changes you can make within yourself. In your own Ride. Then in February, we talked about making those changes a little bigger, getting out of your internal world and expanding the changes into the world around you. It is then that I first began to really emphasize the importance of taking care of your own business while, therefore, and without really any additional effort at all, helping create a positive environment in the room around you. Helping the people around you get the best Ride that they can by focusing on your own Ride and trying to accomplish as much as you possibly can. It is that focus, that commitment, to the Ride that I have created and provided for you that helps create the change in yourself that you want and for which you work so hard. It is also that focus and commitment that helps the people around you get the best Ride that they possibly can. If a rider sees another truly working to the best of his or her ability in the same class doing the same workout, it can't help but push and challenge that rider to do the same. If a rider sees another rider doing their own thing, not following the provided path and workout, and not committing and getting the most that they can, then that rider is distracted and prevented from achieving all that they can. See what power each rider wields? Many do not ever realize the change that they can create. Many never realize the help that they can provide the riders around them. Many never realize the results that they set out to achieve. So now that it is October, the tenth month of the year, and as the end of the year and the holidays are fast approaching, I think it is extremely helpful to remember the positive change that each of us can create. The focus and commitment of which we are all capable. The power that we hold. Yes, I have talked a great deal about change. With each Ride, I hope you also realize the power that comes along with that desire to create change. The power. The strength. The change. I hope each of you realize it. I hope that each of you achieve it. I hope that each of you reward yourself with it. Come and be a part of the Ride with Tommy! I hope to see you there! In good health, tommy

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Subs for the Ride with Tommy! Thursday, 10/23 - Saturday, 10/25

I will be out of town for the remainder of this week. Here are the amazing instructors who will be covering my classes and in whose extremely capable hands I will leave you!

Thursday, October 23, 7:00am, Sexy Spin - Kyler Madeira
Friday, October 24, 9:30am, Regular Ride - Guy B. (not a Red Line Ride)
Saturday, October 25, 9:45am, Regular Ride - Guy B.

Thanks to all of you for your continued support of the Ride with Tommy! And thanks to these awesome instructors for their help and for sharing their talent and skills!

I will be back in the saddle next Monday for the next Red Line Ride! Until then, in good health!

tommy

Track List - #totalrequestride, Wednesday, October 22, 2014

1. Bye Bye Bye (Timbaland remix) - 'Nsync
2. Animals - Maroon 5
3. Out Of The Woods - Taylor Swift
4. Rolling In The Deep - Aretha Franklin
5. Love Train - IDMC Gospel Choir
6. American Dream - MKTO
7. All About That Bass - Meghan Trainor
8. Thriller 2014 (remix) - Michael Jackson
9. Secrets (remix) - Mary Lambert
10. Bang Bang (remix) - Jessie J featuring Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj
11. Jealous - Nick Jonas
12. Steal My Girl - One Direction
13. Life Of The Party - Shawn Mendes

New music! Not only was this morning's Ride a #totalrequestride, but it could have also been called a #newmusicride! Sometimes there is a lot of fun and motivating music released at the same time. This week seems to be one of those weeks! It is often fun to be on the cutting edge of new music released. As long as I feel that the music is appropriate to the activity or challenge in class. But new music can also inspire new energy. And as I always say, energy and focus and commitment and fun all work together to give you the results you want and need. I hope you found that in class this morning. I know I did! Thanks for being there! I will be out of town the rest of this week, leaving you all in the very capable hands of Kyler and Guy. I will be back on Monday for the next Red Line Ride. Have a great rest of your week and an amazing weekend! Until Monday, in good health! tommy

Monday, October 20, 2014

Track List - Saturday, October 18, 2014

1. Control - Janet Jackson
2. I Love Summertime Cool Kids (mashup) - DJ Titus Jones featuring Icona Pop, Lana Del Rey, Echosmith & Nonono
3. Superbad - Jesse McCartney
4. Baby Baby (remix) - Amy Grant
5. Be Okay - Oh Honey
6. Boom Clap (mashup) - DJ Mixmstrstel featuring Charli XCX, Gwen Stefani, Paramore, Kurtis Blow, Busta Rhymes, Ashlee Simpson, DJ Jazzy Jeff & L'Trimm
7. Come With Me Now - Kongos
8. Stay With Me (remix) - Sam Smith
9. A Sky Full Of Stars (remix) - Coldplay
10. Wrong Message (mashup) - DJ Mixmstrstel featuring The Police, Nico & Vinz
11. Stay, Adam (mashup) - DJ Mixmstrstel featuring Rihanna & Blink-182
12. That's What Love Is For - Amy Grant
13. I Have Nothing (piano instrumental) - Tariq Wingrove

I finally have internet again! After being without a home computer and internet service for a week, I am finally back online! I apologize for the delay in posting my tracklists. I know that it is not easy to remember which songs you heard and want to find out the title or artist much longer than a few hours after class! But here are Saturday's songs that I put together for what I hope was a challenging and fun class. I think you all did an amazing job and I had a great time leading you on the journey. A journey that hopefully led you to increased results. To a better sense of accomplishment and achievement. A feeling that, "Yeah! I did even more than I thought I was going to! More than I thought I could! I definitely made a difference today!" These are the kind of responses I hope that everyone has after a Ride with Tommy! Instead of thinking, "Well, I felt like I was working hard, but I probably could have done more." I want there to be no feelings of ambiguity. I want there to be a definitive and resounding "YES! I DID IT!" As I often say, I provide the path, the framework. It is ultimately up to you, the rider, to commit fully to the form, pace, resistance and movement. That is all you have to do. The instructor and the format, the music and the energy of the room and the rest of the group should help you take it to another level. So yes, I am the instructor. But everyone in class plays a very important part! Be a part of something special. Be a part of something that makes a positive difference! Ride with Tommy! In good health, tommy

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Track List - Sexy Spin, Thursday, October 16, 2014

1. Run This Town In D Minor (mashup) - DJs From Mars featuring Jay-Z, Kanye West, Rihanna & Johann Sebastian Bach
2. Money Grabber - Fitz And The Tantrums
3. Walking On Air (Dave Aude club mix) - Lance Bass & Anice K. featuring Belle Blue
4. Sugar, She Looks So Perfect (mashup) - DJ MixmstrStel featuring 5 Seconds Of Summer & Fall Out Boy
5. Wasted (remix) - Tiesto featuring Matthew Koma
6. Jungle (remix) - X Ambassadors & Jamie N Commons featuring Jay-Z
7. Like A G6 - Far East Movement
8. Cool Kids - Echosmith
9. 99 Red Problems (mashup) - DJ MixmstrStel featuring Nena & Jay-Z
10. Somebody Loves Summer (mashup) - DJ Titus Jones featuring Calvin Harris, Betty Who & Whitney Houston
11. How Will I Know (acoustic ballad cover of Whitny Houston) - Sam Smith
12. Red Light Special - TLC
13. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (cover of The Smiths) - Joseph Arthur

Sexy. It is not just after breakfast anymore! That's right! You can be and feel sexy at 7:00am in the morning! I get told all the time that someone can't feel sexy that early. That Sexy Spin is too early. Well, evidenced by the many hot, sweaty, sexy and shirtless people that are in Sexy Spin every Thursday morning and have been there at least at some point in the past 6 years that we have been doing it, I totally beg to differ! Thanks to all the sexy people that have joined me at 7:00am on Thursday mornings at Crunch Fitness on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. It is one of my favorite classes to teach. As I have often said in the past, Sexy Spin is the same intense Ride that you have come to expect. It's just a little sillier...sweatier...shirtless...and a whole lot more sexy! I have so much fun creating the track lists for Sexy Spin. I try to be subtle...okay, sometimes maybe not sooo subtle...but I try to provide a little fun for those riders that are truly focused on the ride...the workout. It may be just a lyric. It may be the title of the song. It may be something I say, thrown in the middle of all the speak about form, pace and resistance. Yes, it can be obvious when there is a toned, muscular body glistening under the flashing, dark lights. Or it can even be a new-found sense of strength or accomplishment while performing a specific challenge. Or it can be the sense of confidence and achievement that you are doing something that you know is good for your body...and also your mind. So yes, Sexy Spin is great for the body. But it is also great for the mind. Provide yourself with a new outlook on you! Think more of yourself. Think of all that you can do that is so right for your body. Feel it. Enjoy it. Celebrate it. Feel sexy! Ride with me in Sexy Spin. Thursday mornings. 7:00am. Yup. 7:00am! In good health, tommy

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Track List - #totalrequestride, Wednesday, October 15, 2014

1. Red Lights - Tiesto
2. Fancy - Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX
3. Mo Money, Mo Problems - Notorious B.I.G. featuring Diana Ross
4. Problem - DJ MixmstrStel featuring Ariana Grande, Iggy Azalea, Nelly, Christina Aguilera, Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Missy Elliott, 'Nsync, TLC, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
5. Mmm Yeah - Austin Mahone featuring Pitbull
6. Relight My Fire - Dan Hartman
7. Bang Bang (remix) - Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj
8. Booty - Jennifer Lopez featuring Iggy Azalea
9. Ugly Heart - G.R.L.
10. Fireball - Pitbull featuring John Ryan
11. Jesus Walks x Sound Of Silence (mashup) - DJ Novokane featuring Kanye West, Simon & Garfunkel
12. Take A Bow With Me (mashup) - DJ Radio Sheezus featuring Rihanna & Sam Smith
13. Just Give Me A Mirror When September Ends (mashup) - DJ Shahar Varshal ft. Pink, Michael Jackson & Green Day

#totalrequestride every Wednesday at Crunch Fitness on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. Tweet your requests to @crunchgym followed by the hashtag, #totalrequestride. Not only can you hear your favorite songs in class, but you are automatically entered to win an iTunes giftcard! Crunch is always introducing new classes to try to make your commitment to getting a better "you" as fun as possible. #totalrequestride is just that. A great way to meet your fitness goals while having fun doing it! Yes, there is an emphasis on the requested music, but there is still as always an ever greater emphasis on an intense, challenging and safe workout. So get your Ride on! Get your requests in! Get your results asap! Request it. Ride to it! You can do it! So let's just do it! Now! Thanks to everyone that has been a part of the #totalrequestride so far! I look forward to riding to your favorite music next week! Until then, in good health, tommy

Friday, October 10, 2014

Guy B. will be subbing the Ride with Tommy! tomorrow morning, Saturday, October 11, 2014, 9:45am

Thanks so much to the awesome instructor, Guy B., for covering my class tomorrow morning, Saturday, October 11, 2014, at 9:45am. I really appreciate being able to entrust the mental and physical health and well-being of my class into such capable hands! And I truly appreciate all of the riders who consistently take part in my classes and provide such amazing energy, focus, and commitment.

I look forward to riding again with you all on Monday's Red Line Ride at 9:30am!

See you then but until then, in good health!

tommy

Thursday, October 09, 2014

Track List - Sexy Spin, Thursday, October 9, 2014

1. Ye Of Thrones (mashup) - DJ Nada One featuring Kanye West & Game Of Thrones Theme
2. This Is How We Do - Katy Perry
3. Ugly Heart (remix) - G.R.L.
4. Bang Bang (remix) - Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj
5. Booty - Jennifer Lopez featuring Iggy Azalea
6. Call Me A Hole (mashup) - DJ PomDeter featuring Carly Rae Jepsen & Nine Inch Nails
7. I Can't Stop Drinking About You (remix) - Bebe Rexha
8. Toxic - Britney Spears
9. The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone) - U2
10. Every Heartbeat Personal Jesus (mashup) - LPVMusic Promotions featuring Amy Grant & Depeche Mode
11. Fireball - Pitbull featuring John Ryan
12. Jesus Walks x Sound Of Silence (mashup) - DJ Novokane featuring Kanye West, Simon & Garfunkel
13. Take A Bow With Me (mashup) - DJ Radio Sheezus featuring Rihanna & Sam Smith
14. Just Give Me A Mirror When September Ends (mashup) - DJ Shahar Varshal ft. Pink, Michael Jackson & Greenday

This morning's Sexy Spin was so sexy and fun and challenging and intense and sweaty and fun! Where else are you gonna hear Carly Rae Jepsen and Nine Inch Nails together? Or Amy Grant and Depeche Mode? Or Simon & Garfunkel and Kanye West? Mixing it up. Working hard. Having fun. Ride with Tommy! Thanks for being there and being a part!

Track List - #totalrequestride, Wednesday, October 8, 2014

1. Ye Of Thrones (mashup) - DJ Nada One featuring Kanye West & Game Of Thrones Theme
2. This Is How We Do - Katy Perry
3. Ugly Heart (remix) - G.R.L.
4. Bang Bang (remix) - Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj
5. Booty - Jennifer Lopez featuring Iggy Azalea
6. Call Me A Hole (mashup) - DJ PomDeter featuring Carly Rae Jepsen & Nine Inch Nails
7. I Can't Stop Drinking About You (remix) - Bebe Rexha
8. Toxic - Britney Spears
9. The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone) - U2
10. Every Heartbeat Personal Jesus (mashup) - LPVMusic Promotions featuring Amy Grant & Depeche Mode
11. Fireball - Pitbull featuring John Ryan
12. Jesus Walks x Sound Of Silence (mashup) - DJ Novokane featuring Kanye West, Simon & Garfunkel
13. Take A Bow With Me (mashup) - DJ Radio Sheezus featuring Rihanna & Sam Smith
14. Just Give Me A Mirror When September Ends (mashup) - DJ Shahar Varshal ft. Pink, Michael Jackson & Greenday

Here is the track list for the #totalrequestride at Crunch Fitness - Sunset. Bang Bang. Check. Fireball. Check. Toxic. Check. Thanks for your requests! Great Ride. Check. Great fun. Check. Results. Check!

Saturday, October 04, 2014

Track List - Saturday, October 4, 2014

1. Scream - Michael & Janet Jackson
2. Break Free - Ariana Grande featuring Zedd
3. Shake It Off - Taylor Swift
4. Maps (remix) - Maroon 5
5. Fancy Groove (mashup) - DJ MixmstrStel featuring Madonna, Iggy Azalea & Charli XCX
6. Hard - Rihanna featuring Young Jeezy
7. Rather Be - Clean Bandits
8. Survivor - Destiny's Child
9. Really Don't Care (remix) - Demi Lovato featuring Cher Lloyd
10. Best Song Ever (remix) - One Direction
11. Back For Good - Boyce Avenue('s cover of Take That)
12. Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper featuring Sarah McLachlan
13. Against All Odds - Phil Collins

Variety. Mixing it up. Change. Never getting stuck in a rut. Never settling on the status quo. That is what I strive for in my own workouts. That is what I strive to provide for my classes as an instructor. I hope that is what every rider gets as they consistently take my class. Yes, there are some basics that I build my class around: hills, runs, jogs, jumps, presses, movement. I feel it is vital to mix it up in class so that your body has to work to adapt to these changes - these obstacles - that are created. And we create them together. I provide the layout of the class. The framework. The "choreography". But to make it a hill - a steep hill - the rider must commit to turning the resistance up. The rider determines how steep or how challenging the hill really is. To make it a run that really pushes the heart rate up, the rider must commit to a fast pace as well as resistance. Yes, I said it. I emphasize running WITH resistance. I try to discourage running without any resistance. Anyone can do that. Yes, it is better than staying at home and sitting on the couch where your only exercise is picking up the remote. But to run at a fast pace with at least a little resistance can really push that heart rate up and increase the calorie burn. Jogging also requires resistance. Jogging without resistance is just going through the motions. I encourage more from riders. I want them to always push through at least some resistance, while they are jogging - even while they are running - to keep those heart rates up and to burn more calories. To get stronger. To work your muscles. To work the most important muscle - the heart. To get your body used to working with resistance while committing to the pace and keeping a focus on form. And then increasing the challenge by adding some simple movement without taking away from the three basics of form, pace and resistance. Movements need not be big. Small controlled movements are all that is needed. But remaining in control. Keeping focused. While changing it up. By forcing the body to react to the changing workout in different ways. Mixing it up. Variety. Results. Thank you to all riders for your continued support of the Ride with Tommy! I hope that we continue to create change together. Positive change. We can do it. So let's just do it! Have a great weekend! See you on Monday! In good health, tommy

Friday, October 03, 2014

Track List - Sexy Spin, Thursday, October 2, 2014

1. Weekend - Janet Jackson
2. All I Wanna Do - T. Mills
3. Life In A Northern Town (remix) - Dream Academy vs. Dario G
4. Melt With You - Modern English
5. We Can't Stop (remix) - Miley Cyrus
6. Molly - Cedric Gervais
7. The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone) - U2
8. Rocket Man (remix) - Elton John
9. Secrets (remix) - Mary Lambert
10. I Melt With You - Modern English
11. Life In A Northern Town - Dream Academy
12. Don't Tell Me We Can't Stop (live mashup) - Madonna & Miley Cyrus

Structure. I recently told someone that one of the things that sets my classes apart from others is the structure I provide. There is an emphasis on proper form. There is an emphasis on commitment to the resistance level and to the pace of the pedal stroke. There is an emphasis on movement, whether it be the basic pedal stroke, jumps, presses, the squeezing of the abs and obliques, or even the minimization of unnecessary (wild and crazy) upper-body movement. There is an emphasis on control. I, as the instructor, create specific challenges that change from one to the next. Hills. Runs. Jogs. Then you, as the rider, have to commit to these challenges as much as you can based on your own personal experience and fitness level. And all of this is introduced within the confines of commitment to the workout while committing to, again, the proper form and safety. So there is a definite structure to my classes. A structure that includes changing the workout from one challenge to the next smoothly and as seamlessly as possible. I do not instruct to just go all out the entire ride without committing to these basic elements that make a class as efficient, effective, and productive as possible. I believe that is unsafe. And it certainly does not provide the most return on energy invested. It certainly does not force your body to change in reaction to the change in the workout that both you and I create in class. I believe that it is this reaction of your body to the changes in challenges, resistance levels and movement that provide a better overall workout. Your heart rate is increased. You burn more calories. You can burn more body fat. You can get stronger. You can improve your overall cardiovascular fitness. I provide the framework within which you can commit to getting the best "YOU" possible. But I don't do this blindly. I educate riders as we go along so that there is an understanding of what we are trying to accomplish. I want you to learn to commit as much as you can so that you can get the most results that you can. But I also want you to learn as much as you can as to what you are doing, how best to do it, and then how to do it as it becomes "second-nature". It will take less and less energy to learn the control, the focus, the commitment so that you can spend more energy on increasing the level to which you commit to the challenges. In so doing, you can definitely get more out of your workouts. You can get those results that you have worked so hard on for so long. You can become a better rider. You can become better in your own eyes, both mentally and physically. This is what I hope for you. This is why I provide structure. To make it as easy for you to work as hard as you can and to achieve as much as possible. Together we can do this. So, let's do this. Together. Through structure. And through the Ride with Tommy! Thanks for trusting me to help you take this Ride, this journey. We will all come out of the process better for having gone through it. See you soon! In good health, tommy

Wednesday, October 01, 2014

Track List - #totalrequestride, Wednesday, October 1, 2014

1. Crazy In Love - Beyonce'
2. Booty - Jennifer Lopez featuring Iggy Azalea
3. Anaconda - Nicki Minaj
4. Maps (remix) - Maroon 5
5. Fancy Groove (mashup) - DJ MixmstrStel featuring Madonna, Iggy Azalea & Charli XCX
6. Break Free - Ariana Grande featuring Zedd
7. Shake It Off - Taylor Swift
8. All About That Bass - Meghan Trainor
9. Bang Bang - Jessie J featuring Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj
10. Really Don't Care (remix) - Demi Lovato featuring Cher Lloyd
11. Best Song Ever (remix) - One Direction
12. Waves - Mr. Probz
13. Back For Good - Boyce Avenue('s cover of Take That)
14. Against All Odds - Phil Collins

This morning's #totalrequestride once again provided the opportunity for us to come together as a group and create so much! Together, we can create an environment to inspire, motivate and instigate change. Positive change. Make a difference. Way back in January of this year, I began focusing a lot of my classes on change. Not just any change, but a positive change. In other words, a change that you want. A change that you are willing to work towards. A change that is not easy, but when you make strides toward realizing that change, you can't help but feel a certain level of satisfaction. Not satisfaction that allows you to rest on your laurels, or to sit back and fall back into old habits or to begin to take it easy again. No, I want you all to feel a level of satisfaction that comes with hard work and the feeling as you begin to realize the change that you can actually see and feel, that you are inspired and motivated to continue to work hard and do even more! Then, that inspiration and motivation provides the instigation of more work and more results! I hope that you jump on that Ride, that you continue on a path that leads to each of you getting what you want out of your workouts. I hope that I, as the instructor, provide you the opportunity to make all of this happen for you. I hope that the class that I put together, the building blocks that I place before you, provide you with the tools to construct the results that you want. I hope that the motivation and inspiration that I get from each of you, in turn, provides each of you with the necessary motivation and inspiration for you to work harder, commit more, and have even more fun as you workout. When you enter the spin room here at Crunch, I hope that you leave all the negatives that can get in your way, outside of the door. I hope that you leave all that is bothering you or clouding your vision and focus, outside of the door. Once you step into the spin room, I want you to feel safe that what is about to happen is just what you want and need. I want you to trust that together, we can make it happen. Together, we can create that positive change. We can do some on our own, but we can do so much more together. We can do even more by committing to the work, focusing on it, and willing change to happen. If we bring that which weighs us down into the class with us, if we allow our own selfish motivations and narrow vision to prevent the creation of that positive energy that fills up the room and allows us...each and every one of us!...to reach our fullest potential, then we are truly providing not only ourselves, but everyone in class a disservice. So again, I encourage every rider to open yourself up to the vast range of possibilities that lie waiting for you to reach for and grab them! It begins with a mindset. It continues with an openness and willingness. It ends with a satisfaction, a realization that you did all that you could do, or even more than you thought you could. More than you thought possible. I wish this for you. I promise to help make this possible for every rider. Here's to change. Here's to making it happen. Here's to all of you. Thank you. In good health, tommy

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Track List - Tuesday, September 30, 2014

1. Looking Hot (remix) - No Doubt
2. Never Been In Love - Cobra Starship featuring Icona Pop
3. Mash 'n' Stuff - DJ Radio Sheezus featuring Deadmau5 vs. Weekender, Tag Team, David Bowie & Duran Duran
4. Bad Girls (remix) - Donna Summer
5. All That Matters (The Beautiful Life) - Ke$ha
6. Centuries - Fall Out Boy
7. Ugly Heart - G.R.L.
8. Gold Rush (remix) - Clinton Sparks ft. 2 Chainz, Macklemore & D.A.
9. This Is How We Do (remix) - Katy Perry
10. All Night (remix) - Icona Pop
11. Just Give Me A Mirror When September Ends (mashup) - DJ Shahar Varshal ft. Pink, Michael Jackson & Greenday
12. Take A Bow With Me (mashup) - DJ Radio Sheezus featuring Rihanna & Sam Smith
13. Amnesia - 5 Seconds Of Summer

Happy birthday, Patrick! Thanks for celebrating your birthday with the Ride with Tommy! What a great way to celebrate your special day. What a great way to start any day! Thanks for your requests and your commitment to your Ride, your workout and your goals!

As I often say, we always have something to celebrate. Whether it is a birthday, anniversary, a charity event, or even just the ability to get up and out of bed each morning, life provides us with so much to celebrate. Oh you could get all caught up in the negative. Life is full of things that frustrate us. Often, these are so small in the big picture of life. If we choose to blow these negative happenings out of proportion, it can consume so much of our energy and time that it gets in the way of the so many positive things that help make our lives and daily routines so exciting and rewarding. I hope that when you Ride with Tommy!, it is one of those positive happenings. I hope that when you Ride with Tommy!, you are excited about the challenges that you will help create and overcome in class. I hope that you are excited about the energy and the results that are such a big part of class. I hope that you are rewarded for your hard work and determination that you put into class. I hope that the framework that I, as the instructor, provide you along with the variety of fun, current and motivating music as well as the energy that everybody in the group fitness class helps build, all create an environment that allows everyone in class to achieve all or more of what they set out to achieve. If I can help riders accomplish this - even in the smallest of ways - then I am proud, honored and humbled to do so. Thanks to you all for your support and trust in allowing me to help you. I am inspired to work harder as the instructor. I hope that I share that inspiration with you. I hope to see you in class again soon. Until then, in good health! tommy

Friday, September 26, 2014

Guy B. to sub the Ride with Tommy! tomorrow, Saturday, September 27, 2014, 9:45am


Thanks to Guy B. for subbing my class tomorrow morning, Saturday, September 27, 2014 at 9:45am.

I'll be back to teach the Red Line Ride on Monday morning at 9:30am.

Thanks to Guy and all of you for your continued support!

In good health,

tommy

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Track List - Sexy Spin, Thursday, September 25, 2014

1. I'm Every Woman - Whitney Houston
2. Counting Stars - OneRepublic
3. Story Of My Life (remix) - One Direction
4. I Will Wait - Mumford & Sons
5. Bye Bye Bye (Timbaland remix) - *nsync
6. Karma Chameleon - Culture Club
7. Baracuda - Heart
8. No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) - Donna Summer & Barbra Streisand
9. Sweet Nothing - Calvin Harris featuring Florence Welch
10. Say Something - A Great Big World featuring Christina Aguilera
11. I'll Be There - Mariah Carey
12. True Colors - Cyndi Lauper

Happy birthday to David Quan! This is his 4th year of celebrating his birthday in a great way. Not only does David get his intense Ride and workout while committing to many challenges and having fun to a variety of music that he specially requested for his birthday, he also provided prizes to be given away by drawing bike numbers randomly at the end of class. How giving is that?!?! I hope everyone had a great time. Congrats to all the winners of the great prizes/surprises that David provided. A "The Who" t-shirt, an "Abbey Road" t-shirt, a Kanye West 12" vinyl album, and an Ellie Goulding 12" vinyl album. What great prizes! So David started off the day celebrating his birth by doing something so good for him that will not only help him reach his immediate goals, but it will also help him live a longer and happier life! Now that's what I call an amazing way to start a celebration! And as many of you have heard me say so many times, we always have something to celebrate. There are so many great things in our lives. Yes, there are often trials and troubles that seem to take up a lot of our time and energy. There's no denying that. But if we don't take time to also celebrate the so much that is positive and great, we can get lost in all the negativity. Then it is much more difficult to share our positive light with others. It is much more difficult to share the positive energy that we create every time that we commit, focus and have fun in a Ride with Tommy! class. And you may not be overwhelmingly aware, but that is exactly what you do when you open yourself up to a great workout in the Ride with Tommy! When you allow yourself to push and challenge yourself with the changes in pace and resistance while focusing on the best form possible and while also adding movement to the rhythm and beat of some of today's most popular and motivating music, you get results, you create a positive energy that is hard to deny, and you make a positive difference! You make a positive difference, a positive change in your own life AND in the life of others. You have the opportunity to help create a positive change in the life of the people riding right there next to you in class. You also can influence a positive change in the people you encounter the rest of the day. Knowing that you overcame obstacles and challenges that you helped create along with the class layout provided by the instructor, you can't help but carry that positive energy with you and you can't help but share it as it "rubs" off on the people in which you come in contact. How awesome is that? We often may not even realize that power that we have. Next time you step into a Ride with Tommy! class, think about the power that you have, the good that you can do, the positive changes that you can make...in that class...and all day long after class is over. Wow! That is a lot to think about. That is kind of a big responsibility. Don't be afraid to just do it. Enjoy it. And be better for it. Celebrate all that you do. Do it in the Ride with Tommy! Until next time, in good health, tommy

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Dollar Tan to sub the 9:30am #totalrequestride this morning, Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Yes, that's right! Dollar Tan will be making a very special one time only guest appearance as he takes over the #totalrequestride this Wednesday morning at 9:30am at Crunch Fitness - Sunset. Come celebrate this special event!

I'll be back in the instructor saddle Thursday morning at 7:00am for David Quan's Sexy Birthday Spin! There will be prizes, sexy shirtless boys and a whole lot of fun music! Hope to see you there!

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Track List - Saturday, September 20, 2014

1. Chandelier (remix) - Sia
2. Birthday - Katy Perry
3. All About That Bass - Meghan Trainor
4. Bang Bang - Jessie J featuring Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj
5. Undressed (remix) - Kim Cesarion
6. Fade Into Darkness (remix) - Avicii
7. Sleeping With A Friend - Neon Trees
8. Bailando - Enrique Iglesias featuring Sean Paul
10. Work - Iggy Azalea
11. Dare You (remix) - Hardwell featuring Matthew Koma
12. Walking On Air (remix) - Lance Bass & Anice K. featuring Belle Blue
13. When I Was Your Man (cover of Bruno Mars) - Boyce Avenue
14. Because Of You (cover of Neyo) - Boyce Avenue
15. Nothin' On You, My Love, Rocketeer (cover of B.o.B., Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake & Far East Movement

The last official weekend of summer! I know, I know. Labor Day for all intents and purposes, has become the final weekend for pool parties, wearing white, beach trips and backyard bbq's. Well, the autumnal equinox actually occurs on Tuesday, September 23rd, this upcoming Tuesday. So I hope that everyone goes out and enjoys the last ACTUAL summer weekend. We finally have some cooler weather here in Southern California. It has been a virtual heatwave for the past week or so. But now that fall is upon us, I hope that everyone is settling into their fall routines. However, I hope that doesn't mean that everyone is content to settle in at home and forego their workouts! As I recently posted, the fall season is beautiful (for most climates), but it is also filled with health and fitness traps. Halloween candy. Thanksgiving dinner. Christmas travel and shopping. Rosh Hashanna and Hannukah. New Fall TV shows. Football! Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Lattes. All of these can get in the way of the healthy lifestyles and workout routines that you have worked so hard to commit to and maintain for the first 8 months of this year. Don't quit! Don't stop! Don't give up! Now is the time to buckle down and recommit so that the fall activities don't "weigh" you down! I will be working hard over the next few weeks and months to provide new and challenging workouts to keep you interested, challenged, focused, committed and having fun while doing it! I want you to be excited to get up, jump out of bed, make it to Crunch, sit yourself on a bike and have an intense, form-focused and fun Ride! So if I haven't seen you in a while, then make plans to join me and the Ride with Tommy! soon! New workouts! New music! More fun! Better results! Let's do this! In good health, tommy

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Track List - Sexy Spin, Thursday, September 18, 2014

1. Happy Days Are Here Again/Get Happy - Billy Porter featuring Cyndi Lauper
2. On Top Of The World - Imagine Dragons
3. Love Shack - The B-52s
4. No Scrubs - TLC
5. Shake It Off - Taylor Swift
6. Shake Ya Tail-Feather - Nelly, P. Diddy & Murphy Lee
7. Shake Your Groove Thing - Peaches And Herb
8. Poker Face (remix) - Lady Gaga
9. Throb - Janet Jackson
10. You And I - Lady Gaga
11. Falling Slowly - Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová & The Frames
12. When You Believe - Whitney Houston & Mariah Carey

I hope you all had a great class and that you enjoyed the music and the workout built into the class. As I always say, I provide the framework within which you can commit or the path upon which you can ride. That is a big part of class, yes, but ultimately, how much you commit to that workout, how much you actually push and challenge yourself is up to you. Therefore, how much you actually get out of the workout, how much closer you get to actually reaching your goals, depends a great deal on you. The instructor plays a very important, even vital, part of class, but it is the combination of the instructor's role and the level to which the rider commits that actually helps that rider realize a goal. Just as a trainer can help push and motivate the trainee, just as a teacher can nurture and challenge a pupil, just as a leader can instill confidence and inspire greatness among the people, an instructor can and should be able to create and provide the environment in which every one in class can succeed in reaching one's goals or even exceed one's expectations! I've also been known to say that in a group fitness class, or specifically an indoor cycling class, that to begin with, all you really have to do is show up and get on a bike. The instructor's ability, the music, and the energy provided by the others in class should propel and elevate you to obtain a Ride that will make a big difference. I stand by this statement. All of this should come together to create an almost fool-proof process to achieve positive change. And for many, that is enough. However, for those of you that want to take your workout to the next level, to exceed your expectations, to reach and go beyond your goals, the final and also vitally important part is you, your commitment, your focus, your energy, your desire to make a positive change, a positive difference. And each of you can do it. I hope to be able to help you do it. I am and will continue to be honored to be there to help you do it. So thank you to all that have entrusted me to help currently and in the past. I am here. With my framework. With a path. I hope you choose to follow it, to be a vital part of it. I think we can make a big difference! I hope to see you in class soon! In good health, tommy

Track List - #totalrequestride, Wednesday, September 17, 2014

1. Happy Days Are Here Again/Get Happy - Billy Porter featuring Cyndi Lauper
2. On Top Of The World - Imagine Dragons
3. Love Shack - The B-52s
4. No Scrubs - TLC
5. Shake It Off - Taylor Swift
6. Shake Ya Tail-Feather - Nelly, P. Diddy & Murphy Lee
7. Shake Your Groove Thing - Peaches And Herb
8. Poker Face (remix) - Lady Gaga
9. Throb - Janet Jackson
10. You And I - Lady Gaga
11. Falling Slowly - Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová & The Frames
12. When You Believe - Whitney Houston & Mariah Carey

Positivity. I talk so often about making a change in my classes. One of the most important things that should be so easy to create in class is a positive energy. It really doesn't take much effort at all. All you have to do is make it to class, get on a bike, commit to riding with determination and focus, and let the instructor, the music and the positive energy of the room do the rest! It doesn't take much preparation. Just show up and be present. No, it is not easy to have a Ride that is challenging and that makes a difference in your mental and physical well-being. It does take some work. But the positive energy that can and should be created by everyone in a group fitness class should be the collective result of everyone in class. A commitment to a Ride that will increase your heart rate; a focus on a Ride that provides the greatest return on the amount of work that you put into it; and an openness and willingness to put in the work, learn about proper form, and have fun while riding to a variety of current, motivating music should all be a part of your class experience. I try to choose music that helps create a positive atmosphere. For example, I absolutely love the warm-up or opening track used in this morning's #totalrequestride! "Happy Days Are Here Again/Get Happy" by Billy Porter and Cyndi Lauper. Wow. Such a great combination of talent. Such a positive message! I try to stay away from music that uses language that is negative, offensive or disrespectful to anyone. I try to choose upbeat songs that have a definitive beat to help you move and that foster an organic feeling that not only are you doing a lot of work that is so very good for you, but you are also, without trying very much at all, experiencing a mood-altering force that kind of sneaks up on you and hopefully results in a smile! Yes, a sweaty, exhausted smile, but a smile nonetheless. And it should go without saying really that at the end of a class, that smile should be present as well. Firstly and most obviously, the workout is over. Smile. Then you realize that you actually had a lot of fun while working so hard. Smile. Then you think, "Well, I may not have loved every song choice, but there was at least a moment or two that I really got into it. The music really helped push me to the next level. I really enjoyed riding to that particular song." Smile. Then the thought occurs that all you really did was arrive in class and get on a bike! The instructors format, framework, path, journey, instructions along with the music helped elevate you to a place you maybe didn't even think you could go! And then you became aware of how hard and focused the riders around you were, and that that actually helped you get a better ride and helped you obtain more results. Very big smile! Positivity. It is a great thing. It is powerful. It makes a difference. It can help you make a big change. And it is really so much easier than being negative, self-centered, arrogant, distracting and unwilling to fully commit to being a part of the class. So open yourself up to being positive. Then, see and feel the results! I look forward to experiencing this with you! I can't wait to see you experience it for yourself in the Ride with Tommy! Thanks so much for being a part. I hope to see you in class soon! Until then, in good health, tommy

Monday, September 15, 2014

I will be subbing Christina Fulton's class tonight, Monday, September 15, 2014 at 6:00pm!

I will be subbing Christina's class tonight, Monday, September 15, 2014 at 6:00pm at Crunch Fitness - Sunset. I hope to see you there!

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Track List - Saturday, September 13, 2014

1. Scream - Michael & Janet Jackson
2. Break Free - Ariana Grande featuring Zedd
3. Shake It Off - Taylor Swift
4. Maps (remix) - Maroon 5
5. Fancy Groove (mashup) - DJ MixmstrStel featuring Madonna, Iggy Azalea & Charli XCX
6. Hard - Rihanna featuring Young Jeezy
7. Rather Be - Clean Bandits
8. Survivor - Destiny's Child
9. Really Don't Care (remix) - Demi Lovato featuring Cher Lloyd
10. Best Song Ever (remix) - One Direction
11. Back For Good - Boyce Avenue('s cover of Take That)
12. Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper featuring Sarah McLachlan
13. Against All Odds - Phil Collins

Well here is the track list for yesterday's Ride with Tommy! Thanks to all who participated. It was a lot of fun! It was a lot of hard work! And there was a lot accomplished! I so often try to encourage a commitment to change. It is not easy to make that kind of change. It is not supposed to be. Nobody said it was going to be easy. If they did, they were misleading you. Now, nobody said it wasn't going to be fun! And I try to make class fun so that the time flies by and so that you don't really have time to focus on how difficult it really is. I strive to have everyone say after class, "Wow! That didn't seem like 45 minutes!" Or, "Those 45 minutes went by so fast!" I want everyone to get so caught up in the music, the movement, the challenges, the variety, the mix, the counts, the presses, the jumps, the hills, the runs, the jogs, the resistance, the pace, and most importantly, the focus on form, that you don't have time to get burdened with the fact that you are indeed completing a workout. You are indeed pushing your heart rate up. You are indeed using your muscles. You are indeed burning. You are indeed challenging. You are indeed creating change. A positive change. A positive difference. A difference in your life. In your mental and physical health and well-being. It is when this happens that I am truly proud. It is when this happens that I am truly happy. Happy for everyone that committed to taking part in my class. So thank you to each and everyone of you. Now, share this post with your friends. If you are a member of Crunch Fitness - Sunset, then share my class with your friends. There are free guest passes at the front desk. There are free guest passes on our website. Write a positive review on Yelp! Write a positive review for me on RateYourBurn.com. Share those positive reviews with as many of your friends as possible. I want to do as much as I can to make a great class for all of you. I want all of you to do as much as you can to get results. I want all of us to do as much as we can to get more like-minded people into class. As a member, when you sign up for a bike, make that commitment to show up to class! Don't take away the possibilities from someone else by signing up for a bike and then not showing up. This has been happening way too much lately. I want all of us to do as much as we can to make a class with the Ride with Tommy! as positive of an experience as possible. I want all of us to create as much positive energy in the room as possible. And I want all of us to experience that positive change that we all want as much as possible. So thank you all again for your commitment, your participation, your positive energy, and your willingness to do all that you can do! See you Monday morning at 9:30am for the next Red Line Ride! In good health, tommy

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Track List - Sexy Spin, Thursday, September 11, 2014

1. Happy Days Are Here Again/Get Happy - Billy Porter featuring Cyndi Lauper
2. Rhythm Nation - Janet Jackson
3. Every Heartbeat (remix) - Amy Grant
4. Spice Up Your Life - Spice Girls
5. Bang! Bang! (mashup cover) - Blake McIver
6. Blurry - Puddle Of Mud
7. Good Vibrations - Marky Mark And The Funky Bunch
8. Maps - Maroon 5
9. Break Free (remix) - Ariana Grande featuring Zedd
10. Secrets (remix) - Mary Lambert
11. It Gets Better - Blake McIver
12. Invisible - Hunter Hayes
13. Invisible ((RED) edit) - U2

Wow. So much to say today. So many things going on. Kind of like the variety of music in this morning's track list. A little bit all over the place. But what a fun collection of "eclectic" songs to Ride to this morning! I absolutely love Billy Porter and Cyndi Lauper's cover and mix of "Happy Days Are Here Again/Get Happy"! Two amazing talents teaming up for a fun, hip and energetic rendition of a couple of oldies but goodies! Billy Porter won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical, the musical being "Kinky Boots". Cyndi Lauper wrote the music and lyrics for "Kinky Boots" and she is of course one of my all time favorites. I love her! I played the remix of "Every Heartbeat", another track off of the remix album of Amy Grant's "In Motion: The Remixes". I love Amy Grant! I included a mashup/cover of "Bang Bang" by Jessie J, Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj and "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" by Cher and/or Nancy Sinatra (depending on which version you know the best). The artist performing the mashup/cover of "Bang Bang" is Blake McIver, who starred as Waldo in 1994's "Little Rascals" and also in the series, "Full House". "Full House" was one of my favorite television shows...while I was in college! Yes, major (and embarassing) reveal there! Then there is one of my all-time favorites, "Good Vibrations" by Marky Mark And The Funky Bunch, led by Calvin Klein model and now renowned actor, Mark Wahlberg, who is brother to Donnie Wahlberg of the New Kids On The Block. During my table-waiting days, I actually waited on Mark several times and he was awesome and a great tipper! I remember he tipped me 50% one time! I loved Marky Mark! I love boy bands! I love Mark Wahlberg! (btw, did you see his family's ALS Ice Bucket Challenge video? Too cute!) I included a new song, "Secrets" by Mary Lambert who provided the amazing vocals on Macklemore & Ryan Lewis's amazing song, "Same Love". Macklemore & Ryan Lewis sang "Same Love" at the 2014 Grammys to which 33 couples were married by officiant, Queen Latifah. My good friends Yawar and Jason were one of those couples married that night. Another song I included but as a cool down was another song by Blake McIver, "It Gets Better". This song was written with an anti-bullying theme in response to all the needless and horrific suicides and deaths that were occurring much too often by gay youth in response to senseless bullying. My second cool down was Hunter Hayes's "Invisible" which was also written based on the bullying he received growing up. Finally, another song titled "Invisible" by U2 which was a single that premiered at the Super Bowl and provided for free while the Bank of America donated $1 per download to the (RED) organization founded by Bono which helps raise awareness and funds to eliminate HIV/AIDS in Africa. I love U2 and all the good that they do! And just as I ended class with such beautiful and meaningful, almost somber, music, I also will end this post on a somber note. Today is September 11th, 13 years after the terrorist hijackings of four planes which led to attacks on the World Trade Center Towers in New York and the Pentegon in Washington D.C., and a downed flight in Pennsylvania. We have all been affected in some way by these mindless, senseless, horrific and tragic events. 13 years later, we still remember. God bless everyone who lost a life, a friend, a family member. God bless America! And as I mention blessing, let us count or realize the blessing that we have and take for granted every day. Be grateful for your health! Be grateful for the ability to workout and improve your health! Take advantage of your gym membership. Take advantage of your gym's classes. And come Ride with Tommy! as we work hard, get results, make a difference, and have fun! I love spinning! Whew! Like I said, there was a lot to talk about today. I value the opportunity to teach at one of the best gyms anywhere...Crunch Fitness - Sunset. I hope to see you in class soon! In good health, tommy

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Track List - #totalrequestride, Wednesday, September 10, 2014

1. Happy Days Are Here Again/Get Happy - Billy Porter featuring Cyndi Lauper
2. Rhythm Nation - Janet Jackson
3. Every Heartbeat (remix) - Amy Grant
4. Spice Up Your Life - Spice Girls
5. Bang! Bang! (mashup cover) - Blake McIver
6. Blurry - Puddle Of Mud
7. The Pretender - The Foo Fighters
8. Maps - Maroon 5
9. Break Free (remix) - Ariana Grande featuring Zedd
10. Secrets (remix) - Mary Lambert
11. It Gets Better - Blake McIver
12. Invisible - Hunter Hayes
13. Invisible ((RED) edit) - U2

Variety. I have always tried to play a variety of the most popular and inspiring music in my classes. And I stress variety. I try not to stray too far away from the mainstream. I read Billboard magazine to see what is at the top of the charts. I listen to radio and numerous online music resources to find out what is at the top of their charts. I do this so that in every class, at some point, almost everyone in class can hear a song that they like or are extremely motivated by. I know it is impossible to please everyone all of the time, but I really try to please everyone at least at some point in class. And the music styles at the top of the charts change over time. It is almost cyclical. For a while, rock can top the charts (Van Halen, Rush, KISS, etc.) Soon thereafter, alternative rock ("Seattle grunge": Nirvana, Soundgarten, Pearl Jam, etc.) can rule the charts. Sometimes, it is "bubblegum" pop (such as Britney, Christina, Ariana Grande, Katy Perry, etc.) or boybands ('nsync, Backstreet Boys, One Direction, 5 Seconds Of Summer, etc.) that are most popular. And of course, rap/hip-hop/R&B can be the top-sellers at certain times, too. And it is not uncommon for me to reach back in time to find great music from the 80s and 90s to throw into the mix. And of course, I love mashups as they often will bring two or more completely different songs possibly from two different eras and blend them together for a smooth combination of fun and motivating beats. I love music. And I love to teach. So to be able to do what I do, to help people reach their goals, to play DJ for 45 minutes while making riders sweat and burn calories, is truly an amazing opportunity. And I do not take this opportunity for granted. I am grateful for everyone who takes part in one of my classes. I am inspired and motivated by the riders in my classes. And this morning's track list is especially..."eclectic" I like to call it...as I continue to provide a variety of music that inspires, motivates, encourages and allows riders to get results and have fun! It is this that I wish for each of you in class. I hope to share this experience with you, to ride this journey with you, to make the positive changes and differences as you move closer to achieving your goals, along with you. We can do it! Together! As individuals riding together as part of a larger group. In a group fitness room. So let's reach higher. Reach for more. And ride. And have fun doing it! In good health, tommy

Saturday, September 06, 2014

Track List - Saturday, September 6, 2014

1. Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - U2
2. 4 Minutes (remix) - Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake & Timbaland
3. Tainted Love (remix) - Depeche Mode
4. A Sky Full Of Stars (remix) - Coldplay featuring Avicii
5. Anaconda - Nicki Minaj
6. Fat Bottomed Girls - Queen
7. Where The Streets Have No Name - U2
8. Black Widow - Iggy Azalea featuring Rita Ora
9. We Will Rock You (fatboy slim remix) - Queen
10. Wonderwall (ryan kenney & ido remix) - Oasis
11. The Scientist More Than Words (mashup) - DJ Mighty Mike featuring Coldplay & Extreme
12. Invisible ((RED) edit) - U2
13. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (cover of the Smiths) - Joseph Arthur

The framework has been laid. The path lays at your feet. The challenges have been created and provided for your benefit. Ultimately, it is up to you whether you choose to follow the path, ride within the framework, or rise up to the challenges and overcome them with a commitment and a focus that will get you results. It is my job as the instructor to present the workout before you and to encourage you to use it to the fullest, to get you the most out of it. I try to do that by asking each rider to commit to the form, the pace and the resistance as well as any additional movements we make. At the very least, committing to what I like to call the "3 Basics", again the form, pace and resistance, will provide you with a workout that requires you to push and challenge yourself to the point that you are working and making a difference, a positive change. Making that extra commitment to the additional movements I add to the changes in the pace and resistance such as jumps and presses, back and forth, side to side, up and down, only adds to the intensity of the workout. The additional movements are meant to add to the challenges, not take away from them. They are intended to make you ride harder than you thought you were going to, harder than you thought you could, and at the very least, harder than you did the last time you were in class! And here is the track list from last Saturday, maybe the last time you were in class. But I hope to see you tomorrow morning, Tuesday at 7:00am. Or Wednesday at 9:30am for the next #totalrequestride! Or Thursday morning at 7:00am for the next Sexy Spin! Or Friday at 9:30am for the next Red Line Ride! I look forward to riding with you, to taking a journey with you that requires commitment of each individual in class to focus on the work and that creates a positive energy that fills up the room! A positive energy that not only pushes you out of your comfort zone, but also helps feed the energy of the people around you, helping them to achieve the best that they can. Everyone plays a part in a group fitness class. It can't be helped. So don't miss out on the opportunity to be a part of something so amazing. Don't fill your head with dread and worry about what you, yourself, can do to get a good Ride. Don't fill the time you are in class with a workout that stands out like a sore thumb, that distracts and takes away from the Ride that the people around you could be getting. Instead, the group can work as one to get a lot more done! So let's do just that! Follow the path! Create that positive energy! Challenge yourself with the workout provided. Push yourself past your preconceived limits. Exceed your expectations. Reach higher. Reach for more. Do it! Ride with Tommy! Thanks! In good health, tommy

Thursday, September 04, 2014

Track List - Sexy Spin, Thursday, September 4, 2014

1. Break Free (remix) - Ariana Grande featuring Zedd
2. Imagine How To Save A Radical Life (mashup) - DJs From Mars featuring John Lennon, The Fray, Dannic & Dyro
3. Really Don't Care (remix) - Demi Lovato
4. I Love It (remix) - Icona Pop
5. On To The Next One - Jay-Z featuring Swizz Beatz
6. Party Ain't Over - Pitbull featuring Usher & Afrojack
7. Fiesta (remix) - R. Kelly featuring Jay-Z, Boo & Gotti
8. Bailando (remix) - Enrique Iglesias featuring Sean Paul, Descemer Bueno & Gente de Zona
9. Bittersweet Dirt Off Your Shoulder (mashup) - The Verve featuring Jay-Z
10. Drunk In Love (remix) - Beyonce'
11. Amnesia - 5 Seconds Of Summer
12. Drunk In Love - The Weeknd Remix
13. Fast Car (cover of Tracy Chapman) - Boyce Avenue

Labor Day 2014 has come and gone. Fall is fast approaching. The number of pool parties and trips to the beach will quickly become fewer and far between. But does that mean that we quit our commitment to our own mental and physical health and well-being? To quote that great philosopher (or was it the great dance diva?) Deborah Cox, "Absolutely not!" For some of us, life gets a little more hectic, a little more crazy with the start of school and the return to normal work hours and increased traffic. These are also often excuses to miss or quit our workout routines to which we have so diligently remained steadfast for the past warm and sunny months. Well, I'm here to remind you that with the advent of fall, soon comes the holidays! All the candy and treats of Halloween, the over-indulgences of Thanksgiving and the travel and stress often associated with Christmas will soon be upon us. Halloween candy, decorations and cards are already on display in stores. Some stores already have some Christmas decorations for sale! This is also a time of year that many of us find that we put on a few more pounds. An increase in body fat is never a welcome or a healthy thing. The less time spent in the gym, the less time spent on a spin bike, the more time traveling on the road, the more stress associated with this time of year can all lead to the addition of unwanted body fat and weight gain. So I present to you this: Stay committed and focused on your workout throughout the fall months! Don't come to a screeching halt or a complete stop! It is far better to maintain that healthy relationship with your gym, spin class, workout routine than to put it on the back burner for a while and then try to pick it back up later and realize that you have much more to work off and/or lose and/or gain! Labor Day is behind us, so I don't expect to be seeing you in your white spandex during the fall and winter months, but I do expect and hope to see you on a bike in class often and consistently! Let's celebrate the positive changes that we have made so far in 2014. Let's build on that momentum instead of losing it. I appreciate each and every one of you that have chosen the Ride with Tommy! to be a part of your workout routine and part of your road to a more fit and healthy you! I am honored by your support. I do not take for granted your trust in me as an instructor to help you reach your goals. I am motivated, challenged and inspired by all of you to keep pushing harder, reaching higher and for more! Join me! Ride with me! Don't let the holidays win the battle of the bulge this year. Let's stay on top of it and lose what we want to lose while gaining that which makes us healthier and happier! Thank you! See you in class soon! In good health, tommy