Friday, December 18, 2015

Subs for the Ride with Tommy!

I will be making my annual trek back to Texas and Chicago to visit family for the holidays. As always, I will be leaving you in very capable hands! Here are the subs that have so graciously agreed to cover my classes:

Monday, Dec. 21, 9:30am - Beth Phillips
Tuesday, Dec. 22, 7:00am - Kyler Madiera
Wednesday, Dec. 23, 9:30am - Dani Dennison
Thursday, Dec. 24, 7:15am - Dani Dennison
Friday, Dec. 25 - CLOSED CHRISTMAS DAY!
Monday, Dec. 28, 9:30am - Dani Dennison
Tuesday, Dec. 29, 7:00am - Kyler Madiera
Wednesday, Dec. 30, 9:30am - Johnny Brown
Thursday, Dec. 31, 7:15am - Kyler Madiera
Friday, Jan. 1 - SPECIAL NEW YEAR'S DAY SCHEDULE
Monday, Jan. 4, 9:30am - Johnny Brown

Thanks to everyone for you support of the Ride with Tommy! and for all the amazing instructors that will be taking over my classes while I am away.

Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! Happy New Year!

In good health,

tommy

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Track List - Extra Special "Give The Shirt Off Your Back" Sexy Spin, Thursday, December 17, 2015

1. A Mad Russian's Christmas - The Trans-Siberian Orchestra
2. Cake By The Ocean - DNCE
3. BURNITUP! - Janet Jackson featuring Missy Elliott
4. The Girl Is Mine (remix) - 99 Souls featuring Destiny's Child & Brandy
5. Sorry (remix) - Justin Bieber
6. Marvin Gaye - Charlie Puth featuring Megan Trainor
7. The Fix - Nelly featuring Jeremih
8. Low - Todrick Hall
9. Adventure Of A Lifetime - Coldplay
10. Don't Worry 'Bout A Thing - Madcon
Cool Down:
11. Only You - Kylie Minogue featuring James Corden
12. Do They Know It's Christmas? - Band Aid
13. Hard Candy Christmas - Dolly Parton

And another amazing annual Extra Special "Give The Shirt Off Your Back" Sexy Spin and Clothing Drive @crunchgym on Sunset is in the books. So many people to thank. Thanks to everyone for being a part of such an awesome experience this morning. Thanks to everyone who brought clothes to donate to the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center​'s Homeless Youth Programs. Thanks to the amazing donors of prizes given away by drawing bike numbers at the end of class. I mean, the prizes this year were incredible! Thanks Mike Chearney for donating TWO of his original paintings. I am still in awe of his talent and his willingness to provide such top-notch art for prizes. Thanks to PNUT JEWELRY / Rusty Pistachio​ for donating one of his original charms that he created for his jewelry line (and for getting up at 7am and bringing it to me before class this morning!) And to Rusty's wife, Debbie, for donating two tickets to "Talking Dead", the talk show accompanying the hit TV show, "Walking Dead". Thanks to Del Shores​ for donating DVDs of two of his original movies, "Sordid Lives: The Series" and "Southern Baptist Sissies". And to Crunch trainer and instructor, Joey Rubino, for donating a water bottle, pedometer and bag from his own line of fitness accessories. And to another amazing Crunch instructor, Sahara Ali, for donating the bracelets that she created and that accompanied some of the drawing prizes. And finally, to Miguel Estrella for donating his time (driving all the way from Burbank at 6:30 in the morning!) to be this year's Sexy Santa and helping collect the clothing and pass out prizes. Miguel is truly an amazing guy! Wow! Such an amazing class! Such an amazing way to start the day. Such an amazing way to kick off the giving spirit of the season. Such an amazing way to exercise acts of kindess and to truly help others that need it. And Burke Williams​, Veggie Grill​, and Yogurt Stop​ all contributed to the gift bags on everyone's bikes! Happy holidays! Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! And until next time, in good health, tommy

Track List - #totalrequestride, Wednesday, December 16, 2015

1. Hollaback Girl (video) - Gwen Stefani
2. How Deep Is Your Love (video) - Calvin Harris & Disciples
3. WTF (Where They From) (video) - Missy Elliott
4. Who Let The Freaks Out (video) - Todrick Hall
5. Downtown - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee & Grandmaster Caz
6. Watch Me Whip/Nae Nae - Silento
7. Easy Love - Sigala
8. BURNITUP! - Janet Jackson featuring Missy Elliott
9. Andale - Altar featuring Jeanie Tracy
10. Emergency - Icona Pop
11. Life Of The Party - Shawn Mendes
12. How Deep Is Your Love - Calvin Harris featuring The Disciples

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Track List - Sexy Spin "Battle of the Divas", Thursday, December 10, 2015

1. Rhythm Nation - Janet Jackson
2. Express Yourself - Madonna
3. Umbrella - Rihanna featuring Jay-Z
4. Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson
5. Born This Way - Lady Gaga
6. Don't Forget About Us (remix) - Mariah Carey
7. Let's Get Loud - Jennifer Lopez
8. Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) - Beyonce'
9. It's Not Right, But It's Okay - Whitney Houston
10. Enough Is Enough (No More Tears) - Barbra Streisand & Donna Summer
Cool Down:
11. I'm Going Down - Mary J. Blige
12. I Didn't Know My Own Strength - Whitney Houston
13. One Fine Day - Mariah Carey featuring Boyz II Men
14. Love Don't Live Here Anymore - Madonna

So I've never done one of these "Battle of..." classes before. When Crunch asked if I wanted to do one, I jumped at the chance. I thought it would be fun! And, especially after yesterday's post, we all know how much I try to make my classes fun! So then I began to choose the divas. Well, as I went through the usual suspects, I kept saying to myself, "Oh, I also need to include this one!" So I ended up using all of them! 12 divas! 14 songs. One duet. And I repeated 3 divas in the cool down. And I held one to the cool down only. It was a lot of fun putting the track list together, but a lot harder than I thought it would be. So many choices! And most of the songs tended up being of the "flashback" variety. I mean, a diva has be established! And in addition to choosing the song for being best for a specific challenge, I also wanted to include one of each diva's biggest hits. This makes the challenge more fun and also, I think, easier to really commit to the challenge when the song is powerful and one that the rider can really get into! So, this morning was my first attempt at a "Battle of..." class. It may or may not be my last. But I had fun doing it! I hope everyone had fun riding to it! Thanks to everyone for being there, being a part and working so hard! See you next time. And next Thursday, December 17th at 7:00am will be the annual Extra Special "Give The Shirt Off Your Back" Sexy Spin. Sexy Santa will be there again. And we'll also collect clothing (not JUST the shirt off your back!) for the LA Gay & Lesbian Center's Homeless Youth Program. A great tradition! A great class! A great cause! See you then! Until then, in good health, tommy

Wednesday, December 09, 2015

Track List - #totalrequestride, Wednesday, December 9, 2015

1. Uptown Funk (video mashup of 100 movie dance scenes) - Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars
2. I Just Wanna Dance (video: Manny Patel Equality Mix 2013) - Alison Jiear (from "Jerry Springer: The Opera")
3. Dancing In The Dark (video) - Rihanna ("Home" Soundtrack)
4. Low (video) - Todrick Hall
5. We Are The Night - Steve Grand
6. Easy Love - Sigala
7. BURNITUP! - Janet Jackson featuring Missy Elliott
8. Andale - Altar featuring Jeanie Tracy
9. Emergency - Icona Pop
Cool Down:
10. Hello (video) - Adele
11. Stitches (video) - Shawn Mendes

So much fun! #totalrequestride @crunchgym @toddyrockstar @SteveGrandMusic Videos. Mixes. Mashups. Energy. Work. Sweat. Fun! This morning's class was so much fun. Thanks to everyone for being there and taking part in the work and the fun. Yes, as an instructor, it is one of my main goals to make class as challenging and intense as possible while also making it as fun as possible. That's right. I said FUN! You won't hear long house/techno/pot-and-pan-bangin' songs with no words in my class. I strive to play music that is high energy and fun. That most everybody knows. You may not know every song I play in class, but odds are, I will play one that you love before it is all over. A variety of today's most popular music. Sometimes mashups. Sometimes remixes. Sometimes music by Crunch members and friends (I love and proud to spotlight Todrick's "Low" and Steve Grand's "We Are The Night" in this morning's class!) All the time used for a purpose. Each song chosen for it's beat as that will be the pace needed along with the correct level of resistance to create the challenge or the obstacle. And it is all about creating challenges and obstacles in class that we overcome. Overcoming those challenges will make you stronger. It will allow you to realize results. It will help you to reach your goals. You can make a difference. A positive difference. A positive change. And we can certainly use something positive in our lives. So treat yourself to a @ridewithtommy class. Do something good for you. And then use that positive energy to help create change in the world around you. I'm currently trying to do something positive and kind everyday in the month of December. A smile to a stranger. A hug to a friend. A text, email or phone call to a family member. Buying the purchase of the person behind you in line at the coffee shop or grocery store. Writing a letter to a soldier. Visiting a nursing home or hospital. As simple and small or as big and extravagant as you want to make it. Just do it. So join me, won't you? Do something positive. For others. For yourself. It is fun! Have fun while doing it! Have fun while working out! You can do so much for so many. You have that power. That opportunity. That privilege. That responsibility. And you can have fun in tomorrow morning's #sexyspin as it will be one of Crunch's themed classes this week. A Sexy Spin Battle of Divas. Message me your favorite big diva song and maybe I'll use it in class! Thanks for listening. Thanks for reading. Thanks for being a part of the Ride with Tommy! Hope to see you in class tomorrow morning or any morning, Monday through Friday. Until then, in good health! tommy

Thursday, December 03, 2015

Track List - Sexy Spin, Thursday, December 3, 2015

1. No Doubt About It - Empire Cast featuring Jussie Smollett & Pitbull
2. WTF (Where They From) - Missy Elliott
3. Don't Worry 'Bout A Thing - Madcon
4. Adventure Of A Lifetime - Coldplay
5. Go Your Own Way - Karl Wolf
6. Break A Sweat - Becky G
7. Cake By The Ocean - DNCE
8. Hideaway - Daya
9. Out Of The Woods (remix) - Taylor Swift
10. We All Fall Down - A-Trak featuring Jamie Lidell
Cool Down:
11. The Fix - Nelly featuring Jeremih
12. Only You - Kylie Minogue featuring James Corden
13. Break Up In A Small Town - Sam Hunt


Workout. Holidays. These two terms do not have to be mutually exclusive! Yes, it may take more of an effort to fit your workouts into your routine during this extremely busy and hectic time of year. However, if you have been committed to your workouts throughout the past year or even the past few months, you have created habits that will help you stay committed to your workout routine and committed to reaching your goals! As I have mentioned the last couple of days, I am actively participating in doing a Random Act Of Kindness for the month of December. Treating yourself to a good workout or an extra workout is an act of kindness to yourself. Being kind to yourself is important. Being kind to yourself can make it easier to be kind to others. So by all means, make that commitment to be kind to yourself. To stay committed to your workouts. To making a change in your body. In your mind. In your outlook. In how you percieve your health and well-being. And then, by all means, share the positive energy that you have created by staying committed to your workouts with others that are not as committed as you! Yes, you create physical results by working out, but you also create a positive energy. If you have been in any of my classes, you have heard me talk about this positive energy. This positive energy can help you get a better workout. It can help the people around you in class get a better workout. And you can't help but carry this positive energy around with you the rest of the day after your workout. Not everyone is as lucky as those of us that workout routinely. Whether it be due to physical limitation or schedule limitations or something completely different, we should never take for granted that fact that we have the freedom to choose to workout. It is an opportunity and a blessing that we can commit an hour or two to doing something physical which would improve our mental and physical health and well-being. And especially at this time of year as there is an emphasis on giving and goodwill. It starts with you. Be kind to yourself. Take care of yourself. And then do what you can - as much as you can - to make life better for others. It is the least we can do. And as an added benefit, this will make you feel better, too! Its a win-win! So Ride with Tommy! Stay committed to your workouts. Be positive. Share the positive energy that you work so hard to create with others! Help make their day better. Help make their season merrier and brighter! Check out the track lists for yesterday's #totalrequestride and for this morning's Sexy Spin @crunchgym on Sunet. Let music help you make a difference. A positive difference. I am so grateful for all of you that Ride with me. I don't take you for granted. You make my life better. I am happier and healther because I spin. I hope to continue to share this positive energy with you. I hope to help make a difference. We can do it. So let's just do it! See you in class! In good health, tommy

Wednesday, December 02, 2015

Track List - #totalrequestride, Wednesday, December 2, 2015

1. Nasty (video) - Janet Jackson
2. Hollaback Girl (video) - Gwen Stefani
3. WTF (Where They From)(video) - Missy Elliott
4. Low (video) - Todrick Hall
5. Viva La Vida/Domino Dancing - Pet Shop Boys
6. River Deep Mountain High - Glee Cast
7. Focus - Ariana Grande
8. Perfect - One Direction
9. Burn It Up! - Janet Jackson featuring Missy Elliott
10. Hello (remix) - Adele
11. Something Better (remix) - Audien featuring Lady Antebellum
Cool Down:
12. Hello (cover of Adele) - Hobbie Stuart
13. When We Were Young - Adele
14. Find Me - Levi Kreis