Track List - #totalrequestride, Friday, January 23, 2015

1. Crazy In Love - Beyonce' featuring Jay-Z
2. Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars
3. I Just Wanna Dance - Alison Jiear (from "Jerry Springer: The Opera")(Manny Patel Equality Mix 2013)
4. Top Of The Pops 2014 (Days And Nights) - Mashup-Germany featuring 70 of the top artists and hits from 2014
5. Justified And Ancient - KLF featuring Tammy Wynette
6. Genie (Tell Me Your Wish) - Girls' Generation (English remix by Ideology, vocals by Babiixj)
7. The Hanging Tree (remix) - James Newton Howard featuring Jennifer Lawrence
8. I Like You (remix) - Tony Moran featuring Debby Holiday
9. Geronimo - Sheppard
10. No Good In Goodbye - The Script
11. If Not Me - Craig Morgan
12. Night Changes - One Direction

Track List - Sexy Spin, Thursday, January 22, 2015

1. Crazy In Love - Beyonce' featuring Jay-Z
2. Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars
3. I Just Wanna Dance - Alison Jiear (from "Jerry Springer: The Opera")(Manny Patel Equality Mix 2013)
4. Top Of The Pops 2014 (Days And Nights) - Mashup-Germany featuring 70 of the top artists and hits from 2014
5. Justified And Ancient - KLF featuring Tammy Wynette
6. Genie (Tell Me Your Wish) - Girls' Generation (English remix by Ideology, vocals by Babiixj)
7. The Hanging Tree (remix) - James Newton Howard featuring Jennifer Lawrence
8. I Like You (remix) - Tony Moran featuring Debby Holiday
9. Geronimo - Sheppard
10. No Good In Goodbye - The Script
11. If Not Me - Craig Morgan
12. Night Changes - One Direction

Where to start with this track list? It started last week as I encouraged (begged!) all of the LA Riders in the #totalrequestride to tweet their music/video requests to @crunchgym. I also asked the Crunch coordinator in New York if an instructor could also make a request. Thankfully, LA Rider Courtney also requested what I consider one of my all time favorite high-energy, fast-paced songs to run to. And it is one of the greatest video mashups I have ever seen. It is the song, "I Just Wanna Dance" by Alison Jiears from "Jerry Springer: The Opera", which opened in 2003 in London. I kid you not. There is such a thing! It won 4 Olivier awards (the equivalent to our Tony Awards for the best of Broadway)! In the musical, the song is about a full-figured woman that dreams of being a pole dancer. She is unhappy with her life, is abused by her husband, and dreams of a better life. The song was soon adopted by the gay community and was played all over the world in dance clubs and Pride festivals. I think it touched so many with its representation of just wanting to have fun after a long period of struggle, which can so readily represent the years that the gay community suffered through the effects of AIDS and all of its political and emotional havoc wreaked upon the community.

"I'm tired of laughing and I'm tired of crying
I'm tired of failing and I'm tired of all this trying
I wanna do some living
Cause I've done enough dying
I just wanna dance
I just wanna f#*&ing dance"

It's been a while now that research has been making so much progress in treating and hopefully eventually doing away with AIDS completely, but for everyone that was touched by the disease, directly or indirectly (and we all have been touched by it indirectly!), a time to just dance was much needed and celebrated! This song encapsulates that feeling. And the video is made up of snippets of all kinds of dancing from movies and tv shows throughout many years. So this has been my very long way of saying one of my favorite songs and videos is in this weeks track list!

But this is not the only special part of this track list. It includes another mashup of the top hits of the year, this one by Mashup-Germany. We all know how I love my good mashups! Especially year-end mashups!

"Justified And Ancient" was a favorite of mine when it came out in 1991. It became an international hit and was #1 in over 18 countries. It features the vocals of country music icon, Tammy Wynette. One of my regular Riders, Del (who has been riding with me for just about all of my 16 years as an instructor!), absolutely LOVES Tammy Wynette.

And we both LOVE Debby Holiday, who provides us with her latest dance hit, "I Like You". She is one of the most beautiful people I know (inside and out!), with one of the most amazing voices as well as an unbelievable heart and soul which powers out of each song she sings. I hear a little Tina Turner in her voice. She should truly be a HUGE megastar in the world of music. I believe she will soon be!

Vince requested "Genie (Tell Me Your Wish)". It was a little out of the mainstream for my class, but after much searching and research, I found an English version of it which I am so excited to include!

I saw "American Sniper" last weekend. I was moved by how intense it was. And I was also moved by the controversy surrounding it. It is the true story of an American Navy Seal, Chris Kyle, one of the most accurate marksmen in US military history. Regardless of one's beliefs on this subject, and the very obvious horrors of war, I was, as always, so very proud of our Armed Forces, so very sad for the nightmares of war that they have to go through to defend this great nation of ours, and so very sad to learn the story of his murder by a fellow veteran suffering from PTSD. I saw that country singer Craig Morgan was angered by some comments made by some in the entertainment industry regarding "American Sniper" and Chris Kyle. Craig sings one of my favorite country songs, "That's What I Like About Sunday". He is also a veteran. Thank you, Craig, for your service, for standing up for what you believe and for fighting for the freedom to say what we do. And of course, for your talent. I included his tribute to veterans, "If Not Me", as one of the cool downs.

My 6-year-old twins, Austin and Aiden also had a hand in helping me select my track list (as they sometimes do believe it or not!). The recently attended sports camp during the winter break. They learn many songs while at camp as many high-energy songs are played throughout the day. "Uptown Funk" is one. Austin has asked me if "funk" is a bad word. Close, but no. I told him it is a word that is often used in and to describe music. Usually great music! Which I think this song is! And they both sing "Geronimo" often. Austin even performed to it in one of the closing day performances! I think it is a great way to run it out at the end of class!

And I have recently become obsessed with "No Good In Goodbye" by The Script. I love the music, and I love the lyrics. It leads off my cool down songs this week.

So after staying up until 4:00 in the morning to prepare for this week's #totalrequestride, which in addition to "I Just Wanna Dance" also includes the requested "Crazy In Love", by Beyonce' and Jay-Z, and the aforementioned "Uptown Funk" by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars. I was so excited to play all of this great music in class only to wake up to find that all Wednesday morning classes at Crunch Fitness - Sunset were canceled as the stereo completely broke down on Tuesday night. Arrrrgh!!!!

This week's #totalrequestride has been rescheduled and will be held tomorrow morning, Friday, January 23rd at 9:30am. So I hope you can make it to share in this experience, to workout, to hear this music and to see these videos.

I also hope you enjoyed this little "behind the scenes" of what can go into making a track list for one of my classes. I hope you enjoy them. I know I do! Until then,

In good health!

tommy

Track List - Threshold Ride, Saturday, January 17, 2015

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. Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) - Beyonce'
9. Brave (DJs Blackow & Figares remix) - Sara Bareilles
10. Ring The Alarm (remix) - Beyonce'
11. Halo - Beyonce'
12. Chasing Cars That Way (mashup) - DJs Dan Mei & Marc Johnce featuring Snow Patrol & The Backstreet Boys
13. At Last - Beyonce'

Well, we did it! We had our first Threshold Ride on the weekend! This Saturday morning, January 17th at 9:45am, we, as a group, set our individual thresholds, and then rode the rest of class measuring our workouts based on our own personal thresholds. We saw how hard we worked using colors and percentages and watts (output power) and mileage! There is so much to learn about our bodies and how we workout and how our bodies react to the workouts we present to them. And how fun and satisfying is it to be able to visually monitor our progress, make adjustments and truly FEEL our bodies working. It can take something as simple as projecting a gauge at the front of the room that changes colors and that allows riders to see just how hard we are working based on a threshold that we, ourselves, set! Not just what the instructor says. Not just how hard we are "supposed" to be working based on what the instructor says we should be feeling. But actually SEEING how hard we are working! How much of a difference we are making! How much closer we are to realizing our goals! This is the new Threshold Ride. Every Saturday morning at 9:45am at Crunch Fitness - Sunset. We are also offering this amazing class on Monday mornings at 9:30am and on Monday evenings at 6:30pm taught by the amazing and beautiful Amy! Come check it out! Come have fun! Come learn! Come workout hard! Now on Saturday mornings! Hope to see you soon! In good health, tommy

Track List - Sexy Spin, Thursday, January 15, 2014

1. Chandelier (remix) - Sia
2. All About That Bass - Meghan Trainor
3. Bang Bang - Jessie J featuring Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj
4. Dare You (remix) - Hardwell featuring Matthew Koma
5. Fade Into Darkness (remix) - Avicii
6. No Scrubs (remix) - TLC
7. Shake It Off - Taylor Swift
8. Shake Your Groove Thing - Peaches and Herb
9. Happy Days Are Here Again/Get Happy - Billy Porter & Cyndi Lauper
10. Throb - Janet Jackson
11. You And I - Lady Gaga
12. Falling Slowly - Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová
13. When You Believe - Mariah Carey & Whitney Houston

Track List - #totalrequestride, Wednesday, January 14, 2015

1. One More Time - Britney Spears
2. Anaconda - Nicki Minaj
3. Blank Space - Taylor Swift
4. Bang Bang (remix) - Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj
5. Ugly Heart (remix) - G.R.L.
6. Toxic - Britney Spears
7. The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone) - U2
8. Call Me A Hole (mashup) - DJ PomDeter featuring Carly Rae Jepsen & Nine Inch Nails
9. Every Heartbeat Personal Jesus (mashup) - LPVMusic Promotions featuring Amy Grant & Depeche Mode
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 & Greenday

Did you know that Crunch Fitness - Sunset has two huge, big screen TVs in the spin room? They will be used for the new Threshold Rides on Mondays and Saturdays. They will also be used to play videos in our updated, refreshed and relaunched #totalrequestride classes on Wednesdays at 9:30am! 3 videos will be played each week to increase the fun, increase the excitement and hopefully increase the motivation as we stay as always committed to the intensity of the Rides that you have come to expect from Crunch and the Ride with Tommy! Corporate-wide, Crunch has been playing these videos in the #totalrequestride classes since last summer. Just now, as we have relaunched this class here on Sunset with the implementation of the big screens in the new year, we can now do the same! But historically, riders from Crunch Fitness - Sunset have not been super eager or active in requesting their favorite videos or songs. I want to start the new year with a challenge to our Los Angeles riders to request your favorite fun, high-energy videos that motivate and inspire you to take your workout to the next level! And isn't that a great thing to do as we kick off the new year 2015 as well as our new year resolutions and/or recommitments to our mental and physical health and well-being? So let's do this! Let's all show what great taste in Ride music and music in general that we Sunset riders have! And let's commit to riding to those high-energy and motivating videos next week, Wednesday, January 21, 2015, at 9:30am! And don't forget you could win iTunes gift cards just for making these requests! So what have you got to lose? Maybe a few calories? Maybe a few pounds? Win-Win! So use your twitter accounts or start up a new twitter account, and tweet your requests to @crunchgym followed by the hashtag #totalrequestride (and copy or retweet it to me at @ridewithtommy)! This is gonna be great! In good health, tommy

Track List - Sexy Spin, Thursday, January 8, 2015

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. No Mediocre (remix) - T.I. featuring Iggy Azalea
9. Turn The Beat Around - Gloria Estefan
10. Last Days Of Disco - Robbie Williams
11. I Look To You - Whitney Houston

2015. Sexy. Spin. Make it happen. I hear members ask all the time, "How can you feel sexy at 7:00 in the morning?!?!" I always respond, "You'd be surprised at how sexy you can look and feel when you are committed to making a positive change or difference in your mental and physical health and well-being!" That's right, though many of us may be fighting to wake up at 7:00am, I also always point out that all one really has to do is get up and get there. I, as the instructor, along with the music and the energy created by a group fitness class working toward a common goal, will take care of the rest. I can't tell you how many times in the past where I have told myself that I was going to take a spin class but only commit to exerting about 50-75% of my full effort. I may have been really tired or not feeling completely well. I may have just worked out with weights extra hard. Whatever the reason or justification, I almost always go into the class and then end up working much harder than I had planned or expected. The power of a good instructor, that instructor's music choices and that instructor's instruction and encouragement along with the amazing energy created by all the other Riders in the class usually powers me to get an intense and challenging Ride that pushes, motivates and challenges me more than I thought I was going to! That's right. You are not alone in a spin class. There are many others there attempting to accomplish something just like you. Though everyone's goals may and probably are very different, the commitment and focus of a spin class will provide the energy that you may not always think you can muster. That commitment and focus by everyone in the class will help create a positive energy that is extremely obvious and beneficial not only in class but as you go about your life all day long! That's right. What you do in a 45-minute spin class can change your entire day for the better. And if you can take part in such an experience, and look and feel sexy while doing, then wouldn't you? Shouldn't you? I hope so! I'll see you in the Ride with Tommy soon! In good health! tommy

Track List - #totalrequestride, Wednesday, January 7, 2015

1. Dark Horse - Katy Perry featuring Juicy J
2. 7/11 - Beyonce (video)
3. Happy - Pharrell Williams
4. Clocks (remix) - Coldplay
5. Work B!#@h - Britney Spears
6. Love Me Harder - Ariana Grande featuring The Weeknd (video)
7. Give Me Everything - Pitbull featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer (video)
8. California (There Is No End To Love) - U2
9. Mashup 2014 (Let Go) - AnDyWuMusicland
10. All You Need Is Love - Willy Chirino featuring Flo Rida & Black Dada
11. The Scientist More Than Words (mashup) - DJ Mighty Mike featuring Coldplay & Extreme
12. Love Story vs. Viva La Vida (acoustic mashup) - Taylor Swift vs. Coldplay

The first full week of 2015 continues with the new/revised/updated #totalrequestride. Last year, we played requested songs in class. Now, this year, with the addition of the new huge, flat screen tv's at the front of class, we are able to play requested videos! So to keep things exciting as we always do here at Crunch Fitness - Sunset, we are gonna get our Ride on with your favorite and requested videos as well as bright and flashing lights along with the form, pace and resistance that you have come to expect from an intense and fun Ride with Tommy! Boredom is never a word that we want to hear come forth from a member's lips! And with hopefully so many of us making our new year resolutions, what better way to increase the excitement to committing to improving your mental and physical health and well-being than to jump into all the excitement that we are creating here at Crunch? Get an intense workout! Make a positive difference or change! Have fun! Ride with Tommy! See you at Crunch Fitness - Sunset! In good health! tommy

Track List - Saturday, January 3, 2015

1. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - U2
2. We Will Rock You (Fatboy Slim remix) - Queen
3. Black Widow - Iggy Azalea featuring Rita Ora
4. Where The Streets Have No Name - U2
5. Tainted Love - Softcell
6. Mash 'n' Stuff - DJ Radio Sheezus featuring Deadmau5 vs. Weekender, Tag Team, David Bowie & Duran Duran
7. Never Been In Love Cobra Starship featuring Icona Pop
8. Ugly Heart - G.R.L.
9. Bad Girls (remix) - Donna Summer
10. Centuries - Fall Out Boy
11. All That Matters (The Beautiful Life) - Ke$ha
12. Just Give Me A Mirror When September Ends (mashup) - DJ Shahar Varshal ft. Pink, Michael Jackson & Greenday
13. Take A Bow With Me (mashup) - DJ Radio Sheezus featuring Rihanna & Sam Smith
14. Amnesia - 5 Seconds Of Summer

Well, there were some new faces in class this morning. It was the first Saturday class of the new year. I spoke about resolutions. How resolutions are not a bad thing. No one should minimize anyone's attempt at making new year's resolutions. Resolutions are one's attempts at improving their life in some way. Yes, it is disappointing if those resolutions are not kept or reached and are forgotten after only the first week or month or two of the year. However, any attempt at making one's life better or attempting to improve one's mental and physical health and well-being should not be discounted. It should be praised, admired, supported and encouraged. So don't listen to the naysayers! Don't pay any attention to the "liars and the dirty dirty cheats of the world", to quote the trendsetting, thought-provoking and omnipresent Taylor Swift. As I talk more and more in class about creating a positive energy, an environment in which riders can push themselves and strive for personal improvement and positive change, I want to challenge everyone in the new year to focus on positivity. I believe that when you focus on positivity, doing what you can to make an experience as positive as possible for yourself, the people around you will be influenced. The people around you will be motivated to do the same, even in in a small or incremental way. Many of us don't realize the power that we all have to change others. I'm not talking about big, showy, powerful, ostentatious, glitzy, over-the-top demonstrations of helping the needy or down-and-out. We all have the power to effect someone else's life for the better. By smiling at the person that you pass on the sidewalk. By saying "Hello!" to the person that you see at a reception desk or checkout stand. By waving to someone in the car next to you. By turning that resistance knob to the right just a little bit more. By running just a little bit faster a little longer with even just a little more resistance. By doing as much as you can to make your own life as positive as you can and in so doing, setting an example and sharing some of the positive energy that you have created for yourself with others! It really is as simple as that! So here in lies a challenge within a resolution. Let's all try to make a positive difference in our own lives. Let's make resolutions to make our lives better. Let's work hard to accomplish our goals. Let's see if we can help someone else's life be a little bit better just by trying to live better for ourselves. Can that be so hard?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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?!?!

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