FUN FITNESS Profile: Christine Tulikangas ‘20, Certified Spin Instructor
Christine T, a First Year student here at SLU, found that her love for cycling provided her with an opportunity to teach others that “fitness can be fun.”
How did you get involved in spinning and why did it interest you?
My sophomore year of high school I tore my ACL, and when I came back from the injury it was really difficult for me to get through my recovery because I wasn’t able to move around as much. My dad was really helpful in finding something that I could do, and he discovered spinning classes at a studio near our town. After my first couple classes I was hooked!
Describe the certification process!
This past summer, I got my certification through Mad Dogg Spinning, which is a 9 hour course that requires education and testing to pass. The physical biking part of it was pretty tough and exhausting, but I think that it prepared me well for teaching.
Any interesting stories worth sharing?
At one point during my certification test, I fell off the back of my bike and hurt so bad!! Super embarrassing but I got right back up and it was fine.
Is it tough teaching a class while also doing the workout yourself?
Yes, but I got used to it pretty quickly. I honestly think that the adrenaline and the energy from my students keeps me going!
How do you think being a spin instructor has affected your experience here at SLU so far?
It has definitely given some structure to my schedule, keeps me active, and has allowed me to meet new people!
Favorite songs to play during a class? How do you decide the type of music?
A lot of my playlists are from Spotify or ones from my spin studio at home. My favorite song to play during a class is the one that I first spun to, which is “Smoke Filled Room” by Mako. It honestly depends on the day, but usually I plan playlists at the beginning of the week and I’ll take a look at the “Top 100” playlists or anything that is currently popular or that I’m listening to.
When do you teach classes? Why should students come?
I teach in the multipurpose room of the fitness center Mondays and Wednesdays at 5 p.m ($10 per class or $60 for a pack of 6 classes) and Saturday mornings at 9:30 a.m (which is also a free class provided by the fitness center!). It is open to everyone– come if you are in need of a great stress reliever and a fun way to get fit!