Team Zephyr is growing and we are so excited to welcome two new ladies to the crew – Marge Ramsden (on the left) and Allie Haag. If they look familiar, that’s because they’ve been riding at the studio almost since it opened. Their knowledge of the Zephyr style, excellent taste in music, and genuine, bright energy make them fantastic additions to our team. Read on to learn a little bit more about them, then catch their rides at the studio this week and beyond!
What inspired you to become an instructor at Zephyr?
Marge Ramsden: Ever since I found spinning, I knew I wanted to teach it. A fantastic instructor can curate a playlist that makes you want to move and sweat and Zephyr has inspiring instructors. Once I saw what they were doing, I wanted to learn from them!
Allie Haag: I have played piano since I was 8 and music has always been a major part of my every day. I also grew up running, skiing, and playing sports throughout my whole childhood. When I came to college, I struggled to find a healthy relationship with exercise. I realized that I was missing the community aspect that I had gained through sports and skiing with my friends. When I walked into Zephyr, I knew that I had found a place that combined both the community and musical aspects of working out and I was hooked. The music motivates me to push myself further than I thought I could and the Zephyr community creates an energy like no other studio I have been to. I left my first few classes feeling renewed and wanted to spread that energy to others. Teaching at Zephyr allows me to guide people to a place of happy and calm that they may have not gotten anywhere else. I am so honored to be a part of that!
Where can we find you when you’re not at Zephyr?
AH: I am a senior engineering student at Montana State University, so you will currently find me at school majority of the time. When I am not at school, you can find me on any of the rivers in the area fly fishing or in Big Sky hiking and skiing. No matter what I am doing, you can usually find my dog, Sage, right along with me.
MR: During the day, I am a middle school teacher at the Children’s Museum. I teach classes in programming, electronics, robotics and 3D printing! When I am not teaching, you can find me playing outside with my 5 month old golden retriever Nellie, hiking, or skiing.
Music is an integral part of the Zephyr experience – what kinds will riders hear in your classes?
MR: I love 80s grooves, dance anthems and modern pop music.
AH: I remember my Dad playing everything from jazz to rap as a child. I grew up loving all types of music, so I try and incorporate many styles of music into each playlist. I am really drawn to alternative and rock music, but I do love a good country or pop song. I know that everyone in class is motivated by different types of music, so I try to hit on each throughout my ride.
Sprints, hills, runs, intervals – what are some of your favorite parts of a Zephyr ride and why?
AH: I am a cardio lover, so I love to sprint and run during my Zephyr ride. Going fast is so much fun, but it’s also an area that I am very comfortable with. I have a love/hate relationship with hills and intervals. They push me out of that comfort zone but when I do more of these exercises, I get stronger so much faster. I also leave the bike feeling so much more accomplished when I have pushed my body to a new limit on a hill. So, I guess a good balance of sprints, intervals, hills, and runs is what I love in a Zephyr ride.
MR: I love hills with well-chosen songs – I find that I push myself that much harder when I am trying to stay with a loud beat.
What would your advice be to someone who has never taken a Zephyr class before but is curious to try one?
MR: Don’t be nervous! The music is chosen to make you want to move and as you improve it will become easier to push yourself and learn the movements. Just come in and seek the joy in the music!
AH: Come in and try it at least one time. The group setting may seem intimidating but once you are in the class, it is truly an individual experience. So much of the work is controlled by the student, so no matter your physical level, everyone will leave sweaty and have gotten a good workout. The community at Zephyr makes sure each person feels at home and welcomed. Most importantly, I have always left with a smile and a refreshed, positive attitude towards the day (and who doesn’t want that!).
You can catch Marge on Wednesdays at 2 p.m., Thursdays at 4:30 p.m., and Saturdays at 7 a.m. Rock out to one of her recent playlists here. Allie teaches on Tuesdays at 4:30 p.m., Fridays at 5:30 a.m., and Saturdays at 10 a.m. We love this playlist of hers!
The best part about the first three months of Zephyr? Meeting some of the kindest, most kickass and incredible people, and we’re excited to spotlight members of the Zephyr community in our new series, #ZephyrIlluminate. New business owner Kelly Phalon (pictured here with her awesome husband Ryan) has been riding at Zephyr since day one and hasn’t missed many days since. We caught up with her about what got her to sign up for the first time after being a lifelong runner, how she gets out of bed for 5:30 a.m. classes, and why her body told her “this was the change it needed.”