Resilient Reflections with Megan Metcalfe
“Whatever you may be going through, there is another side, and I can promise you that you’ll be a better person when you reach it.” Megan is a cycle instructor and instructor trainer at uforia studios. Previously, she taught at Cyclebar.
Interview by Amira Polack, Founder & CEO at Struct Club
When it comes to instructors who inspire, Megan Metcalfe is someone you need to know! After fighting and winning her own battle with Stage III non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, today, she’s helping others fight their own fight by:
Working for the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to fighting blood cancer
Coaching her community to fitness as a cycle instructor and instructor trainer
Running a campaign to raise donations for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society!
Dang, girl! We’re proud to champion Megan’s Ride for a Cure pack on the Struct Shop, where 100% of proceeds will be donated to her campaign for LLS.
Tell us about you - your story and journey to becoming a cycle coach.
I was introduced to indoor cycling my junior year of college when my boyfriend texted me over winter break to ask if I’d be interested in taking spin classes with him at the rec center when we got back to campus. One thing I love to live by that my dad always says is, “I’ll try anything once,” so of course, I said yes. We had a great instructor and I was immediately in love!
The year after I graduated college was also the year I celebrated 5 years since finishing treatment for stage III non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. While it was a celebratory appointment, it was also time for my team to talk me through all of the “late effects” I would need watch for as a result of the chemotherapy I’d endured 5 years earlier. For the rest of my life, I have watch for heart health, the possibility of diabetes, bone density and weakness, as well as fertility difficulties. Those are some tough pills to swallow, and, I’ll be honest, it took me years to take the advice seriously.
About three years after that appointment, my company’s office moved locations and our new building had a gym inside. Thankfully, there was a lunchtime spin class offered. When I walked in for the first time, the instructor asked if I’d ever taken a spin class before, to which I replied, “yeah, I’ve half-joked about becoming an instructor someday.” She perked up and said: “I can help make that happen.” Sure enough, she did. I spent the next few weeks taking classes and training with Karen before eventually leading my own classes. I’ll forever be grateful to her and the gym manager, Dane, for taking a chance on me.
A couple years later, I was ready to change full-time jobs and look for a new challenge in the fitness world. I decided to apply to audition for Cyclebar. Fun fact: I failed my first audition. Yep, absolutely bombed and got the feedback to match. I was shaken and almost ready to give it up, but thank goodness for the studio owner, John. He saw something in me and passionately encouraged me to try again. I figured, what’s the worst that could happen? and gave it a go. I practiced, took the feedback to heart, and passed my second audition - I was going to be a Cyclestar!
In April 2018 my partner, Matthew, and I decided to take on another challenge and move across the country from Ohio to San Francisco, California. It took some time to get settled and find my fitness community. I eventually landed at uforia studios teaching their indoor cycling class, Revolutions, and leading the training program for new instructors.
It’s definitely been a long and interesting journey, for sure! Leading classes and getting to know my riders over the years have been some of the most energizing and rewarding experiences of my life. I love my morning crew so much!
This year you celebrated your 12-year "cancerversary" and are raising >$26K for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Your survival story and effort to pay it forward are truly inspirational. For those you've encountered since then who are facing their fight - whether Stage III cancer or otherwise - what thoughts would you share to help them push through?
First off, thank you for saying that.
This is probably not an original phrase, but I recently had an instructor say, “I’ve never met a strong person with an easy past,” and boy did that resonate with me.
I choose to believe that life has a way of working out. I feel like I can look back on everything I’ve experienced in my life and see how it’s prepared me for today and what’s to come in the future.
If you’re a spiritual or religious person, this concept may take a slightly different form for you, but I think we can all agree on two things: our past prepares us and the sun will always come up in the morning.
Whatever you may be going through, there is another side, and I can promise you that you’ll be a better person when you reach it.
As a coach, what are your top sources of inspiration?
In no particular order: my riders, family, and other instructors. My family encourages me and pushes me to keep going. My riders energize me with their enthusiasm. And, other instructors can always inspire me when I feel like I may be getting into a rut.
With all your experience as an instructor, what pro tips would you share with new instructors looking to get established as a coach?
Take as many classes as you can
Be yourself.
#1 - As I said before, taking other instructors’ classes always seems to help me out of a rut and give me fun new ideas for things to do and say in my own classes. One thing to note, getting to my second point - if it’s not “you,” don’t do it!
I know, I know - #2 sounds cheesy, but I swear on my life it’s true. When I moved to San Francisco, I thought that because it was a big city people would mostly want to listen to clubby-EDM music. I love a good electronic song for a sprint on the bike, but that’s overall not my style — and people noticed. I have a SUPER random taste in music. I live for Lady Gaga, Backstreet Boys, Kendrick Lamar, Marilyn Mason, pop-punk, and even country music. Once I went back to my variety playlists, my classes got much better reception.
I also tried to be a very “touchy feely” instructor. I love and have so much respect for people who can do this, but it’s just not me. Giving deep inspirational speeches is far from a strength of mine. I like to goof around, tell random stories, and crack jokes on the bike.
I take what I do seriously, but I do not take myself seriously. My style may not be for everyone, but I can tell you that I have plenty of “regulars” who identify with my goofy spirit.
Lightning round! Give us your top pick for each of these:
Motivation Mantra: I can and I will
Signature Move (in class): The Triangle (come take a class and I’ll show you what it is!)
Spirit Animal: Cat (yep, crazy cat lady over here)
Walk-on Song: Edge Of Glory by my queen, Lady Gaga
If there's anything about using Struct Club that has aided you and you feel inclined to share, we'd love to know!
Struct Club has helped me sleep better at night - not even kidding. I used to get terrible anxiety the night before I would teach a class - and I’ve regularly taught 2-4 days/week! I’d be so nervous about forgetting my choreography, the timing of the sprints, etc. that I couldn’t fall asleep. Knowing that I have everything ready in Struct Club has given me peace of mind and better sleep!
