Meeting Coach Ashley Cotting!
Ashley Cotting is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and Spinning® instructor. She spent her childhood as a competitive gymnast and soccer player and is currently a sophomore in college with a major in nursing. When Ashley isn't studying, she's usually hitting the weights at the gym or expanding her knowledge in the field of health, fitness, and nutrition. Her favorite songs to cycle to are the ones that give her an adrenaline rush and leave her out of breath!
Ride with Ashley on the Struct Club app! HIIT, strength, and endurance cycling are packed into each of her four 45 minute rides. You can get The Climb, HIIT It, When I Say Jump!, and Pump It Up as a 4-class pack, individually, or with STRUCT On-Demand you can get UNLIMITED classes from all of our instructors!
“My source of motivation is the person I was yesterday and my source of inspiration is the person I want to be tomorrow.”
Tell us about you - your story and journey to becoming a fitness instructor.
Throughout elementary and middle school I was a competitive gymnast and soccer player. However, I phased out of both and decided to focus on my studies in high school. My freshman year of college, I wanted to get back into fitness but never knew where to start. My mom and I joined a local gym together and attended a variety of classes before school and work. I learned a lot from the instructors and supplemented my knowledge with my own personal research. This sparked me to get a more “formal” education in the fitness world. I dipped my toe in the water by first becoming a cycling instructor. I loved teaching so much that a few months later I became a personal trainer. That leaves me to where I am now!
From being a nursing student to a part-time coach and dog mom - how do you manage your day-to-day?
I love to-do lists! On my phone, I have a checklist of all HW assignments and exams for the semester. I break it up into assignments I hope to complete daily. Then, I add personal and work-related stuff into the daily agenda. I find it so satisfying to check off the bubble after I complete a task! I also think it is important to put your health first: get adequate amounts of sleep, set aside time for yourself, and take mental breaks as needed.
When riders come to you with challenges, or for encouragement and motivation, what thoughts do you share to help them persevere?
I think it is important for them to share what motivates them and what are their personal goals. That will help me determine the best way to help them. I also like to reinforce their progress and to share the positives of their journey.
As a coach, what are your top sources of inspiration? Any memorable moments from class?
My source of motivation is the person I was yesterday and my source of inspiration is the person I want to be tomorrow. I strive to be better and stronger than I was yesterday. I don’t have one particularly memorable moment from class, but I love when riders have fun! I love the funny comments they make to themselves and whoever is next to them when they know they have a tough song, sprint, or climb ahead of them.
Given your experiences as an instructor, what pro tips would you share with new instructors looking to get established as a coach?
I think it is important to find a mentor who will help guide you through the process. I also think it is important to be yourself. You may have a favorite instructor, but that doesn’t mean you have to coach just like them. Be your own favorite instructor!
Lightning round! Give us your top pick for each of these:
Motivation Mantra: “Compete with yourself, not with others” -Sophia Amoruso
Signature Move (in class): Seated to standing jumps to the song “Blue” by Eiffel 65
Spirit Animal: Owl
Optional: If there's anything about using Struct Club that has aided you and you feel inclined to share, we'd love to know!
As a new instructor, the Struct Club app was a life-saver. I felt a lot more confident that all my cues would be timed perfectly to the beats in the songs and that I could give the class a forecast of what is to come.