Lily
We’re running a series on our instructors – but the side you don’t see in the studio every day. Get to know our team even better through these interviews and hopefully we can all connect on an even deeper level.
We talked to Lily, who in addition to teaching at both studios, also works a full time job in sales. She just got back from a much-needed weekend with her (very athletic) family and we heard all about her (also very athletic) background and how she got into cycling.
How is everything going?
I’m doing well; I just got back from visiting family in Arizona which was much needed after so much time away from home. I was really struggling before that and I wanted to see my family badly so I went there for the weekend and now I’m feeling much better.
I actually flew there and the airport was empty. There were less than 50 people on my flight to Phoenix and only 10 or so on the flight back.
I know so many people have it worse so I’m feeling grateful for my health and my family. I’m leaning on the people who are closest to me. I FaceTime family multiple times a day. My sister lives in Texas and I call her a lot and I’m lucky that my roommates are both still here so I’m not alone.
So you’re obviously very close with your family. Is everyone as athletic as you are?
Both of my parents played basketball in college. My mom taught step aerobics when she was in college and then got into spinning and group fitness at the YMCA. She started teaching at Orangetheory a few years ago and is still a trainer at one of the locations in Arizona.
My brother played basketball in college in Illinois and my sister does sports broadcasting in Texas and also teaches indoor cycling out there; we started teaching around the same time!
I grew up playing every sport and pretty much everything in my house is based on sports — playing, watching, anything!
What was your favorite sport growing up?
I grew up playing almost every sport. I played football as a kicker and played baseball on an all-boys team. Eventually I had to choose a sport and chose soccer which I played all through high school and on a national club team.
I wanted to play in college but after a number of injuries and surgeries I stopped playing and got into cycling because it’s low impact.
Wait how many surgeries have you had?
I’ve had three.
I broke my back playing soccer and had spinal fusion surgery freshman year. I recovered in 6-7 months and started playing soccer again shortly after.
My junior year of high school I broke my foot and it wouldn’t heal on its own so I had to get a bone graft.
I tore my ACL my senior year of high school and had to have surgery on it.
After the ACL injury I decided I was done with soccer for good and didn’t pursue playing it in college.
Um ouch. How did you get into indoor cycling (pre-SPARK)?
My mom taught “old fashioned” spin at the YMCA. I didn’t love the classes but I was injured and needed something to do that was low impact so I started going to that. Then a small studio opened really close to my house so I started to go there and they introduced me to riding to the beat of the music. I went there all the time while I was recovering and loved it and kept going there even after I was healed from my injuries.
Before I came to SDSU for college I was researching studios in San Diego and found SPARKCYCLE and would drive from SDSU to go to SPARKCYCLE as often as I could. I made my mom and sister come with me when they were in town and remember calling them after classes and telling them that I was going to teach there one day.
Okay so in addition to SPARK, in case people don’t know, you work for Cintas (which provides services and supplies to business). Are you still working/how is it going?
I’m working as much as I can from home and pretty much just leave when companies need new products. Unfortunately a lot of businesses have closed or I have a number of accounts that were businesses that were about to open and have been delayed.
A number of places are scheduling deep cleans to prepare for when things will reopen.
How do you like working there?
I work in outside sales so I have the flexibility to maintain a balance between working and teaching and I’m thankful to have that but I have to be disciplined when I’m working so that I do have the flexibility to teach.
Sales is tough and I have to work hard to hit my requirements. I basically start at 0 on Monday and by Friday I have to have sold something. I build my own schedule which has its positives and negatives but overall I really like it.
You’re almost a year into that job, how has it been balancing teaching at SPARKCYCLE and working at Cintas?
I started teaching at SPARK first and obviously I love it and then my career happened after so there was no question that I was going to keep teaching. I follow a routine and really like being structured. I go to bed early and I still have plenty of time to do other things outside of both.
I work at Cintas full time Monday through Friday. I love teaching at 6 a.m. then getting ready with riders who were just in the class. If we’re working out at 6 a.m., you also probably are working all day and I’m right there with you. It gives me so much more energy for the rest of the day
When I was looking for jobs, I knew I had to find one that was compatible with the lifestyle I wanted which includes teaching at SPARK. Fitness and having a flexible work schedule were always priorities.
Last thing: do you have any advice to get through this?
I know we’re all struggling a lot with this and I hate that we don’t know when it’s going to be over. I’ve been reaching out and leaning on people around me that are going through the same thing. No one’s mental health is the greatest during this time but it helps to workout from home and follow a routine that feels normal.
