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| Photo: KTX instagram |
Keith Thompson
If
you’re active on social media, you probably might have come across the video of
a hip-hop inspired cycling session
:
Atlanta Spinning
instructor Keith Thompson’s bike dancing classes, called KTX
Fitness, may make Spinning traditionalists faint
(and indoor cycling fans take notice). He has been made a star on YouTube,
where videos of his on-the-bike hip hop dance routines are being
reposted and shared between cycling instructors and enthusiasts everywhere,
lately, with great amazement!
His energy
and moves are so inspiring that cycling studios across the globe have invited
him to teach a series of classes.Like most
YouTube sensations (from singers to talking cats), Keith’s stardom is totally
unlikely. When he moved to Atlanta from Cleveland 14 years ago, he weighed 136kg
(300lb) and wanted to meet women. “I came here and couldn’t get a date. I said
‘everybody’s working out!’ and I just started working out”, he said in an
interview. He now weighs 80kg (180lb).
He fell
in love with indoor cycling and as a student in classes, he just naturally
started moving to the music in dynamic ways. He stress that he always had energy and can’t
explain where it comes from. He would always be dancing on the bike and
teachers would say “You can’t do that here!” but students would start following
him.
Keith
became an instructor and taught at a gym but he was told he was too radical for
their establishment; subsequently he launched KTX Fitness, which now holds classes
in rented spaces around Atlanta. He maintains that he offers lots of
modifications for beginners/new riders and that anyone can take his class, even
if rhythm is not exactly their ‘thing’. The less experienced stay at the back
rows, he says. It’ll take you a while to get to the front.
While he
has no official plans to expand beyond Atlanta, Keith’s excited touring to show
spinning enthusiasts what he does and says he’s open to all possibilities. One
thing he stressed is that if you come into his spinning session, it’s not going
to be a sleepy experience. Guaranteeing
every class will be the same energy, “When I hit that gym, I become a brand new
person and I can go all day.” Keith asserted.
Many
times there is a monotony attributed to the gym scene. Even various fitness
classes can become tedious with repetitive moves and the same over-played beat
playing on the speaker. When I saw the video of Keith’s spinning session,
it seemed like everyone was full of energy and his positive and entertaining
attitude show through (the twerking part in the video just sealed the deal for
me). It’s not surprising that KTX Fitness has become very popular. Keith’s
passion and energy is contagious, and I can actually say that I would love to participate
in his cycling class.
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