At 5:45 a.m. on a frigid January morning, Tom Donley, a Sidwell science teacher, is dripping with sweat. “Let’s get this Tuesday started,” he tells the groggy group of seven gym members - including this reporter - who are pedaling the stationary bikes arranged in rows in front of him like desks in a classroom. This 45-minute indoor spin class at an LA Fitness in Silver Spring is Donley’s first teaching assignment of the day. He has led the class at least once a week for ten years. Donley’s style is relatively subdued as spin instructors go. He said he prefers to let his cycling students find their “intrinsic motivation” rather than barking orders at them. He sets the tempo with a mix of music ranging from Carrie Underwood to electronic dance music. “He’s very kind of intense but low key,” said John Brill, a gym member who said he’s been a regular in Donley’s spin class for two years. “He's very steady [and] he has a calm energy about him. Some of the [other spin] teacher...
There's nothing so relaxing as being totally prepared