We bring to you only the most talented instructors we can find in Los Angeles.
Our seasoned instructors have mastered their teaching style, creating the perfect ride for you. At the Sweat Shoppe, you ride with only the best.
Abbie Britton, a magna cum laude graduate of Columbia University, has over 30 years experience teaching a colorful fusion of spin & cardio, bodywork, yoga and extreme athletics with a strong emphasis on the underlying principle that the body in motion can be a profoundly transformative experience. Abbie has a deep knowledge of how to bring students exactly what they need and her trademark goal is to help her students discover that "Aha!" moment when new power flows into the body. Over the years, Abbie has helped bring masterful alignment know-how to athletes of all types--NFL, NBA, speed skaters, triathletes, ultra runners--in order to enhance their power in both sport and life. Certified by Mad Dogg Athletics, Abbie Britton took her first spin class with its creators, Johnny G. and Johnny B. in a garage in Venice, CA over 30 years ago. Abbie is also a registered Anusara® Yoga Inspired Instructor and TRX Certified, as well as a meditation teacher. She was a competitive obstacle runner, speed skater, horse trainer, and cross country runner. Now with a full prosthetic hip on the right side, she trains with bionic power. Bottomline, Abbie knows that in the spin room, it's all about the music and the rhythm release.
In 2004, while working as a successful animal trainer in Los Angeles, Carolyn was nearing 200lbs and felt enough was enough. In order to lose the weight, she paid a propitious visit to her local gym where she unexpectedly fell in love with Indoor Cycling. A whole new world opened up to Carolyn and her initial step of trying to lose weight quickly transformed into a multitude of fitness related life changes. She quickly became a certified indoor cycling instructor, a personal trainer, a nutrition consultant and a triathlete. Losing weight became a foregone conclusion. In the cycling room, helping people go from "Fitness Fearfuls" to "Fitness Enthusiasts" motivates Carolyn to teach, guide, train and inspire. "We're all here to serve," she believes, "and this is where I truly feel I do just that.
From Houston to London, from Pittsburgh to LA, Chelsea has lived in and learned from all over. After severing eighty percent of her Achilles Tendon in 2005, Chelsea was introduced to Yoga and to indoor cycling as rehab activities, to get back to the world of dance she had grown up with. Little did she know that she would soon be hooked! Within a few short years, Chelsea became a certified indoor cycling Instructor, a certified Power Yoga Instructor, and an all-around fitness and wellness enthusiast. Chelsea's classes are challenging yet motivating, helping each student to truly grow into his or her own empowered self, as you move past perceived limitations physically, and thus mentally. Chelsea holds a BFA in Acting from Carnegie Mellon University, and she is a trained stunt woman with the United Stuntmens' Association. Chelsea is humbled and inspired by her students, who teach her new things about courage, strength, and grace every day.
Irina took her first indoor cycling class in 2005, immediately falling in love with the amazing endorphin high and the intensity of riding to some of her favorite music.
In late 2007 she became Johnny G. certified and began teaching at Gold's Hollywood, Gold's Downtown and at Train West Hollywood.
Her classes are structured around rhythm and endurance, and she loves to bring the heat to every class, by pushing her students beyond their comfort level, helping them reach their
potential. She strongly believes that form and rhythmic riding are key elements of riding. Irina's music playlists span a variety genres, including club hits, hip hop, dance and top 40's hits.
The moment you set foot into Jason’s class, you know he means business. His intensity does not play hide and seek with you and you realize that it is his goal to guide his riders into making the connection between mind and body. He believes it is that connection that can manifest itself within our lives, empowering and motivating us to better ourselves. His journey inspiring students to move, breath and sweat, began in 2003 and he has since honed in on a very focused and driven teaching style that attracts only the most dedicated and willing students.
A competitive cyclist since 1992, John earned his indoor cycling certification in 1997,
aggressively teaching up to 10 classes per week in the years following. Eventually, John
decided to take a break to focus on his family and “day” job while continuing to race
and train on the road. In 2008, as a 40-something single father of three and with the help
of his three athletic children—conveniently a runner, a cyclist, and a swimmer—John
jumped head-first into the world of Triathlon. Often ending his races on the podium with
a medal around his neck, John credits his success to his strength on the bike. Having
initially started cycling to recover from a broken back and subsequent surgery, John is
cognizant of the varied reasons people cycle, ensuring every student feels motivated to
complete a challenging and rewarding workout. His musical tastes range from current
hits to rockin’ classics. John is thrilled to be back on the Teacher Bike!
Sacramento born and Burbank raised, Melissa Lau is a California girl through and through. Her love of indoor cycling began over 5 years ago, shortly after giving birth to her second child. Discovering the rapid weight loss benefits, she relied on the method to keep her in shape. Mad Dogg certified and extremely fitness oriented, Melissa’s classes are endurance driven with a intense focus on form isolation. As intense as her classes may be, her fun and inviting nature yields the perfect formula for a well balanced class. We guarantee riding with Melissa will improve your endurance, perfect your form and above all, strengthen your mind-body connection, all while having fun.
Mimi is a certified indoor cycling instructor who has been leading classes for nearly 20 years. Known for her carefully crafted playlists featuring current pop and classic rock, she knows just how to motivate and challenge while still keeping things fun and safe. Mimi has successfully trained all types - teens and seniors, AIDS Riders and new moms, injury rehabbers and athletes. Her passion for indoor cycling is absolutely contagious. Whether you are an experienced rider or just starting out, Mimi's style of instruction is always accessible and encourages you to find the level of power and strength that is best suited for you.
A Johnny G. Certified Spin Instructor, Rafael Garcia started his illustrious career teaching at Todd Tramps in West Hollywood, eventually riding the Teacher's Bike all around the city, from Spinning Pasadena to Revolution, Gold's Gym to Made In LA, even going transcontinental proving his skills on German soil. A classically trained dancer, Rafael understands the intricate flow of the human body, his many years of work as a professional Dancer, Choreographer and highly respected Jazz Teacher providing immeasurable knowlege and wisdom. A recent graduate of USC's School of Cinema, Rafael knows the meaning of a challenge and he applies this knowledge to his teaching. He believes that indoor cycling, like dancing, incorporates technique, movement, musicality, rhythm, and maintains the same supportive yet demanding classroom energy. Nowhere else has he found a more physically and mentally challenging cardio workout that lays you out like dance class! In class, Rafael expects each and every student to give 110% of her focus, commitment and desire to get everything she can out of all 60 minutes!
Sandra has been teaching indoor cycling for 10 years. Starting out at Gold's Gym Hollywood and Downtown, and settling into studio life the last year at Up Dog Yoga & Cycling in West Hollywood. Johnny G. certified, Sandra's intense, challenging, heat-building classes emphasize the importance of form, rhythm and the ability of students to push beyond the edges of their perceived boundaries. She creates strong, flowing, ideally formatted classes that motivate and drive her students. Letting go of what is beyond that room, rhythm and resistance is key to waking up your inner athlete!
Born and raised in Los Angeles within months of each other, Taylor and Indoor Cycling took 21 years to find each other, but once they met, it was a perfect match. First introduced here at the Sweat Shoppe, Taylor took to the bike like a fish to water. With her Do or Die attitude, soon enough Taylor was certified through Mad Dogg athletics and quickly joined the Sweat Shoppe team. Young and hip, she grew up listening to electronic music and so she structures her classes around the most up-to-date dance music on the planet while focusing on endurance, jumps, and isolation work. She will bring the inner raver out in you while making you sweat!