Today we’d like to introduce you to Alana Woolf.
Hi Alana, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I took my first cycling class in August of 2013 and I was instantly intrigued. It took me two months to come back, as I started doing cardio in my apartment gym in order to gain some stamina for cycling. I took at class in LA a few months later with a coach who really inspired me to be my most wild version of myself. She taught this class that was unapologetically her, and it really woke me up to what could be possible for cycling in Austin.
My class is now recognized for being a totally unique experience, with a style inspired by my past life working in fashion, and a lifetime of passion for music. My brief stint of DJing in the early 2000’s gave me a deeper understanding of what it’s like to create an environment in a space through sound. That creativity and way of transmitting in each class have led me to win the title of Austin’s #1 Spin Instructor awarded by Austin Fit Magazine for two consecutive years.
My mission in each class is to hold a space, a place where riders can feel part of a unit through connection to music, body, and balance. By connecting to the larger group, we feel the necessary support we need to feel safe to unlock the unique parts of ourselves we have left hidden under the surface. In this way the journey can be like alchemy, leaving the rider feeling transformed when they leave the space.
I believe that energy isn’t just physical. We have the potential to utilize our mental and emotional energy for a more transmutative result during physical activity. Moving your body is a holy act!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not always been easy. I went through a mental health crisis in 2016 that really shifted the way I orchestrate a class. It became clear to me that this sort of environment has the potential to awaken some of our darker parts, and so treading carefully and lightly with lighting and music became a large part of my process.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in music journeying. I love to create a musical landscape that can transport you out of the mundane into a brainspace where you can process your current mental and emotional state- giving you an opportunity to look at things from a wider view.
It is kind of hard to explain how a cycling class can do this for a person, but I will try:
Essentially, I give the rider a puzzle (choreography) to figure out and master, and through that process (guided heavily by a driving beat) you find the confidence needed to either understand or let go of the mental or emotional puzzle you walked into the room carrying.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Confidence in my own creative way of doing things. If I hadn’t trusted my own unique process, I don’t believe I would have had such an impact on people. Part of my value is being myself. Being who you are is innately valuable!
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.alanawoolf.com
- Instagram: @come___see
