At Velocity, our coaches give everything to get you to reach your goals and get the best out of your time in the dark rooms. To help you push even further, we asked three of our coaches questions about how they push themselves to their limits.

Liza, Power Coach

Liza was born and raised in Zurich. In addition to being Velocity’s Junior Master Power Coach, she studies electrical engineering at ETH in Zurich. She’s always loved movement. Prior to University, she attended a high school for athletes and was pursuing a career as a professional ballet dancer. 

How did you get into coaching in the first place?

I worked at the front desk before I became a power coach. I love the slow movements and focus on deep muscle tissues – it reminds me of the body tension and control you need in ballet. So when I heard that we were looking for new people to join the Power academy, I decided to take the leap and try it. I’m glad I did, I love coaching!

What is your training philosophy?

I like to go hard. When I work out, I want to feel like I really went beyond my limits afterward, and that’s the feeling I hope to pass on to anyone who comes to my workout. At the same time, I love to dance and party so a good workout should always be fun and give people the possibility to forget whatever is going on in their life at the moment.

How do you push your Limits?

When I need to push my limits, I try to remind myself of one of my favorite mantras “Mind Over Matter”. It helps me remember that the pain I’m feeling is temporary – and then I can push through.

Some days it’s harder to push myself, but I don’t let that bring me down. It’s perfectly normal to have better and worse days, so I try to listen to my body and then come back another time and try to go a little harder then. It’s all part of the process and I trust the process!

Do you have any tips for others on how to get the most out of their workout?

To me, the most important part of any workout is listening to your body. You’ll get the most out of it if you really build that mind to body connection and actively engage the muscles you’re working.

George, Veloburn Coach

George was born and raised in Greece and moved to Zurich in 2014 to do a Ph.D. at ETH Zurich. Sports have been a part of his life since he was young – he competed at the national level for swimming, water polo, and rowing, and later transitioned to group fitness. He also worked in various gyms as a group fitness instructor for different training programs, so Velocity was a great fit for him after his arrival in Switzerland. He’s now the Master Coach for Veloburn.

How did you get into coaching in the first place?

It just came naturally over the years as I was transitioning from trainee to trainer. As I was learning more things, I really wanted to pass down the knowledge and help people become a stronger version of themselves as well. I have been actively coaching in the fitness industry since 2011 and I love it.

What concept are you coaching and why have you chosen it?

I am the Master Coach for Veloburn. I love to push myself to the limit and help other people discover that there is always a bit more to unlock inside of them. I also love numbers and train by the philosophy of “safety and efficiency”… so Veloburn is really the perfect fit. When you think you cannot push more, you see your numbers and look over at the rest of the team pushing through to improve their best, and you just cannot stop! It’s an amazing feeling!

What role does being part of the Velocity team play in your life?

Being an immigrant and not having my biological family here, Velocity is an important substitute. Just going to the studio, chatting with the clients, the staff members adds an interesting touch during my day.

I have met people that I would have never had the chance to meet otherwise. The things I have learned, the emotions I have experienced, and the interaction we’ve had is really priceless.

How do you push your Limits?

Since I love numbers – I take a very quantitative approach to pushing my limits. I first quantitatively recognize where my limit is. Next, I try to create a strategy for how I can break the limit. I need to be brutally honest with myself on which parameters I can improve and where I need to work on myself. Finally, I do the work. This takes discipline, and a no-excuses approach.

Being disciplined becomes easier if you get clear on WHY you actually want to push and break these limits. The reason I want to improve is the reason I want to grow. So, I ask myself why I actually want to improve and then remind myself of that every time I feel like giving up.

Do you have any tips for others on how to get the most out of their workout?

Every person is different and to think that certain tips would work for everybody is a delusion. That being said, knowing your WHY is always a good place to start. If you’re clear on why something is important, it’s easier to motivate yourself through any challenge – in fitness, as well as, life in general. 

Lena, Velobeat Coach

Lena was born in Switzerland but only moved to Zurich last spring. Before that, she trained as a pre-professional dancer, as well as in many other sports like gymnastics, basketball, rock climbing, and yoga. Now, in addition to being totally in love with cycling, she’s studying sports science at the University of Basel.

How did you get into coaching in the first place?

To be honest, it was an accident…or rather, luck… I overheard Sabine, the Studio Manager at Zurich West, says that there are auditions for new Velobeat coaches. Since I was working at the front desk for a while already at that time I knew the people, the vibe of the studio, and I had already done a lot of rides. I just asked Sabine if she thinks I could do the audition and here we are!

How has Velocity impacted your life?

With a dance background (especially ballet and contemporary) I was used to a more narrow-minded and selfish environment, where everybody was focusing only on themselves and there was not much space left for any form of acceptance. So coming to Velocity taught me that it is okay to look the way you look and that it is more important to be healthy and fit in order to feel good!

I also learn a lot from all the coaches and clients who come to my rides. They give me advice/input so that I can constantly improve and grow. Velocity also often organizes workshops for us coaches from where I can take a lot with me for my everyday life.

How would you describe your training philosophy?

I’d say my philosophy has changed quite a bit from when I first started… with time, I’ve really found out what I want to teach and how. I used to be more playful on the bike – it was all about vibing to the music. Of course, enjoying yourself is still important, but I also want the riders to really reach their limits and go past them. I try to take people out of their comfort zone more now because I want to push them. I want my riders to walk out the studio feeling tired, sweaty and so damn proud that they kept pushing through all 50 minutes of a killer workout.

As your coach, I like to be that little voice inside your head that tells you to keep going. Keep pushing. Keep pushing your limits. 

Who is your biggest inspiration or role model?

Of course, I have people that inspire me, at Velocity for example Claudia or Alessandra! They have been amazing coaches. They guided us through the academy and helped us get better. But I wouldn’t say that I have a role model other than myself. At the end of the day, I just want to work on becoming a better version of myself instead of comparing myself to others.

Do you have any tips for others on how to get the most out of their workout?

Of course, all things like drinking plenty of water, eating healthy food, and sleeping enough help. But for me, it’s definitely mostly about the fun. If I am not enjoying a single second of a workout I won’t get the most out of it. So I’d say, find out what you enjoy in order to push yourself.

Our Coaches Push Themselves So that They Can Push You

Now that you have gotten to know some of our coaches and their training philosophies a bit, you can see how much they put into their own training in order to show up strong for you. Their goal is to help you reach your goals. Don’t hesitate to get in touch after your workout to talk more about how they can help YOU reach the next level.