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Spinning® for all – Qualified Spinning® Instructor who has cerebral palsy launches his own club in Scotland
Club McKendry opened its doors in March 2018, offering Spinning® classes seven times a week. The specialist club, based within Danderhall Leisure Centre just outside of Edinburgh, was a dream come true for Iain McKendry, 24, who runs the sessions. “Spinning® is my life,” he says. “It’s the only job I have ever wanted to do. I love being the show man up on stage.”
Iain was born seven weeks premature and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 15 months. At the time, his parents were told he may never walk. Defying the odds, Iain went on to thrive at his local primary school and was given every opportunity to overcome his disability. He has endured many surgeries to help him to walk with assistance and to get him out of a wheel chair. Iain says: “I have always enjoyed sport, but my disability left me on the side-lines. Everything changed after my mum introduced me to Spinning®.”
Janis McKendry, Iain’s mother says: “The family moved to Florida in 2000, and it was whilst we lived there that we found a Spinning® class that we could all participate in. We soon noticed how beneficial this was for Iain’s overall physical strength, mobility and also for his confidence. Iain has a natural ability and a passion for Spinning®. He has gone from strength to strength, having completed his official Spinning® training courses and is now a qualified level 3 Elite Rockstar instructor.”
The family relocated back to Danderhall in 2016 and it was Iain’s ambition to set up a Spinning® club in his home town. Club McKendry currently has 13 Precor Shift Bikes with consoles, and Iain rides a Spinner® Bike that was gifted and personalised for him by John Baudhuin, CEO and Founder of Mad Dogg Athletics, and Josh Taylor, International Spinning® Master Instructor. The club plans to add more bikes in the future, as the classes are oversubscribed with a long waiting list.
Iain says: “The Precor Shift Bikes are fantastic. The ride is very smooth and very quiet. My clients love the bikes as they are easy to adjust the height of the seat and the handlebar position. They look cool too!”
Iain is keen for the Spinning® classes at Club Mckendry to support his local community. He is a great ambassador for Spinning® and living a healthier lifestyle. He says: “I’m helping the people in my community get fitter. If I can spin, then anyone can spin. There are no excuses in my life. When I’m on my bike I feel like a different person, my disability disappears and my ability shines through. My classes welcome the young, the old, men and women, elite athletes and beginners.”
Iain’s mother Janis, goes on to say: “There is a young man who suffers with autism that comes to the classes accompanied by his mum, he reminds me of Iain when he was younger. He too felt left out of the sporting community, but with Spinning® he can participate fully. As it is simply you and the Precor bike, everyone goes at their own pace – no intimidation – just a feeling of everyone working together as a team.”
In June 2018, Iain and Janis will be attending the World Spinning® and Sports Conditioning Conference in Miami, Florida. Iain is looking forward to reuniting with Spinning® Master Instructors, his Spinning® mentors and friends from around the world, plus it is an opportunity for him to see the full range of Precor Spinning® bikes and equipment.
The area of Danderhall is being developed, with new homes being built, as well as schools and leisure centres and Iain hopes to continue to bring Spinning® to the community with the possibility of expanding Club McKendry. His long term personal goal is to become a Master Instructor himself and be a brand ambassador for Spinning®. He says: “I want to show the world that anyone can overcome their disability and achieve their goals and dreams.”
His passion to not let his Cerebral Palsy stop him doing what he loves, has resulted in Ian been shortlisted for the Health Champion Award at the Edinburgh Evening News Local Hero Awards 2018.
