Elaine Dernoga: 1,000 classes and counting
For Elaine Dernoga, all it took was one class. Seven years later, she's one of the most popular spin instructors in the Cape Region, recently passing the 1,000-class milestone at RISE Fitness + Adventure.
“I just love changing people's lives,” said Dernoga, a few days before the milestone two-hour class Nov. 2. “It's the people who come back to you and say, 'I lost 30 pounds and you're part of that.'”
Dernoga's passion for spinning dates back to 2007. Looking to add something different into her workout, she tried a spin class at Quest Fitness in Lewes.
“There was just so much energy, and with the music going I just really enjoyed it,” she said. “I thought that this was something I would really enjoy teaching.”
She gained certification in February 2008 from Mad Dogg Athletics and has been off and spinning ever since. In the past six years, she's had 360 different participants in class, created 640 different iTunes playlists and used 1,982 different songs in her classes. A very organized person, Dernoga started compiling spreadsheets with her statistics, believing it would benefit her in class preparation.
“I want my classes to be unique. I want them to be original,” she said. “I don't want to use the same profile every class, and I don't want to use the same music every class.”
To ensure everyone is getting a good workout but isn't overworked, Dernoga uses heart rate training. By identifying an individual's maximum heart rate, she can determine how hard she can push that person in class.
“I think it is very controllable,” she said.
She likes to vary her classes. Some days she'll do hills; other days it'll be a flat road ride. Her own experiences cycling outdoors often influence her spin class profiles, she said.
“I just try to bring what I do outside into the classroom,” she said. “And I think people appreciate that, too, because some people are cyclists and they can relate to that. Other people aren't, but they can feel like they are when I say 'you're feeling that wind in your face.'”
As if spinning classes were not enough, Dernoga started cycling outdoors in 2010. She now has five bikes and often goes out on the back roads of Sussex County with her husband, Garrett.
“The great thing about cycling is anyone can do it – all shapes, all sizes, all ages,” she said.
She participates in many charity rides throughout the year, including Bike to the Bay for MS, Tour de Cure rides and this year's inaugural Tour de Sussex in September. In all, she said, she typically rides in five 100-mile century rides each year. The Seagull Century in Salisbury, Md., is her favorite.
Dernoga somehow finds time to do all of this while holding down a full-time job with Harte Hanks, an international company.
“I work in HR, and I do a million things,” she said.
In a nutshell, she maintains the employee database, ensuring the information for the company's 3,000 employees is correct and up to date in terms of salary and benefits information.
She works with four others – two in the Philippines, two in the United States – but, fortunately, she's able to do her job from the comfort of her own home.
Dernoga and her husband moved to the Cape Region from Maryland in 2004. They have a home with access to the Eagle's Nest Airport. Her husband owns a business at the Sussex County Airport, and he often flies to work.
In order to squeeze in classes, Dernoga's classes are held at 5:30 a.m., every Tuesday and Friday, with a 7 a.m. class every other Saturday. She said it not only works out for her, but also her students.
“We're finished by 6:30, and everyone loves that because then they all go to work too,” she said. “The people who come to my classes are primarily the business people, so they want to come in, get it done and go to work. It's a pretty good time slot.”
To commemorate the 1,000-class milestone, Dernoga led a special two-hour class Nov. 2 at RISE. During the class, she and her 26 participants did 1,000 jumps – a rhythmic transition from a seated to a standing position – a monumental feat considering most classes feature only about 100.
“The 1,000th class was amazing!” she said. “It honestly was the most incredible experience.”
Jennifer Kaufmann, RISE's marketing director, took Dernoga's milestone class. She said it was so popular they are planning an encore class Sunday, Nov. 30.
"True to form, everything from the song selection to the structure of the class was perfect," she said. "The camaraderie amongst the participants was so inspiring – everyone pushing each other to finish strong."
Looking back over six years of classes, Dernoga is proud that she's had so much support from her students, many of whom followed her each time she moved the class to a new gym.
“I've somehow changed the lives of [360] people,” she said. “Whether they fell in love with spinning or they hated it and never wanted to come back, I affected that person in some way. I just find that to be pretty cool.”
