"Starlight On:" will be a seasonal webpage
that will highlight
some of the resources M.A.P.S affiliates bring to the
public.
Vol. 1,Issue 1-Summer 2006
Starlight On: |
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Vanderbilt Planetarium: Opened to public 1971
at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum
180 Little Neck Road
Centerport, New York
Custom Goto Planetarium, 60 ft. dome
Sky-Skan Spice Automation
236 Seat Uni-directional
Cove lighting- Christmas lights adapted with translucent paint
Up to 5 presentations daily & Special Events
Image cycling is a new development in the Spinning (Indoor cycling) craze that is gaining popularity across the country in our fitness centers. It seemed only natural when Dave Bush of the Vanderbilt Planetarium teamed up with John Hinrichsen from Image Cycling to combine the image capabilities afforded by a planetarium with Spinning to enhance the participant's experience. I recently visited both at the Vanderbilt Planetarium on a hot afternoon, on the cool North Shore of Long Island, to be clued in on the new phenomena they have created along with Tony Sforza, Maryjo Ruckel and Isabel Shepard-Schaefer. Well.... new in a sense that it is under the dome. Spinning has been on the rise for the past 10 years. The ability to coach spinners on a mental ride that is challenging and rewarding is the job of the Spin Instructor. A good instructor can motivate the participant to increase the time spent spinning, and increase the benefits by physically challenging the participants to various degrees of exertion, and engagement while spinning. The mind and body link here is the main key to an ultimate work out. Planetariums are natural places of concentration / meditation , and all dome visuals can create an amazing immersive backdrop to the experience. Using dome as an immersive experience is achieved with simulated sunsets, sunrises, mountain tops, nebulae and galaxies which can set the mood, create the environment, and stimulate spinners to achieve more. Participants are stimulated physically to bring themselves to a heightened state of emotion by gradually elevating their heart rates. Combining the experience with an environment that reflects the challenge of the instructors aids in achieving that heightened state of emotion. |
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Now imagine yourself ready to ride, the music swells, instructors start the challenge and you're off. Mentally racing up mountains, pedaling through a planetarium simulated thunderstorm, and swiftly cutting through the cool night guided by starlight. In one presentation you are in Africa, in another you are pedaling through the waves of your thought. Dream Ride, Rock-n-Ride, African Safari are just a few of the themes they are working with to stimulate the spinning experience. The visuals and the ambience can help make the ride and time go faster, increasing ones enjoyment, and benefits of spinning. Participants claim the images definitely intensify the experience saying that "it combines exercise and an escape from reality." Some things to think about.. Dave mentioned that "Due to the rapid growth in Spinning, the potential of interested participants could be....astronomical!" When I returned home, I started talking about this with our staff, I learned there is a cult following of sorts for different instructors in the area. Instructors that are dynamic, have good pacing and can challenge their group to achieve are in demand and develop a following. Now just think of what that extra revenue might help to fund. Perhaps, a few stationary bicycles to start with! Submitted by Ted Wiliams |
More information at:
Dave Bush- Vanderbilt
Planetarium
Last updated: June 7, 2007