RIDE OR DIE | Jocelyn Erickson, Instructor

Meet Jocelyn, more commonly known as Joc – a Vancouver Instructor with a heart of gold and mega passion for sweat. Joc commands the room with power and grace – always focusing on form while encouraging you to get lost in the music. Get to know Joc and how RIDE has impacted her life.

Where did you grow up?

Halifax, Nova Scotia! I moved to Vancouver in 2012. Thought I would stay a year…never left.

Can you remember your first RIDE class? How long did it take until you realized you wanted to become an Instructor?

Of course! JJ actually taught my very first RIDE in 2016. Marqelle, our Yaletown Studio Manager, then encouraged me to audition after about 6 months of riding Michael Kong’s 6AM classes religiously.

He taught a RIDE in March of 2016 (Ciara theme, of course), and I cried on the way home because I had never in my life felt that powerful. I think that was the moment.

How would you describe your teaching style?

Simple and powerful. My style is very athletic and focuses on building strength and endurance. My choreography tends to be simple so you will focus harder on engaging your muscles and pushing yourself. My goal is for your class to be the hardest you physically push yourself, so you become better after every RIDE.

Best part of being an instructor is…

Creating a space for my Riders. For whatever it is they need…a huge physical release and a crazy workout, or to work through whatever is going on outside the room. We’ve all been there, so I consider it a privilege to be able to give my people that opportunity.

Track you’ve had on repeat

Ok…Impossible to pick.

In February I did a few classes at the Ossington RIDE, and Emily Palley-Samson (killer instructor, monster babe, I could go on) blew me away. Everything about her class…but her music was SO GOOD. We share a love for dancehall and obscure UK rappers, so I’ll throw in Boasty by Wiley, Steffllon Don, Sean Paul and Idris Elba just for her.

A few more by specific category 🙂
Alesso – Tilted Towers
Blast Off – Gesaffelstein + Pharrell
Let Em Know – Jeezy
A special one: Slow Up – Jacob Banks

AM or PM RIDES?

PM. Something extra grimy about a night RIDE. I love getting into that room with the intention of leaving the day behind.

Favourite way to sweat outside of RIDE?

The All City Athletics 8-count! And Travis Dunn’s Kondi class, without a doubt 🙂

How has becoming a RIDE Instructor changed you?

In a funny way, being an Instructor and holding myself to a very high standard, has forced me to be more gentle with myself. I tend to be incredibly hard on myself. As an Instructor, you have to be a bit unflappable. Things will go wrong, and our classes can get a little crazy. I’ve learned to roll with it, accept myself, and not beat myself up.

Go-to quote or words to live by?

Don’t get on the train.

For my friend Maddy (who better be printing off this article for the fridge)…she taught us a lot about dealing with stress and anxiety from her yoga training. When things come at you, you can acknowledge and sit in your feelings when you need…but let the train pass. Just don’t allow yourself to go down the path of negative self talk. Just don’t get on it.

Who motivates you?

My wonderful friends. I’m extremely lucky to have a very tight pack behind me. They truly hold up the mirror and force me to look in, whatever the situation.

Favourite book?

Dance Dance Dance by Haruki Murakami, and The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin.

What’s your #1 life hack?

Packing a candle when I travel. Cozy home vibes anywhere in the world.

Where can we find you on a Saturday afternoon in the city?

Coffee shop and brewery crawling, and always at the beach in the summer.

Any hidden or not so hidden talents?

Well…I used to be in a choir in high school. And *I THINK* i was a pretty good singer. I also am very excellent at drinking wine and assembling charcuterie boards.

If you could brunch with any person (past or present), who would it be and why?

My sisters. I’m the youngest of three girls, and I live across the country from them. We all live in different cities and lead very different lives…what I would give to be able to see them more.

Best memory since you joined RIDE?

I have a few.

Our summer of training at UNDRGRND in Lonsdale feels like 100 years ago…but that was special.

Every shared moment with Marlon between our 5:15PM and 6:20PM classes on Wednesdays (in Yaletown…hit us up). You know those work friends who just understand exactly what’s going on as soon as they look at you? Marlon is that one for me.

#1 piece of advice for someone looking to have a killer RIDE?

It’s so easy at first to get super caught up with “performing” and hitting every single beat… Don’t think about it so hard! Focus on form and tension, and just go.

What has you stoked on life right now?

I just turned 29 and am genuinely so stoked for this entire year! A lot of love and wonderful things to dive into.

What does RIDE mean to you?

RIDE changed everything for me. It showed me what I was capable of, when I didn’t always believe it before.

RIDE with Joc – find her on the Hamilton and Kitsilano and Lonsdale Schedule.