Imagine yourself in a room with music , dimmed lights, screams from a microphone, and spinning wheels circling to the beat. This is what a typical spinning class is like.
Indoor cycling began in 1989 and has become a very popular exercise since. In its simplest form, spinning is riding a bike without actually going anywhere. However, it also involves jumps, hills, jogs, runs, sprints, and climbs by either moving your body or adjusting the resistance of your bike. The instructor drops encouraging phrases such as “Climb the mountain,” which motivate you as you peddle hard toward greater resistance. Part of why spinning is so popular is because you get to control the level of difficulty of your workout experience.
Spinning is a relatively new phenomenon. It serves as great exercise because it is a low impact activity for all ages, so it does not stress your joints. Instead, it strengthens your heart, core, and leg muscles. The exercise is open to all ability levels, which makes it easier for those who are not particularly athletic. Also, the lights and music create an energized atmosphere where you feel as if you’re not actually working out, but having fun! Spinning class regulars become exercise buddies and motivate one another to push themselves during the class. Spinning classes are available at gyms and health clubs everywhere. Classes are usually around 30-75 minutes. You burn more than 500 calories in a short 30 minute class.
Tip: experts recommend spinning at an easy level for beginners. You shouldn’t jump right into an advanced class because it could harm your body if you are not used to it. The first few times might cause soreness in different areas of your body. Some people utilize seat cushions or special spinning shoes to alleviate some of that pain. To reduce the risk of injury while spinning, you should sit up straight, keep your lower back arched, tilt the front of your saddle down, lean from your hip (not waist), and don’t suck in your stomach.
If you walk into the Soul Cycle (a well-known spinning studio) on Eighty-Third Street and Third Avenue in the morning, you would probably find yourself in a sea of forty year old housewives getting a good workout to kick off their day. Spinning is not supposed to be an exercise for kids, but some gyms do offer teen classes once a week as an after-school activity.
For this exercise to be enjoyable, you have to be okay with being in a room with a bunch of sweaty people for at least 30 minutes straight. Otherwise, riding a bike through Central Park might be a satisfying alternative.