Today began week four of my six week summer spinning class. Spinning if you have not heard of it before is a form of indoor cycling. Similar to a stationary bike, but designed very specifically for intense, cardio rides where you can actually go from a seated position to a standing position (while still spinning). A great feature on spinning bikes is they have a knob that allows you to add resistance.
I really enjoy spinning class for a lot of reasons. The main reason is that it is a great cardio workout. We spin for about 50 minutes and by the end I am exhausted. Spinning is definitely and intense, calorie burning workout. Spinning class is a great way to exercise, especially if you need the added encouragement from an instructor.
Another reason why I enjoy the class is the music helps keep me motivated. The instructor plays songs that are upbeat and energetic. Upbeat music is a great way to you energized while working out. Music can also help you set the pace. For example, during a faster paced part of a song is when we spin our hardest. Adding these intervals makes it a challenge, but it is also very rewarding.
Spinning class is generally inexpensive. There are studios that are pricier, offering smaller classes and more one-on-one with the instructor. However if you are on a budget like me, check out your local community college. At my college each class comes to less than five dollars a class! You can’t beat that. Also if you do belong to a gym with cardio classes, they may offer spinning. If they don’t, try requesting it and getting your gym buddies in on it too.
The workout doesn’t stop when the ride is done. Most spinning instructors do core exercises after a spin ride. These exercises include squats, lunges, varying sit-ups, pushups, often while holding a medicine ball. Following these exercises we stretch and that concludes our workout.
Spinning is one of my top three ways to get those calories burned and probably my number one class workout. If you are looking for a new way to do cardio, give spinning a try.
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Photo by Jos van Galen on stockvault