Spin Class: Spin Your Way to Skinny

Written by Cathleen Dower Sunday, 13 June 2010 22:52

Spinning classes came about as a convenient way to quickly train for races and first appeared in 1989 by a world-renowned cyclist, “Johnny G.” Goldberg. Spinning classes can now be found in almost every fitness studio and gym throughout the U.S. and has gained significant popularity in recent years. Spinning classes can be a great way to slim down or stay in shape during the off-season.

Spinning is a cardio workout usually offered in group classes at many gyms that burns serious calories and works not only your calves and thighs but your buttocks as well. The usual spin class takes place in a fitness studio on a stationary bike lasting anywhere from 45-60 minutes and can burn upwards of 450 calories. You don’t need much for spin class - just a sweat towel and water bottle.  My advice is to arrive a few minutes early to adjust your bike accordingly and let the instructor of the class know of any questions or concerns you may have.

In spin, instructors motivate and guide you over hills, sprints, and steady cadences using lighting and music to set the atmosphere and pace. Although, you are in control of how much resistance you want and how much energy you are going to exert by way of the resistance knob on your bike. If you feel the workout is too intense just adjust the knob on the bike to a lower resistance and pedal more slowly. Over time you will get stronger and gain more endurance enabling you to keep pace with the instructor without adjusting the knob.

Advantages to spin classes include riding during the offseason, you can ride at your own pace, it’s an effective workout that can be utilized by all ability levels, you don’t have to wear a helmet, and the routines are varied. Some drawbacks of spin class are that you’re not on a real bike and classes can get a little repetitious.

Although, if you are able to stay focused and you feel that being in a class with others keeps you motivated then spin is for you. See you at the gym, spinning!