Hop on a bike without a helmet? Mom would definitely shake her head. But there’s an exception to every rule: Indoor cycling, or “spinning,” is a cardiovascular, butt-kicking workout that takes us on a stationary but sweaty ride of our life. The Club has recently added a new spinning class with state-of-the-art Precor® spinning bikes.
More intense than a stationary bike, indoor cycling keeps things cool with bumpin’ music and a killer class atmosphere. Expect to sit tight for 30 to 65 minute sessions, which can burn up to 900 calories. The intensity varies throughout the class, thanks to changing body position, pedal speed and resistance. And get ready to listen up: The instructor will yell out instructions to imitate a real ride of climbs, sprints and coasts. In some special classes, the pedaling is even mixed with upper body workouts, resistant bands or a themed adventure.
Spinning is definitely no ride in the park, though. It guarantees to amp up your VO2 max (the rate oxygen is carried to the muscles), a sign the body is being pushed. All that pedaling will tone up muscles, too, working the quads, hamstrings, glutes, calves and core. Studies have found that indoor cycling can help shed unwanted pounds and potentially ward off migraines, while keeping impact on the joints to a minimum. Now that’s a winning combo.