The first time I went to a spin class, I was intimidated too. In fact, for a couple weeks before I went to one, I used a treadmill close to the classroom so I could see what people did before and during the class. I could see what they wore, where they put their water bottles, and how they adjusted their bikes before class. I couldn't hear a lot of the class itself because they'd close the door, but I could see them working in there.
The best thing about spin class is that you are in charge of your own bike's resistance. You can pedal as fast or as slow as you want to and put as much resistance on the pedals that you want to. So if you're tired, you just take it down a notch; if you're doing great, maybe you rev it up a notch.
I think it burns 500 calories because the combination of music, visualization and collective energy of the class makes you want to work harder and harder. You really do push yourself. You COULD work that hard on a treadmill or ellipitcal or stationary bike, but it's hard to motivate yourself to push through your own limits when you're doing it all by yourself.
What's really intense in a spinning class is some of the other participants. Don't be intimidated by those who come dressed in bike clothes, immediately push the gears up to their highest level, and talk about how this instructor kicks their butt! No matter what, you can still tailor the workout to yourself. And you'll probably have a good time while you do.
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The first time I went to a spin class, I was intimidated too. In fact, for a couple weeks before I went to one, I used a treadmill close to the classroom so I could see what people did before and during the class. I could see what they wore, where they put their water bottles, and how they adjusted their bikes before class. I couldn't hear a lot of the class itself because they'd close the door, but I could see them working in there.
The best thing about spin class is that you are in charge of your own bike's resistance. You can pedal as fast or as slow as you want to and put as much resistance on the pedals that you want to. So if you're tired, you just take it down a notch; if you're doing great, maybe you rev it up a notch.
I think it burns 500 calories because the combination of music, visualization and collective energy of the class makes you want to work harder and harder. You really do push yourself. You COULD work that hard on a treadmill or ellipitcal or stationary bike, but it's hard to motivate yourself to push through your own limits when you're doing it all by yourself.
What's really intense in a spinning class is some of the other participants. Don't be intimidated by those who come dressed in bike clothes, immediately push the gears up to their highest level, and talk about how this instructor kicks their butt! No matter what, you can still tailor the workout to yourself. And you'll probably have a good time while you do.
November 5, 2008 - 9:12amThis Comment
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