Why Spinning Went From Fitness Fad To Workout Staple

It’s hard to believe that Spinning is 30 years old. Yup, you read that right, Spinning was invented in the mid-1980s by ultra-marathon cyclist Johnny Goldberg (aka Johnny G) as a safe way to train indoors when the weather outside was bad—and, rumor has it, also to be able to stay close to his wife and new baby while training. In 1993, Rolling Stone magazine named Spinning the “hot” exercise of the year. Today, studios like SoulCycle can claim cult status and celebrity aficionados like Michelle Obama and David Beckham.

What about Spinning—and its generic equivalent, indoor cycling—has helped it endure for 30 years? And why is it experiencing the revival it’s going through now? Here are 10 reasons it's a great workout, and then some.

1. It’s a huge calorie burner.

Spinning can burn anywhere from 400 to 800 calories per class, which is up there with an hour of running or jogging—only you get to sit down for parts of class! It’s pretty rare to NOT see people coming out of a spin class drenched in sweat, so you know they’ve been working hard.

2. It can help build strength and not just in your legs.

Do it with the correct form, and Spinning can strengthen not only your legs, but also your core, your back, and even your arms if you do some upper-body exercises while on the bike. Many studios these days include small dumbbell workouts in class, but I prefer exercises that use your own body weight to build strength.

3. It’s low impact and easy on your joints.

Low impact does not mean low intensity; it simply means it’s easier on your joints and reduces the risk of injury, versus something like running that is constant pounding on your joints. How many high-intensity workouts do you know of that can do that? Again, form becomes very important here, as does setting up the bike correctly to avoid knee and joint discomfort.

4. Anyone can do it, anytime. (Even when you're exhausted.)

Not only is Spinning low impact and so good for people who have a hard time with high-impact exercises, but it is also great for people of all fitness levels. Although the instructor’s job is to guide you through a challenging workout and provide a certain choreography involving speed and resistance, ultimately each rider is in control of their own pace and resistance. You always have the option of adjusting your ride to fit your needs, and if the instructor is doing a good job, they’ll motivate you to continue to push yourself.

Spinning is also a workout that it’s OK to show up tired to. Believe me, I’ve done that many times. In fact, there have been times when I’m so tired at the beginning of a workout that I’ll ride with the lights off and my eyes closed (yes, like a mini-nap). But as long as my legs are moving and the music is playing, I know that eventually I'll naturally start to wake up and increase my exertion. It happens every single time.

5. You’re alone but still in a community.

In a Spinning class, you’re riding your own bike, and chances are, once you get going, you won’t be able to talk to or even really look at anyone else. It is easy to really go inward during your ride, and many people treat it as a pseudo-meditation.

Spinning is an individual exercise: What you do on your bike has no bearing on what your neighbor does, at least directly. But each of us is doing this individual ride in a room full of other people. Everyone is there sweating it out, pushing themselves, and riding to the same music with the same instructor. If you walk into the middle of a Spin class, there is an unmistakable energy that is greater than the sum of the individuals—it’s palpable and it’s what I believe builds such a strong sense of community in class. In today’s world of iPhones and earbuds, many of us are seeking out this sense of community, whether it’s through social media or in person and sweaty!

6. It’s a major stress-reliever.

With its dark rooms and loud music, some say taking a Spin class is like going to a club. Some say it’s like a meditation. Either way, there’s something magical about a truly immersive Spin class that helps you leave your worries outside the studio doors and allows you to let go and move. In today’s busy and speedy world, so many of us are seeking out opportunities to let go and relieve stress, and Spinning is definitely a great way to do both.

Research shows that working out to fast music makes you work harder; my experience shows that without bright lights, people feel more comfortable jamming out to awesome music, and in this case that means riding your heart out.

7. It requires little skill or coordination.

The music is blaring, your heart is pumping, and you’re moving to the music, as if in a dance. But unlike a dance or Zumba class, you don’t have to be coordinated at all. You don’t have to have any skill, really. It’s a very simple movement, just pedaling in a smooth circle. All you have to do is follow the instructor’s instructions and you’re good to go!

8. You don’t have to think.

Unlike many other workouts, there aren’t any moves or steps to learn. You don’t have to be careful where you’re stepping, and you don’t have to keep track of any balls or ropes. In fact, you could completely zone out and give your brain a break for the duration of the class and you’ll be perfectly fine. Isn’t that a relief?

9. You can go really, really fast.

I love sprints. I love the feeling of letting my legs fly. In a Spin class, you can get up to 30 miles per hour! Compare that to running, where even at an eight-minute mile you're only going 7.5 mph. Where else can you generate that kind of speed without being out on the road?

10. You leave feeling uplifted and euphoric.

Most people leave Spin class on a certain kind of high. I suppose it’s a combination of all of the factors above: giving yourself that hourlong break in the day from your normal routine combined with the dark lighting, motivating music, sweating side by side with friends and strangers, all in a room that is designed to be a powerful environment for it all. What’s not to love?



Source:  Jennifer Wang
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-25123/why-spinning-went-from-fitness-fad-to-workout-staple.html

Let's Exercise Because We Love Our Bodies, Not Because We Hate Them

What if we started talking about fitness and exercise more positively?

I'm an indoor cycling instructor and dabble in other group exercise classes. I love teaching. It’s something I fell into as a temporary gig, but I’ve ended up enjoying it a great deal.

When I teach, I'm aware that what I say can stay with the participants—in the same way that other instructors’ words stay with me. I'm intentional about giving positive feedback and encouraging the people who work out with me. I instruct them in the proper form so that they can gain endurance and strength. I push them to go faster, harder, and longer so that they can be proud of their increased fitness level.

You know what I don’t do? I don't encourage them to lose their belly. I don't tell them to banish fat.

These aren't the ultimate goals of exercise. But that’s the language we’re constantly confronted with in the fitness world. As someone who usually has fun trying new activities and visiting new gyms, I'm frustrated by gym lingo. So much of it is negative, and so much of it is about hating yourself. I exercise because I love myself and love seeing what I can push my body to do. Hearing other people—especially women—talk about their bodies in a negative fashion is heartbreaking. So I wonder: Would people be more successful in achieving their fitness goals, happier with their progress, and more likely to sustain an active lifestyle if we framed exercise in more positive terms?

An article from Time magazine commenting on the new term "skinny fat" noted that being skinny doesn’t equal being healthy. People may have a poor diet and never exercise but look like they're in perfect shape. Others may have eating disorders that keep them thin, even as their bodies are shutting down. Neither of these are healthy ways of living, but we often discuss being skinny and being healthy as if they're interchangeable.

Exercise, for those of us blessed with the privilege, should be a healthy part of life. In fact, I like to say that no one can afford not to exercise. But fat talk and body shaming don’t encourage healthier choices. According to a recent New York Times article, such language does the opposite—it makes women less likely to take care of their bodies.


Too often we're warned: “No pain, no gain.” We're pushed to “work that butt off.” We're told to “think about how hot you’ll look in those jeans.” And of course, there are those incessant reminders that “swimsuit season is coming up.” But just like the unattainable images of beauty that Hollywood tells us to hold as ideal, exercising to “earn our beach body” isn't a realistic goal. It’s not specific. It's not measurable. And it doesn’t actually have anything to do with health.

The messages put forth by ads at the gym, by fitness instructors, and by mainstream media promote an unhealthy obsession with body appearance and limited attention to much else. The overwhelming focus on the visual aspects of women’s bodies often means that we don't pay enough attention to our worth as individuals.

My body looks nothing like what I see on the cover of Cosmo or Shape, and it never will. But I love my body the way it is because for me, the purpose of exercise isn't to make my figure pleasing for other people to look at. My legs have carried me through two marathons, seven half marathons, and a few triathlons to boot. It will continue powering me through whatever I decide to do next. My arms and core aren’t skinny or even all that solid. But they allow me to move, to be independent, and to carry just about anything I need.

I’m proud that most days I’m able to appreciate my body not for what it can do but for what it is. It hurts and worries me that we are so often told—and so ready to believe—that we aren’t good enough. Our bodies are beautiful and don't need to be “fixed.” Let's quit the negative talk, and turn the fitness conversation to celebrate the amazing abilities of our bodies instead.

Article Source:  Hannah Morrison Shultz

http://verilymag.com/2015/05/health-fitness-exercise-gym-workout-positive-body-image-love-your-body

Just came across this article - I love it - what about you? - more of this kind of attitude is needed