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Late last summer, I finally took the plunge and joined the local health club, in hopes of shedding the 20 or so pounds that had crept up on me over the years. Although I'd been a health club member in years past, I knew my approach would have to be different, seeing as I'm not in my 20's any more. A very important consideration for my workout routine was, very frankly, not to hate it! After years of bone jarring jogging and climbing Stairmasters, I knew I could go back to those routines, but I wouldn't stay with them long term. Yet, it was important to burn fat, develop and maintain cardiovascular fitness, and hopefully enjoy myself at the same time. A short time after joining the health club, I began to notice the various aerobic class options. Some were as I remembered, while others were more intriguing. One type of class that caught my attention was an indoor cycling class. Although I've never been much of a bike rider, I did notice the folks who exited the spin class had gone through a challenging workout and were actually smiling as they exited! Upon arriving, the first thing I learned was that the instructor didn't refer to the class as an indoor cycling class. Instead, the term she used was spin class. Sixty minutes later, my head was slightly spinning. I'd had a challenging, enjoyable workout, with absolutely no pounding, jumping, or jarring. My first thought was that I'd finally found a great workout that I could stick with. And, several months later, stick with it I have! Although I just recently discovered spin classes, they've been around for a number of years. What I particularly enjoy is that they are appropriate for all levels of fitness and all ages. In a class I regularly attend, we have students ranging in age from teenager to senior citizens. The lack of impact is also a relief on the joints, and the cardio workout is challenging and efficient. Our instructor tells us that depending on our exertion level, we can expect to burn several hundred calories per class. Most spin classes are one hour long. This allows for ample time to warm up, reach a target fitness zone, and cool down. In our class, we have optional heart rate monitors which tell a participant how hard they're working and how close they are to their optimal fat burning heart rate. Our instructor is very helpful in acclimating people to the class and helping us get the most from our workout. Spin class instructors usually go through a certification process before they can teach a class on their own. As for the class itself, you'll cycle on a stationary bike which is specially suited for spin classes. Adjusting the bike to your height and comfort level takes only a minute or two. Similar to other aerobic classes, you'll cycle along to music, provided by the instructor, with slower songs for warm up and cool down, and more energetic music during periods of higher exertion. During my first few spin classes, I found it particularly helpful to be able to work at my own pace and not feel out of place compared to more experienced participants. In fact, spin instructors are specifically trained to emphasize this point. The instructor wants to motivate participants to challenge themselves and improve, but not to the point of overexertion. All in all, spin classes have proven to be a very effective part of my workout routine. Even two classes per week have given me a significantly greater fitness level and loss of weight. Combined with other forms of exercise like moderate resistance training, indoor cycling classes can help you reach your desired level of fitness. Don't be afraid to try a spin class at your local health club.
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Jim Hofman enjoys maintaining and enhancing his fitness level with low impact, effective cardio workouts. One of Jim's favorite forms of working out is indoor cycling, due to its efficient fat burning and cardiovascular benefits. Learn more about indoor cycling and spin classes here!
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