Spinning is gaining popularity as a way to lose weight. Spinning means riding a stationary exercise bike, but a spinning bike is made differently than normal exercise bikes. The bike has a knob with which the pedal tension can be adjusted on the flywheel. This means you can make the pedal tension hard or as easy as you wish.
I have been taking spinning classes for about 12 years now. The best time for me to do this is in the winter months because riding a bike outside is difficult in our cold weather. Each class has an instructor and usually about 10-20 students. The instructor plays a CD with different songs on it with varying beats. With some songs the class rides the bike in a sitting position, and sometimes the class will stand on the pedals. The instructor tells the class when to change the tension on their bikes, and the students follow along. Bike tension can be changed for each song or changed several times during a given song.
The music and the room lighting are what make spinning classes unique. The lights are normally turned down low, and there is music throughout the session. Normally the songs have a beat that is different for each one, so for a slow song the instructor can simulate a long hill climb with high tension on the pedals and slow strokes, and then the next song might be faster. Learning how to stand on the pedals for 3-5 minutes takes some time, but that makes for a harder effort that provides a better workout. I try to have my pedal cadence match the beat of the songs. Doing that seems to make it feel almost as if the music is pulling you along and makes the effort seem easier.
Spinning is a vigorous exercise that certainly makes you sweat. Everyone has a towel because it is almost impossible not to perspire, and everyone also needs a water bottle. Typically 500-600 calories can be burned during a 45 minute class. Our classes are normally an hour, but there is a warm up period at first and a cool down for several minutes at the end of the session with stretching. As part of a weight loss program, people who do spinning regularly can lose quite a lot of weight. It is impossible to attend spinning classes three times per week and not be in good physical condition.
Spinning is great for people who wish to lose weight because it is a low impact form of exercise which puts a much lower amount of pressure on joints compared to running, for example. For this reason it is also good for seniors who have some problems with arthritis. In our gym there are several people in their seventies who regularly attend classes. Since each rider sets the tension on the bike at a level that makes them comfortable, the pedal pressure will always be at a proper level.
A few months ago I purchased a used spinning bike for home. I can now get in a good workout without having to drive to the gym, and I can do this whenever it is most convenient for me. There are videos for sale that one can use to follow along with an instructor, but I have a couple of music CD’s I like with songs that have a good beat for pedaling. I have figured out a riding routine for each one, so that provides sufficient motivation.
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