What are spin/cycling classes?

Maybe your friends can’t stop talking about their newfound love for spin classes. Or maybe you’ve been taking a cycling class at the gym and found yourself interested in upbeat music and synchronized pedaling.

No matter what piques your curiosity, you’re not the first to ask “what?” yes Cycling lessons to be exact?

Simply put, cycling classes (often called spin classes) are indoor group fitness classes Led by trained and certified cycling instructors. Participants ride stationary bikes designed to mimic outdoor bikes for a heart-pumping cardio workout in a fast-paced, high-energy environment.

Wondering if spinning classes are right for you? We’re sharing all the details about this dynamic cardio burner to help you make your decision.

What real Happening in a cycling class?

If you want to walk into class like a pro on your first day—we get it. Here’s what you can expect in a typical cycling class:

• warm up – You’ll start with a short warm-up that includes light pedaling to slowly increase your heart rate and relax your muscles.
• interval – Next, you’ll pedal hard for about 40 minutes in a series of riding intervals. This can include high-intensity sprints or hill climbs. Your trainer may also use seated and standing positions to work different muscle groups.
• cool down – After completing the main exercise, your trainer will guide you through a 5 to 10 minute cool-down, where you will significantly slow down your pedaling speed and your heart rate will return to its natural rate. You can also do some light stretches to reduce muscle soreness after exercise and improve your muscles’ range of motion.

Benefits of spinning classes

If you need a little more convincing before jumping on the bike bandwagon, that’s okay. Incorporating spinning classes into your exercise routine can provide many benefits, including:

• Improve cardiovascular endurance – Cardiovascular endurance is your body’s ability to deliver oxygen to your muscles during sustained physical activity. While you may not be able to keep up with the instructor during your first few classes, you’ll find that your endurance will improve over time, allowing you to hold on to stretches for longer periods of time, ultimately improving your cardiovascular endurance. .
• Strengthen leg muscles – As you move through different resistance levels and speeds, you’re giving your entire lower body a thorough workout. Each downstroke works your glutes, quads, and calves, while the upstroke targets your hamstrings and flexors.
• burn calories – A 45-minute riding session can burn 350 to 600 calories or more, depending on factors such as your body composition and exercise intensity. This is just as effective as a 45-minute run but puts less stress on your joints.

Can beginners take cycling lessons?

Absolutely! Another benefit of spin classes is that you can choose from a variety of classes when you sign up. Typically, there are classes that are more suitable for beginners, such as Intro to Cycling or Rhythm Spin (more on that below).

However, if your gym only offers one or two types of classes per week, you can always let your instructor know that you’re new to riding and they can help you make modifications.

Types of cycling courses

Not sure which type of spin class is right for you (or which types even exist?) Some common bike class styles include:

• endurance – These classes are designed to build your stamina and cardiovascular endurance. They maintain a consistent pace for longer periods of time and are suitable for all fitness levels.
• rhythmic – Featuring high-energy music, rhythmic cycling classes often incorporate upper-body movements and dance. They’re perfect for those who enjoy an electronic vibe and want to have fun while burning calories.
• High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) – Like other HIIT workouts, this spinning class maximizes calorie burn in less time. Throughout the course, you’ll focus on intense pedaling followed by a short recovery period.
• Fusion – If you’re interested in combining strength training with cardio, a fusion spin class might be just your style. During the course, you’ll alternate between riding and performing weighted and bodyweight exercises on the bike for a complete, full-body workout.

Take a cycling class at Chuze Fitness

Spin classes are a great way to change up your daily fitness routine. They help build muscle, enhance aerobic capacity, and keep your metabolism going for 14 hours after exercise. It feels like a win-win—win.

At Chuze Fitness, we offer a range of classes and activities you’ll love, from indoor cycling and strength training to pickle ball and lap swimming. No matter where you are on your fitness journey, we have the equipment, support and expertise to make sure every workout feels like a win.

Come and see for yourself Free 7-day pass.

Ready to experience Chuze for yourself? take a look at our gym in san diegoCypress, Fontana and more! Find the location closest to you and start exploring our amazing facilities today!

Source:

American Institutes of Health. Effectiveness of post-exercise stretching on short-term and delayed recovery of strength, range of motion, and delayed-onset muscle soreness: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8133317/

Cycling. Different types of cycling and how they can improve your health. https://www.bicycling.com/training/a45416992/types-of-cycling-workouts/

Business Insider. Why you should try indoor cycling—a low-impact workout with big benefits. https://www.businessinsider.com/indoor-cycling-exercise-benefits-2018-6

American Institutes of Health. 45 minutes of vigorous exercise can increase your metabolic rate for 14 hours. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21311363/

Reviewed by:

Ani is the Vice President of Fitness at Chuze Fitness, where she oversees the group fitness and team training departments. She has a career spanning over 25 years in club management, personal training, group exercise and coaching training. Ani lives in San Diego, CA with her husband and son and loves hot yoga, snowboarding, and all things healthy.