Spin Workouts for Fitness and Weight Loss

Written on July 6, 2024 - 1:27 am | by EmmyW

If anyone had asked me how I would celebrate my 40th birthday 20, 10, five, or even just one year ago, the answer would definitely not be hosting a private spin party for a group of my friends.

But that is exactly how I rang in my fourth decade, and I loved every minute of it.

Despite my initial reticence, I have become part of a growing a legion of “spinsters” — a group of devout spinners with varying ranges of ability whose entire week revolves around signing up for classes at local spin studios.

What is it about today’s spin that is so addictive, and are there any downsides to this intense, full-body cardio experience?

The Spin (R)evolution

First started in 1986 by fitness fanatic Johnny G (aka Jonathan Goldberg), spinning (indoor cycling) is experiencing a renaissance of sorts. Small cycling studios are popping up across the map with certain A-list instructors achieving almost celebrity status, and larger commercial gyms are also tapping into this vibe. People of all ages are willing to pay — sometimes more than $30 — for these 45-minute high-energy classes. Some teens may get physical education school credit for their participation.

These new breed of instructors turns on the heat, pumps up the music, and urges riders to crank up the resistance as they ride their stationary bikes. Spinning classes now also involve using bars, resistance bands, or barbells to help tone the upper body. Some studios also couple the workout with yoga or Pilates.

“We have taken the basic format and made it more of an all-encompassing experience,” says Kevin Burns, a spokesman for the American Council on Exercise and a group fitness instructor in Mankato, Minn. “There is louder music, special lighting, and weights, so we are keeping people engaged and motivated,” he says.

Spinning is also an efficient workout, which appeals in a high-pressured, multitasking world.

“The whole concept was that you could get a full body workout on a bike in 45 minutes and burn between 500 and 800 calories,” says avid spinner Julie Rice, a co-owner of Soul Cycle spinning studios in Manhattan, Scarsdale, and Bridgehampton, N.Y.

Shaping Up

Spin can change your body. Rice says she’s seen people develop “long, lean, defined” bodies that have strong core muscles.

Is this me? No, not yet. But I began spinning at my sister’s urging when a year after my second child was born, I still looked pregnant. Nobody has asked me if I am pregnant in six months, so that is progress.

There are other benefits as well, says certified spin instructor and WebMD Senior Medical Editor Brunilda Nazario, MD. “Primarily the physical benefits are cardiovascular: weight reduction, a drop in blood pressure, improvements in diabetes control, and improvements in strength,” she says.

Fitness Online