Thursday 14 October 2010

Kylie Minogue


That's what one of the tracks was at my first ever spinning class - Spinning Around by the petite antipodean songstress. Its been in my head ever since and it was only a few minutes ago I twigged as to why.

Spinning seems a good one though. A number of people had suggested it to me in the past but I've avoided it as part of my general fear of any class based gym activity but on a whim booked in earlier this week.
Fortunately I bumped into an old colleague who showed me how to set up the bike for my height and reach and how to control resistance. That meant I was then able to go straight into the class. It was undeniably hard work though I liked the fact I had some control over how hard and suspect my resistance setting tended to be rather tougher than some of those about me. I certainly hope so - I was sweating cobs within a couple of minutes whereas some didn't seem to break a sweat despite the studio being relatively small and airless.
Overall the class lasted a little over half an hour and was well worth it, not least because it didn't aggravate the blister, but it pushed me hard and gave a decent workout for heart, lungs and legs.

I've booked again for next week.

5 comments:

Alison said...

I also have a fear of class based gym activity that has been keeping me from going to spinning. Now I have the go-ahead from the physio though I'm going to give it a go. I can't be outdone by a bloke! (And on a more serious note it sounds like the best alternative to running for cardio and leg strength. The elliptical is doing my head in!)

Maria said...

Good on you!
When I first joined the gym I avoided classes like the plague, but then I plucked up the courage to go and I love them- I think a lot is down to the instructors. I only do classes now, I am not a gym member because they push me so hard and I love them.
:)

Running Rob said...

I'm definitely getting converted to adding classes into the mix but my complete lack of rhythm means I'll never do most of them!

Definitely the instructor helps. For the three Pilates classes I could do one has an instructor that tries to get everyone to do way too advanced stuff and doesn't feedback. One seemed to regard me as a toy (as the only fella there) and seemed to give me a little too much hands on feedback for my liking and the third one is spot on - lots of alternative levels, lots of feedback but non invasive!

Unknown said...

I took a spin class once as part of a charity event where you did as many classes as you could over a weekend. I went in really cocky expecting it to be easy and it completely humbled me!!

Running Rob said...

Laura - if truth be told there was a bit of cockiness on my part too. somehting along the lines of 'I know this is meant to be tough but I'm a runner. I treat hills with disdain...'.