Spin classes at the gym

It’s that time of year when I finally roll out of my bed and pyjamas, and enrol at a gym. Since I have a history of giving up on plain vanilla (yummm) cardio and weight-training programmes (not so yum) post haste, I’ve decided to experiment with my workout schedule. The gym I’ve registered at for the next three months allows me to pick a different group activity three times a week. These exercises, as per the schedule I was handed, promise to be intense. 

In my first series for this year on the blog, I am going to document my journey through a new group workout every few days. I’m hoping to survive at least six types; wish me luck! 

Spinning

I woke up at six am on Saturday without an alarm. I dressed quickly; fumbling with my track pants in the dark hallway at home, and was out into the cold morning a couple of minutes later. My first spin class was at seven. 

Before I decided to put down my name for this batch of spin, I had a vague idea that this exercise involves a cycle, and is much like cycling with a group. I readily agreed to join because I love to cycle. 

So there I was, 15 minutes early, ambling around the various studios at the place. Some time after, I spotted a few women outside the spin room, and decided it was time to settle down. Three or four of them picked their bikes together, chatting too happily for that time of day. One of them was very loud about her impending trip to Pune, and the other two just wanted “Sangeeta to go easy today.” After we had all settled on our bikes, I realised that the average age in the room was easily forty. And then, Sangeeta walked in. 

I must add that Resham, who inducted me to the gym and gave me a nice tour before she explained the different workouts available, had warned me about this particular section. “This is an advanced spin class; all our regular members come in the morning.” But I am clearly a sucker for punishment.

We began with normal, full-speed cycling while imagining the wind in our hair on a pothole-free road, we were then asked to crank up the resistance on our bikes and pretend we were on a hill, and then the tough terrain of a mountain descended on us. We did this three times in 60 minutes. Sangeeta, without an inch out of place, was in full form.

Spinning is like cycling indeed, but imagine trudging uphill soaked in sweat with remixed Bollywood item numbers blaring in the background and an angry instructor screaming, “Faster, FASTER!” 

That one hour was pretty much the longest of my life; but the energy and stamina around was fascinating and fantastic. 

Recommendation level: Super high. Make sure to stretch well before and after. 

Good for: anyone who can keep up with the pace of such an intense workout; taking breaks or slow cycling defeats the purpose. 

Pain points the next day: “Your legs should be on fire by now,” she said at the end of the session. The feeling kind of continues till the morning after.

Let's do this!