There’s a reason you see so many spin-class exercise gyms around – because it’s effective! There’s no better exercise when it comes to low-impact cardio and leg strength building.
Sure, running is excellent for the heart, but it’s terrible for your joints and puts you at a high risk of injury.
While there’s always a risk of injury when doing physical activity, having an instructor who can give you tips on form during your spin class can help you avoid getting hurt.
Need some motivation to hop in the saddle? We’ve got five reasons you should try a spin class, below.
1. It Works a Large Number of Muscle Groups
You don’t have to slave over the squat machine or do crazy deadlifts to get the strong legs you want. You can simply go to a spin class for similar results.
During a spin class, you’ll work your:
- Quadriceps (the front of your thighs)
- Hamstrings (back of thighs)
- Glutes
- Calves
- Heart (it’s a muscle too!)
- Core
- Shoulders
- Lungs
Want to know why those muscles matter so much? Keep reading!
The Benefits of Strong Hamstrings and Quadriceps
Your hamstrings and your quadriceps are some of the largest muscles in your body. They attach to your tailbone and hip bones, and they work as a pair.
Since they attach at both the knee and the hip region, you can prevent injuries to both areas by making your quads and hammies strong.
You want to make sure you work both sets of muscles, as weak quadriceps will ask too much of the hamstrings, and vice versa.
Cycling does an excellent job of strengthening both muscle groups during a class, leaving your knees, hips, and back in a better place than when you started.
Pro Tip: Hamstring Stretches
Are you having lower back pain you just can’t seem to stretch out? The problem may actually be tight hamstrings. Since they attach to your posterior muscles, they can contribute to lower back pain.
Making sure to stretch your hamstrings (and quads, of course) can reduce your lower back pain – stretching it out right at the source!
Glutes
Your glutes are the biggest muscle in your lower body, and in your body in general (if you don’t include the heart). There are three different glute muscles, all of which cycling work.
There’s your gluteus minimus, the gluteus medius, and the gluteus maximus.
Strong glute muscles help you keep a natural and ergonomic hip tilt, can help with pelvic strength, and encourage a better posture while sitting. That’s not to mention the aesthetic benefits of working out your butt, either!
When you’re doing a cycling workout, you should feel a good amount of muscle work in your glutes. If you’re not, talk to your instructor about adjusting your bike to make sure it’s the right fit.
Core
Having a strong core is central to everything you do. That includes exercising, but other day-to-day things, like getting out of bed in the morning.
If you’re looking to feel stronger in your daily tasks, your core is the first muscle you should work.
Cycling works your core if you’re doing it right. You should always think about pulling your belly button to your spine while you’re on the bike, and keep a straight back (by engaging your abs) when you’re reaching for the handlebars.
If you’re not keeping a tight core during cycling class, you’ll likely experience post-class back pain.
Shoulders
While cycling is mostly a lower-body exercise, some instructors will integrate upper-body work into their classes. It’s not uncommon to do push-ups on your stationary bike while giving your legs a break.
Your shoulders get a mild workout any time you’re holding on to your bars, so remember to keep a slight bend in your elbows and pull your shoulder blades back and together, whenever you’re holding onto your bike standing up.
2. It’s a Great Cardio Workout
If there’s one thing most people don’t get enough of, it’s cardio. We’re talking about the kind of exercise that raises your heart rate, like cycling or running does.
Whenever you raise your heart rate, you’re asking your heart to work harder as a muscle. Raising your heart rate regularly makes your heart muscle stronger and keeps it healthier for years to come.
And the higher your heart rate (though there are limits), the more calories you’ll burn. If your goal is to lose weight, you know you need to be burning more calories than you’re taking in.
While calorie burn is unique to each person and dependent on weight, it’s not uncommon for someone of average body size to burn 500 calories in an hour of cycling.
Generally, the heavier you are, the more calories you’ll burn.
3. It’s Safer Than Outdoor Cycling
While most people that do cycling classes love riding bikes outdoors, that’s not always an option. The weather doesn’t always participate, and it seems that there’s a new fatality from a car vs. bike crash every day.
Cycling classes are a good way to get your biking fix in no matter what the weather is like outside – while staying safe!
4. It’s Low Impact
If you’re someone that has issues with joint pain and you’re tired of swimming for exercise, then cycling may be the right step for you.
Cycling is lower impact than running or any other feet-on-the-ground cardio, but you should still check with your doctor before starting a new exercise regimen.
5. It’s a Motivating Group Environment
If you’re looking for something that’s lower impact than group exercise type classes but still want the group environment, you’ll find it in our cycling studio. Our classes are motivating environments where you can make friends with the people on the bike next to you.
You have the instructor to guide you through class and your friends at your side to keep you going when things get tough.
What else do you need?
Check Out Our Spin Class Schedule, Today!
Whether you’re choosing to try a spin class because it works a large number of muscles, because it’s lower-impact, for the calorie-burning benefits, or to find your exercise tribe – we hope you’ll join us during one of our in-gym rides.
If you’re new, please don’t feel shy about telling the instructor. They’ll make sure you’re all set up for a successful spin class and can help you adjust your bike.
What are you waiting for? Throw those shoes on and meet us for a group ride, today!