When thinking of ways to describe myself, the word “athletic” rarely comes to mind. I never played sports when I was younger and I dreaded having to run the mile in my PE classes in high school. Based on this description, you might assume that I’m not the type of person who would go to a spin class, let alone enjoy one. During my freshman year, I signed up for my first spin class at the rec center. I didn’t really know too much about spinning to begin with, other than the fact that it was a form of indoor exercise and involved the use of a stationary bicycle. Due to many depictions of spinning that I had seen on television and in movies, I was a little intimidated considering how fast and intense the classes appeared.
Despite these concerns, I figured that anything is worth trying at least once. If I absolutely hated it, I just wouldn’t attend any more of the classes and would move on to another form of exercise. Although I did struggle to keep up with the biking speed at first and I ended up sweating a lot more than I would like to in public, I ended up really enjoying the class. The instructor, who was also a UMass student, was very friendly, encouraging, and made it clear from the start of the class that there was no need to push ourselves to spin at a speed that we weren’t comfortable with.
A couple weeks ago, I ended going to my first spin class in almost three years at the urging of one of my friends. Although I was definitely apprehensive due to the fact that I hadn’t gone to an exercise class in such a long time, I felt more at ease knowing that I was not only going with a friend who was still pretty new at spinning, but also that my sorority big was the spinning instructor. Although I was out of practice with spinning, I found that I was able to get right back into the swing of the class and I had a great time.
Ever since that class, I have been routinely registering for and attending spin classes every Wednesday morning. I enjoyed how fun the class was because of how energetic and motivating the playlist was, and I felt comfortable despite not being a regular in the class. I could burn calories and exercise at my own pace without feeling pressured to go faster or harder in cycling than I was physically able to. I was able to focus on my personal goals rather than focus on others around me.
I was lucky enough to speak to my big, Emily Coderre, who is a spin instructor at the rec center, to learn more about what exactly spinning is and why it’s worth going to a class.
Her Campus: When and where did your passion for spin class stem from?
Emily Coderre: My parents actually were spinning before me and kept encouraging me to go and eventually I gave it a try and I have loved it ever since!
Me: How was the process of getting certified as a spin instructor?
EC: The process is a daylong training and then an online test. It was a lot of fun and I got to learn a lot about becoming an instructor.
HC: What is your favorite part about being a spin instructor?
EC: I love the opportunity to help make a difference in someone’s life. I know how great I feel after working out and getting the opportunity to lead someone’s work out for the day feels amazing! While I love seeing new faces in class, seeing the same faces every week is also a great feeling!
Me: Why do you spin? Why should others spin?
EC: I go to spin because it makes me feel so energized. When I’m down, it helps perk me up! I believe that others should go to spin if they never had just to try it out. I was so reluctant at first and then ended up loving it. Trying different kinds of work out classes is great because you can figure out which one works best for you and which ones /you enjoy the most. The best kind of exercise is definitely the one you like doing.
HC: What is your go-to spin song?
EC: When it comes to a climb my go to song is definitely “You Can’t Stop Me” by Andy Mineo. When it comes to sprinting, my go-to song is “How Far We’ve Come” by Matchbox Twenty.
HC: What elements do you like to focus on in your spin classes?
EC: I really like to focus on endurance. Whether it’s long climbs or sprints, you can get a good endurance workout from my class.
HC: What should beginners know about starting spin for the first time?
EC: Beginners should know when starting spin for their first time, they should give it at least three classes before they decide whether they like it or not. It takes about three classes for your body to adjust to sitting on the cycling seat and to feel more comfortable doing so. Most importantly, you should listen to your body. Do what you can do (regarding spinning). If your body is telling you to not add on any more resistance on the bike, then don’t. The instructor is there as a guide. If you need to take a break in the middle of a song and get some water, that is okay.
While going to the gym might seem intimidating, especially if you’re not a regular, going to spin class is not quite as scary as it seems. If you don’t know how to use the bike or to adjust its height or resistance settings, you are more than welcome to ask an instructor for help. It’s a great form of cardio exercise that allows you to build up your muscular endurance the more classes you attend and the more that you become used to spinning over a period of time.
You can find out more about spinning and sign up for classes at the UMass rec center on the IM Leagues website.