Why should you spin?
Published:Monday | August 12, 2019 | 12:00 AMJessica Harrison - Lifestyle Writer
If you hate exercise but love having fun, this one’s for you. Spinning has been around for quite some time and most gyms offer this service as part of their membership packages. Once you get past the part where the seat doesn’t quite seem to fit your buttocks comfortably, it’s super fun and easy, especially in Jamaica where our local dancehall and soca tunes are used to set the tone. Now, according to personal trainer André Brown of ExpressFitness, Ja, spinning comes with many benefits, including the toning of the legs, core, and glutes. Here are a few benefits.
There’s always company
When working out alone, your first instinct is to give up. Thankfully, most spin classes have at least 10 people with the same goals as you do, and you can feed off their energy. You also don’t want to be the only person who is unable to finish the class so you’re guaranteed to work extra hard to prove yourself. You might also meet a forever gym partner.
Full body workout
Not only do you get to burn calories while strengthening your core and toning your lower body, it is a low-impact cardiovascular workout. This means that your feet are always planted so the risks of knee and foot injuries are very low, unlike when you run or jump. “Low-impact cardio workouts improve blood flow, increases your stamina, prevents high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and stroke. Also, it will put you in a better mood,” said Brown.
Convenience
Riding a bicycle outside requires a few hours of dedication, which most adults today do not have while managing a home and completing a 40-hour work week. Not because you’re stationary means that the body is not getting all the workout it needs during one hour indoors. There are many things you can do while spinning that you cannot do while simply riding a bicycle to a destination.
Build your mental strength
Spinning tests both your mental and physical capacity. Learning to push past what you think you can do will break barriers in your mind, which will, by virtue, extend into other areas in your life. When spinning, you will have both good and bad days. The key is to be consistent and push through despite how you are feeling. Mental endurance and self-discipline are two keys to being successful in anything you set out to achieve. Let spinning build your ‘can-do’ attitude.
Let us hear about your spin experiences. Email us at lifestyle@gleanerjm.com.