Go on….. Give our Group Cycle Classes a Try!

Group Cycle or Spinning is not new, having been around for over 20 years, but many Club Towers members still feel a little intimidated by it. That dark and slightly forbidding studio in the corner with the loud music! So we thought we would try to explain the appeal of spinning and encourage you to try it – at least once or twice! We have just introduced some “beginner” classes on the timetable to help get “first timers” involved – more on these later.

So, why is Group Cycle or “Spinning” so popular at Club Towers? This is what some of our members have told us us………

• “The instructors are brilliant – energizing the class and keeping me going. I leave the class feeling tired but buzzing.”
• “The music and lighting make it an immersive experience – the time flies as you get “lost” in the music.”
• “Being in a group makes me turn up and keeps me going!”
• “In less than an hour it gives me a full body workout, with emphasis on legs and glutes, and leaves me feeling so much better than when I arrived.”

Classes vary in format but generally focus on strength, endurance, intervals and high intensity training. Some will have more of a cycle specific emphasis and others will be more traditionally aerobic or cardio based with sprints, hill climbs and use of resistance to create a fantastic group exercises activity. A lot depends on the instructor, so it is worth trying different classes / instructors to see which ones you like best.

What are the benefits of Group Cycle? Well lots! Quite apart from that ‘feel good’ endorphin rush we experience when exercising, it has been scientifically proven that exercising in a group proves far more enjoyable for most people and ultimately that enjoyment is one of the main things that keeps us coming back for more! Also, with any aerobic or cardio based activity there are huge benefits for our heart and lungs, decreasing the risk of heart or lung failure drastically.

One of the key attractions is that cycling is a low impact activity. This means that, when performed correctly, there is minimal impact on the hip, knee and ankle joints making it suitable for anyone avoiding impact or perhaps recovering from injury. As the main leg muscles (quads, hamstrings, glutes and calves) are working hard throughout the class there are huge strengthening benefits. These benefits aren’t just limited to the muscles themselves, however; they help to strengthen the surrounding bones, ligaments and tendons resulting in functional training that makes day to day tasks much easier.

So, if you have not tried spinning, why not book into a class next week. The studio has 30 state-of-the-art Technogym bikes just waiting for you. We will be running 13 classes a week for the next 4 weeks, including our two new beginner classes, and there is at least one spin class running every day. The new “beginner” Group Cycle classes are designed for members who have perhaps not done spinning before, want to try it, but are concerned they will not cope in a regular class because it will be too long and hard. If this describes you then please do book these classes, which will run on a Monday evening and a Friday morning for the next month.  Alternatively just dive into one of our regular classes and tell the instructor you are new to it – they will make you feel welcome and help you along!