What it does for you:Gets you aerobically fit.The exhaustion factor: Depends on the class. Classes are too varied to make
generalizations.The coordination factor: Moderate to high, especially if you’re a new exer-
ciser or if your parents didn’t spring for eight years of tap, ballet, and jazz.Who digs it:Anyone who wants to work out in a group without using any
equipment.Signs of a sharp instructor: Instructors should spell out the terminology,
rather than just say, “grapevine left, grapevine right.”Tips for first-timers: Shop around for a teacher you like who plays music you
can tolerate. Music can be a great motivator or a major turn-off.Studio cycling and Spinning
What it is: Group classes taught on stationary bicycles. The most popular
studio cycling class is called Spinning, a program invented by ultra-distance
cyclist Johnny G. and licensed by Schwinn, which manufacturers the bikes
used in these classes. Other studio cycling classes go by the name of Power
Pacing and Reebok Studio Cycling. Regardless of their names, group cycling
classes follow the same basic pattern: You pedal a stationary bike while the
instructor talks you through a visualization of an outdoor workout. (“You’re
going up a long hill now — you can’t see the top yet.. .”). During the class
you vary your pace and intensity, sometimes pedaling as fast as you can, other
times cranking up the tension and pedaling slowly from a standing position.What it does for you:Burns lots of calories and strengthens your thigh and
calf muscles.The exhaustion factor: High. Most studio cycling classes last 40 to 50 min-
utes and are geared toward advanced exercisers. Suzanne’s sister Jennifer
was so overwhelmed by her first Spinning class that she left after a half-hour.
“All I did the whole time was fantasize about getting off the bike, so I finally
just did,” Jennifer recalls. You always have the option of lightening the tension
on the bike so that the pedals are easier to push, and you can stay seated
while the rest of the class stands. But you may want to hold off on Spinning
until you build more stamina on your own. Or take a beginning Spinning class
if your studio or club offers one, as most clubs now do.The coordination factor: Low. The most complex thing you’ll do is stand up
on your pedals.Who digs it:Studio cycling is popular among people who want to be pushed
very hard, especially those who thrive on group energy but hate choreogra-
phy. Cyclists who are cooped up indoors during the winter also gravitate
toward these classes.292 Part V: Conquering the Gym (Even at Home)