It's pretty wild what the world can throw at you when you keep your mind open and live an adventurous life. Back in June, I decided to do something that I never thought I would do. I signed up for a spin class. It was something new, and I didn't know what to expect or how it would go. It's good to try new things, but there's always the risk of that new thing not clicking. At least not right away. But spin class drew me in pretty quickly, and I've been finding myself at the studio more and more often these days.
So, what exactly is spin class? Before I signed up, I wasn't completely sure. At a high level, it's essentially rhythmic indoor cycling. The style varies across classes and studios, but the studio that I go to in Huntington Beach offers classes that adopt a club-like setting. Classes are fifty minutes long and are taught in the dark with light shows. EDM and hip-hop tunes are cranked at a high volume, and participants engage in choreography that follows the beat of the music, while simultaneously peddling a stationary bike. The instructor demos each move before the class joins in, and spinners are free to do their own version of the choreography based on their preference. The studio is called bike2thebeat, which sums it up pretty brilliantly.
Spinny Friends crew
Throughout my many months of frequenting Philz Coffee in Dana Point, I've gotten to know the baristas and staff pretty well. A little over a year ago, I met Sean, one of the team leads. We connected pretty quickly over shared interests. Sean enjoys strength training, swimming, and occasional running, along with cycling and spin. Not only does he love spin, but he loves teaching it and seeing other people kick ass at it. As I sipped a piping hot Campfire blend at Philz one morning, Sean introduced me to bike2thebeat and told me what spin class was all about. I decided to look into it further for myself and sign up for a class. I figured I didn't have a whole lot to lose, especially since the first class was free. I ended up really enjoying it. I started off going once a month after that first class, but now I find myself going just about every other weekend and sometimes taking two classes back-to-back.
It's safe to say that spin has become my new jam over the last few months. There are several things I like about it. First off, it's great cross training for running. It's low impact and works different muscles, which improves strength and reduces the risk of injury. Spin focuses heavily on cardiovascular activity, and the choreography provides a great opportunity to work out the upper body. I also find it fun because it presents a whole new vibe for physical exercise. I've had my fair share of visits to clubs and bars when I was younger, and I've always liked the idea of moving to a beat. I need a lot of practice as a dancer, but I enjoy doing it. Dancing is a great way to be fit, and doing spin class reminds me of dancing in a club. Moving to the beat of EDM and hip-hop music on a bike in a dark studio with a light show releases a different kind of energy than running outside while listening to punk rock. It's a different scene than the trail running scene. It exercises a different side of my brain and creates a whole other mood. I like where it takes me psychologically.
Another really cool thing about spin is the community and the people. The studio itself provides a really chill and welcoming atmosphere. Everyone is celebrated at bike2thebeat. They celebrate people's milestone rides and birthdays. They also make everyone, especially new people, feel welcome. I always go on Sunday mornings to take Sean's class at 8:00 AM, and I occasionally do a "double" where I'll take another class right after Sean's, led by Ann, another instructor. Most of the people who show up to those two classes are regulars at the studio and there's a strong sense of community. I've met some super rad people at these classes. It's great to hear people's stories and how they got into spin. A lot of people have stories about losing weight, improving their physical condition, becoming more athletic, and finding their people and communities through spin. I, for one, and damn glad to see it.
All this being said, I would highly recommend checking out spin class to anyone who is physically active and enjoys looking for new ways to cross train and meet people. Even if a night club setting isn't exactly what you're looking for, another spin studio should be able to provide the setting that you're into. If you check out spin class, you're almost guaranteed to find positivity, motivation, and hear some inspiring stories, especially if you go somewhere like bike2thebeat. I never thought I'd get into spin class because it's such a different scene, but I'm glad I did. I think I'm almost to the point where I'll actually buy my own spin shoes instead of renting from the studio!
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