If you have been exercising for a while, are just getting into fitness or sitting at home thinking about getting healthier, you more than likely have heard about indoor cycling. You probably have a co-worker that swears by it, goes six times a week and credits indoor cycling with changing his or her life for the better. But with exercise fad after exercise fad springing up, how does one know if indoor cycling will work best for his or her needs? Indoor cycling has been around for years, and whether it’s for you or not, there is no denying indoor cycling has surged to the forefront of the fitness industry. As a fitness professional, I am happy to see indoor cycling take off in popularity. First and most importantly, cycling is an activity suited to the majority of the population. A person that has never set foot inside a gym can use indoor cycling to improve quality of life as well as a seasoned athlete. No matter your experience level you are guaranteed to leave in a puddle of your own sweat. Indoor cycling can improve the function of both the heart and lungs, lowering one’s risk of several of medical complications. It improves muscle tone, strength and muscular conditioning. Looking to lose weight, and shrink your waistline? There are few activities that will burn more calories in a thirty-to-sixty minute session. Have you been stressed lately? Cycling can help with that too. When you exercise, your body releases a hormone called endorphins. Think of endorphins as your happy hormones, so when your exercise, stress melts away. The list of benefits to indoor cycling is seemingly endless. In an effort to learn a little more first hand about the rise in popularity of indoor cycling I recently participated in the “Groundbreaking Party” of Vibe Ride, a boutique indoor cycling club in Atlanta, where I had the opportunity to speak with two of the founders, Courtney Anderson and Tiffany McKenzie. I asked what led them to open Vibe Ride and the reasons were surprisingly simple. They noticed that there exists a high demand for indoor cycling classes that are fun, challenging, and create a community of people that hold one another accountable for their fitness goals. People want cycling gyms! They also knew some awesome instructors, and wanted to leverage the popularity and talent of those instructors in a boutique studio with more amenities than a big-box gym. Now I didn’t just show up to vibe ride to talk. Of course there was a good bit of cycling going on to the sounds of a live DJ. We participated in a circuit training session in lofted balcony space, ate a few healthy snacks and, most importantly, interacted with a group of like-minded people who have figured out health is wealth. At the end of the day, I realized the best reason to start or join an indoor cycling gym: It’s some of the most fun you can ever have while simultaneously getting in an amazing workout! It is an experience unlike any other I would recommend to everyone. I dare you to check out a class in your neck of the woods, and see if you don’t find yourself going back. Just be careful, happy hour may take on a completely different definition, and you never know, I might be sitting right next to you.
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