ASPEN SPINNING CHALLENGE STARTS MONDAY:
When you go to your next Spinning class, you will notice a large sign-up poster for Aspen's Spinning challenge. Put your name on the board and each time you attend a class, record the date alongside your name. You will be credited with 17 miles for each class you attend over the four week period. At the end of the challenge, participating riders will receive prizes and recognition. I don't know what those will be, a new car?? Okay, probably not. Let's do this! It should be fun!
ANOTHER ADVANTAGE OF SPINNING: MUSIC MAKES YOU WANT TO WORK HARDER:
As reported in the New York times recently, British researchers studied college students riding stationary bicycles while listening to music. It is probably of no surprise to Spinning students that the researchers found the music helped the students increase their effort.
When the tempo of the music was decreased by 10% the riders tempo slowed, as did their pedaling power, their heart rates and their mileage.
On the other hand, when the tempo of the songs was increased 10 percent, they produced more power, increased their heart rates, and covered more miles.
Interestingly, the music made the riders more willing to work harder but it did not make the workout seem easier. The up-tempo music didn’t mask the discomfort of the exercise but did seem to motivate the riders to push themselves harder.
While no one doubts the existence of a relationship between exercise and music, we don’t really understand it very well. The science involves physiology, bio-mechanics and neurology. Interestingly, it appears that the body responds to music even before the mind hears it. Humans appear to be almost unique in this regard. One researcher reported that humans and songbirds are the only creatures that automatically feel the beat of a song.
But there are limits to the benefits of music. Studies suggest that music’s impact declines when you exercise at a very intense level. One study found that the benefit disappears at about 90 percent of maximal oxygen uptake. This however is a level we do not often reach in Spinning classes. I can attest that at that intense a level, I don’t hear anything.
A final thought: please don't take this information as a reason to use your MP3 player while you are riding on the road. We have enough distracted motorists out there talking on their cell phones. Let's not add distracted or hearing-reduced cyclists to the mix. We need all of our attention, and all of our hearing, to protect ourselves. But, in the Spinning room, let's turn up the volume!
LIVING IN THE MOMENT:
A class member in today's Saturday morning Spinning class mentioned that she likes class because it takes her out of herself for an hour. I get that and I totally agree. In Davis Phinney's book, "Training For Cycling", he writes that a wonderful thing about cycling is that it allows us to live fully in the moment. Whether indoors or out, when we are riding, we are living in the here and now. When the effort is intense there is little room for our cares or concerns. We benefit fully from the healing and invigorating power of work. "Holy Carpe Diem", we are experiencing life at its fullest.
ANOTHER THOUGHT: "The true way to render ourselves happy is to love our work and find in it our pleasure", Francoise de Motteville. (ed comment: Work in this context does not necessarily mean our "job", it can also mean our training, or anything else to which we commit ourselves with passion.)
MY TEACHING SCHEDULE:
Alternate Monday's 9:00AM at Southeast
Every Monday 5:45PM at Southeast.
Every Wednesday 9:00AM at Southeast.
Every Wednesday 5:45PM at Merle Hay.
Every Thursday 5:45PM at Merle Hay.
Every Saturday 7:30AM at Hickman.
Check out all the schedules at http://www.aspenathleticia.com/group-fitness/schedules/
Join us at http://billroachblog.blogspot.com
Bill Roach
Star 3 Lifetime Certified Spinning Instructor
Certified Personal Trainer, National Academy of Sports Medicine
Aspen Athletic Clubs
bill.roach@mchsi.com
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