A Beginner's Guide to Spinning

When I joined my gym, I was so excited that they had spinning classes. I've always wanted to try a spin class; it seemed like it would be fun. I was wrong! Spinning is not fun, it is hard, very very hard. It requires a lot of endurance. I'll be honest after my first few classes I gave up. I just couldn't keep up and I felt like I was dying. It wasn't enjoyable, it was pain and suffering while counting down the minutes on the clock. So I gave up. I moved on to other classes which I did enjoy.

When I got back into my gym routine, I decided to give spinning another go. This time I was prepared. I had read up on some tips on how to get the best out of my spin class and feel great. I've managed to make going to spin class on Tuesdays at 6 AM a routine! I try to make it to the 6 AM Thursday class as well, but if I don't make it to that one every week I don't beat myself up over it. I've slowly been learning what works for me. I am now beginning to enjoy spin class and I actually look forward to going!

If you've been interested in trying out spinning, I highly encourage it. Or if you've tried and failed like I did, I encourage you to jump back on the bike. Below is a list of some tips from one beginner to another. Hopefully with these you'll be ready to conquer that spin class!

1. Eat before class - This is especially important if you're going to an AM spin class. You do not want to spin on an empty stomach. Try to eat something small at least 45 to 30 minutes prior to class. I wake up at 5:15 on the mornings of my spin class. I immediately head to the kitchen to eat something. My go to's have been either a hard boiled egg or 1, sometimes 2 Belvita Breakfast Biscuits. I also make sure to drink a big glass of water along with this.
2. Stay Hydrated - You're going to sweat it out in spin class so you'll want to make sure you drink water prior to going to class. Make sure to bring a water bottle to class with you. Remember to take small sips throughout the class. Don't gulp the water, trust me you'll regret it. 
3. Bring a towel - You're going to want to bring a towel for two reasons. 1. You're going to want to wipe off the sweat from your face or perhaps another part of your body at some point during the class. I wipe off my face multiple times throughout class, as well as my hands. 2. You're also going to want to wipe down the handle bars of the bike throughout class. Your hands are going to get sweaty - it's gross but let's be honest here. You are sweating a lot and you will regret not bringing a towel instantly. I didn't bring one to my first couple of classes - it was terrible. My hands kept slipping and sweat was dripping into my eyes/mouth. 
4. Arrive Early - I aim to get to class at least 10 minutes early. This give me plenty of time to pick out a bike, set it up, and stretch before class begins. My first class, one of the workers at the gym told me to make sure I stretch before it starts as I'd regret it if I didn't. I've made sure to stretch before each class every time. I haven't gotten on the bike without stretching first so I can't give you an answer for sure if you definitely need to, but I'd recommend it. 
5. Ask the instructor to help setup your bike - It may seem embarrassing being the "new girl" so you don't want to ask for help, but trust me you want to ask the instructor for help setting up your bike. Can you figure it out yourself? Of course. But are you going to get the position right for you on your first try? Most likely not. I set up my bike on my own the first couple of times, and I had no clue what position I was actually supposed to be in. I just moved the seat to a lower position and that was that, I thought I was good to go. A few classes in an instructor noticed I was new and offered to help me with my bike. She showed me the right positioning the bike should be in, and set the bike up to fit my height. She didn't only change the seat, which she actually made higher than I had set it, but she also adjusted the handles. From then on out, I just remembered the settings she placed the bike in for me. The instructors are there to help, so utilize them! 
6. Go at your own pace - The only person you're in competition with at spin class is yourself, really your mind. It may be tempting to fully immerse yourself in spin class the first few times and try to keep up with the rest of the class. If you can successfully do this, good for you; it didn't work for me. Every time I tried to keep up with the class, I felt like I was dying. I realized to get the most out of my classes, I needed to go at my own pace. So now when the instructor says to bump the resistance up to 15, I keep it at a 10. I'm not ashamed, it's hard for me and with enough persistence one day I will be able to keep up with the rest of class. There are plenty of times when everyone else in class is standing and I'm still in my seat. It's easy to think that you're being judged, but you're not. Everyone in the class started out right where you are. 
7. Listen to your body - If you're anything like me, your first spin class is going to be rough, especially if you haven't worked out in a while. I am not proud to admit, I've had to run off my bike multiple times in the middle of class to throw up. I was so embarrassed, but I'm not letting it get me down. I've learned what to do to keep my body from getting so fatigued. If you feel sick and like you absolutely can't continue, there is nothing wrong with hopping of the bike and calling it a class. When the resistance is too high and my legs are struggling, I lower the resistance. If your body is telling you, you're doing too much, listen to it. Don't keep trying to push it. 
8. Mind over matter - Did I mention that spinning is hard? You're going to feel like you want to stop in the middle of class, you're going to feel like you can't continue, but you need to listen to that voice inside your head that says "yes you can!" I frequently get into a negative mindset in class when it's getting tough. I think to myself, I can't do it any more, it's too hard, I have to get off the bike. But then another part of me says yes you can, you've got this, just a few more minutes, you're doing it! Instead of focusing on the negative thoughts that may pop into your head, focus on the positive. You're the little engine that can, and you will get through it just keep chugging along. 

Spinning is now slowly becoming fun for me! With each new class I am seeing improvement. Last class, I even had a smile on my face and only thought about when it would be over once, maybe twice. Much better improvement than wanting to leave after 10 minutes. Persistence is key! You can do anything you set your mind to, it just takes time.