Spinning

Hiperfit featured on NBC's hit show The Biggest Loser as the training team that helped finalist, Wylie lose 129 lbs!

Spinning is a type of aerobic exercise which uses a special stationary bicycle known as a spinning bike. Spinning was developed by world-class cyclist Jonathan Goldberg as a training method for races. Goldberg and John Baudhuin opened their first spinning center in 1989 in Santa Monica, California, then soon developed a certification program for spinning instructors.

During a spinning class, participants pedal while an instructor leads them through routines designed to simulate an outdoor cycling workout, complete with hill climbs, sprints, jumps and interval training. Many classes also incorporate motivating music which you can pedal in time to. The pace varies so that at times you may be pedaling hard and fast, while at other times you may be slowly pedaling from a standing position. Each person can set their own goals for the session, choosing from a moderate level of activity to intervals of anaerobic activity which increase the heart rate. Workouts can be modified by varying the resistance of the flywheel, changing the cadence (the speed of the pedals as they turn), and sitting or standing in various positions. Varying the level and intensity of activity will help to work the different parts of the body and the muscles in different ways.

Spinning is an excellent aerobic exercise with many benefits. It gets your heart pumping fast, burning an average of 400 to 600 calories during a 40-minute class. It’s also great for toning the quadriceps and outer thigh muscles and for working the back and hips. However, it’s important that you pay special attention to performing the spinning exercises correctly. Not doing so can result in lower back and knee problems. It’s particularly important that you set the seat height correctly, ensuring that your knees are slightly bent when your legs are extended. Lastly, bring lots of water and be prepared to sweat. Spinning is a very energetic exercise.