Soul Cycle

In addition to attending crossfit sessions, which definitely contain cardiovascular elements, I have been looking for other high-intensity cardiovascular activities that are also fun and enjoyable (if I don't think it's fun it's hard for me to push myself).  You might be thinking, "If crossfit is as amazing and beneficial as your previous posts make it seem, then why are you looking for other cardiovascular activities?"  Although crossfit are certainly effective and enjoyable, the majority of these workouts are extremely taxing on my joints (particularly shoulders, wrists, and knees) and I recently have been taking more "rest days" than actual days at the LMU gym or Paradiso Crossfit.  In order to remain active during these rest days, I needed to find a high-intensity physical activity less taxing on my body.

Featured Workout

My friend's girlfriend works at Soul Cycle in Santa Monica and he jokingly recommended I go to a class.  I took him up on his offer and surprisingly loved the workout and experience.

In the past I have stereotypical regarded "spin class" as a social activity that happened to take place at a gym.  However, I could not have been more wrong.  When I walked into Soul Cycle, I was handed a towel and snap-in cycling shoes.  Having never cycled before, I was in for a treat.  The class was about an hour long and it was not only one of the most difficult cardiovascular activities I have ever done but also it was also a blast!  The instructor had a playlist of songs that lasted the entire class.  We were required to cycle at the same pace as the varying song beats and instructed to dip our upper body up/down and side-to-side while cycling to the beat.  Additionally, we were required to increase and decrease the cycle's resistance at the discretion of the instructor as the songs progressed.  I felt like I was at a party instead of a workout session!  Initially I thought I would be sitting for the majority of the class; that was not the case.  The instructor had us "out of the saddle" for close to 90% of the class.  The 10% I was allowed to sit, I had weights in my hands and was doing weighted positions holds, or press variations.  By the end of the session, I was covered in sweat, could barely walk, and couldn't stop smiling.  Despite being only 1 of 3 guys in attendance, I am definitely coming back.

The only downside to this class is its price tag of $30 a session.  However, you are doing something great for your body and having a blast while you do it.  I know plenty of college kids that will easily spend $30 to go out on the weekends to have a good time.  If you replaced on of these nights with a Soul Cycle session, I doubt you would notice too much of a difference in your pocketbook at the end of the month, but I guarantee you would notice a difference in your health and fitness. 

Final approach in sight. Over and out.

MJH