LIVIN’ LA VIDA SANA
BLAST FAT WITH THE HOTTEST STATIONARY CYCLING PROGRAM…SPINNING
By Bonnie Kristian Squire, Certified Spinning Instructor and Personal Trainer

Indoor spinning simulates an outdoor cycling race performed through various terrains at varying speeds and indoor cycling does not require slowing down for P.V. hazards such as potholes and cobblestones. It is more than a complete no-impact aerobic workout – it’s a workout that will bring out the champion in you and help you rise to new heights in overall health, leanness and cardiovascular fitness. Students of all ages and ability levels can participate in this experience because intensity is as simple as adjusting the bike’s own resistance control. It’s up to you to select your own intensity level.

The program not only brings elements of athletic training to people of different fitness levels but to people of all ages as well. Bottom line here is that a 68 year old may function at a higher level than an 18 year old! In fact, there is a 69-year-old gentleman in one of my classes who illustrates the point. Few (if any) of the others in the class can keep up with him – which gives credit to the adage ‘aging pains’ are from inactivity! Disuse exacerbates changes that occur with aging…older muscles are like younger ones, when moved they become stronger.

Here are some of the benefits that apply to cyclists of all ages:
• Improved cardiovascular fitness
• Increased physical capacity or strength
• Decreased risk of heart disease
• Decreased body fat stores
• Decreased symptoms of stress, depression, anxiety and insomnia
• Decreased cholesterol
• Overall improvement of quality of life

Now if these aren’t enough reasons to make you get off your butt and get spinning – what is? And bye the way, the class only takes 45 minutes of your valuable time and it burns off 300-700 calories while you’re at it! (depending on your body weight and the intensity that you’re working at). This intense cardio challenge is also an excellent way to tone your thighs, buttocks and hamstrings (as one can easily attest to after the ride)! It only FEELS like you may never walk normally again. Remember equally as important as training, is rest, to allow the muscles recuperation and growth time.

There are now well over 5,000 spinning studios worldwide, including two here in Puerto Vallarta. Bay Bike, the first spinning studio here, opened last summer in Colonia Versalles (178 Aldanaca Esq. Viena just behind the Pemex on Francisco Villa). Owners Veronica and Antonio Ruiz say that people come to their studio for reasons that vary from burning body fat to feeling better about themselves from a mind/body point of view. Antonio stresses that it’s not about burning yourself out or pushing to the max, but that it’s more about a ‘personal experience’ that will make you happy while enjoying your training. They have both recently completed their highest level (or Phase 3 as its called in spinning nomenclature), with a spinning master instructor from the United States. This professionalism coupled with their exuberant personalities certainly does make for happy clients. The newest studio in P.V. is located at Marina Vallarta, in Plaza Neptuno on Blvd. Francisco Medina Ascencio (which is beside the main entrance to the marina where the large ballena or whale sculpture is). Tonatiuh Bustamante Diez and Roberto Sanchez Villajuana are the owners of this upscale studio. They see their involvement as being a great opportunity to work with people of all ages to increase their fitness levels (while working within their own heart rate zone) which leads them to improve their physical and emotional well being and achieve their personal goals.

You may be thinking cycling in a packed exercise room and going nowhere? Quite possibly boring? This couldn’t be farther from the truth. Granted the scenery remains constant, but the workout changes constantly. The spinning program keeps your mind engaged while vigorously challenging your body with a series of training sessions (which the training program centers around), the sessions include Endurance, Strength, Interval, Race Day, and Recovery.

Certified spinning instructors undergo a rigorous and comprehensive training regimen that focuses on both athletic and motivational coaching techniques. These include ongoing education courses to keep them on the cutting edge of spinning developments. They specialize in helping all students achieve a fun, safe and challenging workout toward a new body and a new life!