5 Benefits of Indoor Cycling
We all know that exercise is good for our mental and physical health. It improves our mood, sleep patterns and general sense of well-being. But have you ever wondered why Indoor Cycling has accumulated such a devoted band of followers? Well, when it comes to getting your sweat on, there's nothing quite like an Indoor Cycling class.
Indoor Cycling occupies a fairly unique position, it’s a full-body, high-intensity workout that remains low-impact and suitable for all abilities.
Read on for a breakdown of some of the amazing benefits of getting into the cycling studio:
1- Increased Cardiovascular Fitness
Indoor Cycling is a high-intensity, full-body workout, this means that when you’re on the bike, your heart is working hard to pump blood all over your body. Regularly attending a cycling class will increase your cardiovascular fitness and build a heathy, happy heart.
2- Stress Relief
One of the many reasons why Indoor Cycling has such a following is simply because it’s fun!
There's nothing quite like the feeling of moving to music, and following along to the instructions of an enthusiastic and encouraging instructor will keep your mind focused for the whole class. You’ll find yourself immersed in the music and the moves, and too busy testing your limits to think about everyday stressors. You’ll be amazed by the positive impact this small break can have on your mental well-being.
As an added bonus, you can also take a break from over-thinking your workout. No planning is needed here, not to mention cycling requires minimal equipment. Just turn up in your workout gear, a good pair of trainers and plenty of water and you’re ready to get started.
3- Low Impact
Although Indoor Cycling is undoubtedly a high intensity workout (we advise bringing a gym towel along with you for the ride!) it’s surprisingly low-impact and totally beginner friendly. There's no running or jumping, which can cause strain on your joints, and you always remain in control of the resistance. This means that you can add and remove resistance as you need.
Our instructors are all fully trained to help fit you on your bike, this will ensure your feet are strapped in safely, your seat and your handlebars are set to an optimal height and that you're as comfortable as can be. If it’s your first time, it’s always worth turning up 5/10 minutes early and having a chat with our friendly instructors, they will help set up your bike and put you at ease, ready for a killer workout!
4- Reduce Risk of Injury
When we say Indoor Cycling is a full-body workout, we really mean it. In particular, you’ll find your core and back getting stronger with every class. This is crucial for supporting good posture, and improved posture can dramatically reduce your risk of injury.
You might also notice your legs becoming more toned, defined and generally stronger. All that pedalling and resistance is high-effort, high-reward.
5- Happy Hormones
Talking of high-effort, high-reward, you just might notice that you leave the studio feeling better than you did when you stepped in. That’s because exercise releases good endorphins, or ‘Happy Hormones’ into the bloodstream, leaving you feeling great.
There's also the added bonus that comes with group exercise, a sense of friendship and community. Working out together, helping each other push through personal barriers and offering encouragement on difficult days, can make attending group exercise classes a life-affirming experience.
You might leave your class feeling physically tired but mentally on a high. And this is the real reason why Indoor Cycling has developed such a huge following, it’s hard but it’s fun. You leave feeling sweaty, accomplished, connected, motivated and totally addicted!
Are you ready to get involved?
At Exeter Leisure we have a variety of classes across our sites. We have instructor led Indoor Cycling classes as well as ground-breaking virtual classes from Les Mills. These include:
RPM™-- a motivating 50-minute cycling workout. With the music pumping and the group cycling as one, your instructor takes you on a journey of hill climbs, sprints and flat riding.
LES MILLS SPRINT™ - a 3minutes high intensity interval training workout. In this short and intense session, you’ll be motivated to push your physical and mental limits.
THE TRIP™- a fully immersive workout that combines multi-peak cycling with a journey through digitally-created worlds. With a cinema-scale screen and sound system, you’ll be totally immersed and motivated as you move through hill climbs, sprints and endurance riding alongside an energising soundtrack.
You can check our activity timetable and book via the Exeter Leisure app, or on exeterleisure.com
Bring a gym towel if you have one and plenty of water and join us in the studio!
