My First Spin Class... Loved it!

It has been a fun time for me in the fitness arena lately... since I won this one-month gym membership, and activated it on February 18th, I have made a real effort to get there several times a week and try out some new activities.

So far I have done Body Pump, Flow Yoga, Body Flow... run on the amazing treadmills and the ellipticals, cycled on the recumbant bikes, and tried out the circuit training equipment... but yesterday I really stretched myself to the limits!

I attended an All Terrain spin class. It was a really hard and sweaty workout and when I climbed down off the bike to do a bit of stretching, my legs were like jelly and I thought for a split second I may actually fall down!  It was awesome. 

I love coming out of a workout, feeling like I have given it everything I had. feeling completely spent.  And this spin class instructor really motivated me to do that.  I arrived early, and she knew right away that I was new so she introduced herself and asked my name.  Then she told me what the class entailed, asked what kinds of workouts I normally do... showed me the bike and helped me set it up for my body and then the rest of the group trickled in... I warmed up my legs with some gentle cycling and BOOM, off we went.

I love the upright CLIMB and SPRINT sections the very best.  They were hard and intense but relatively short... the music was fun and very well suited to the cycling and I loved that the leader worked every bit as hard as anyone and kept talking and shouting instructions through the whole class.

After it was done, and we stretched, I thanked her for the great workout, and then I went to the gym's stretching area and did some more calf stretches and hip flexor stretches before heading to the locker room.

I must admit, that my 15-minute walk home took a wee bit longer, but I was thankful for it!  And for most of the afternoon, I made sure to stay on my feet.  I was a bit afraid that if I sat down too long, I may seize up!  About 3 p.m. I drank a nuun in some water - thought that might offset leg cramps during the night... and made sure to keep drinking lots of water throughout the evening too.

At bedtime, after sitting on the couch and watching The Biggest Loser for a couple of hours, I did feel some cramping in my thighs so I put Tiger Balm on them before I climbed into bed and thankfully I slept well and had no cramps.  Yay!

But I slept about an hour longer than normal... and today ... well, I am off to Body Pump... and I just know the SQUAT and LUNGE routines are gonna be killer!

Do you SPIN?

What is your favorite part of the workout?