Tips for Your First Spin Class / From a Beginner

My name is Kat and I just came back to the blogging world with my blog ramble kat ramble I mostly write about things I love, adventures I go on, and new things I try. I write about everything from crafts to books and lately, I have been writing a lot about fitness. I will be the first to admit that I am no fitness expert. But as I said, I enjoy writing about things I love and sharing experiences I have had. One thing I love is spin class and I am here today to share with you my tips for those looking to try their first class.

Spin (also known as Cycle) is a class that takes place on a stationary bike. There are a lot of variations of it out there. There are ever specific brans of classes such as Spinning, SoulCycle, and Pedal Spin just to name a few. It can be really intimidating to know where to start. Here are my 6 tips for your first spin class.

Be ready to sweat.

In a typical spin class, not even on my best day, I sweat buckets. This has nothing to do with the temperature in the room, it has everything to do with the work you are putting in. This is why I always wear a moisture wicking shirt and not a t-shirt or cotton shirt. I usually wear the Leon Tank and the Lima Capri from Fabletics (Kam’s edit: I am a Fabletics Ambassador – If you have questions about Fabletics, please feel free to leave comments on this post!). I like the tank because it breathes and doesn’t hold the moisture to me and the Lima Capri is good because they give me the padding I need for the seat without being too constricting. Trust me, you will want to wear a thicker capri or shorts for this class and you will want your clothes to be close to your body. Clothes that are loose or too thin can rub and chafe your skin in places you really do not want them to. For shoes, any gym shoes will work.

You will need a water bottle and a towel.

There really isn’t anything else you need for your first spin class, but without these two items, you probably won’t make it through the whole class. If you are the type of person who never bothers to bring a towel to the gym because you really don’t sweat that much, trust me, this will be the exception in your life. As for the water bottle, you don’t need to go buy anything fancy but it is best if you have one that fits in a normal water bottle holder and isn’t a pain to open because you have to be able to drink the water while pedaling.

Ask the instructor to help you set up your bike.

I spin at LA Fitness and I do not always go to the same gym. Each gym I go to uses slightly different bikes for their spin/cycle class. The biggest risk of injury in this class is not having your bike set up to your height. You will see the the seat height, seat placement, and handlebar height are all adjustable. Ask the instructor to show you how best to set up your bike. Once you go to more classes you will know how to adjust any bike to suite your needs, but for your first class (or even your first ten classes) ask for help.

Let the instructor know it’s your first class.

This is important and it will make the class more enjoyable for you. Not only is there bike set up but each instructor will use terminology (that is not universal) to tell you what to do next. Ask the instructor how they teach the class. A good instructor will explain to you what term they use to get you to increase your speed and to get you to increase tension (sometimes called gears) on your bike.

Don’t stop your legs.

Unless the instructor is doing a drill or series where they instruct you to stop you legs, keep pedaling. Now, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t back off if your body tells you to. Always listen to your body. But it is better to slow your pace and release the tension on your bike and keep your legs moving then to come to a dead stop. Even if you spend a whole song, or two songs, or three songs, or the rest of class like this – it’s ok! But keep pedaling, a light and easy pedal that allows you to lower your heart rate and check in with yourself will make it easier for you if you decide to amp it up again! No one is going to judge you if you aren’t going as fast and by slowing down instead of stopping completely, you make it easier on your body to pick it up again if you decide you want to get back to what the instructor is teaching.

It’s okay if you hate it.

There are a lot of fitness classes that I hate. It’s okay if spin isn’t for you. What’s the point of working out if you don’t get something from it that makes your day better? But before you give up right away, make sure it’s not because of the instructor. There are so many different styles of spin and cycle classes. I have instructors that I love and would drive miles for and then there are instructors that make me think I hate being on the bike. It just depends on your style. If your first class isn’t the best, before you decide it isn’t for you, try classes with a couple different instructors. You may still find that being on the bike isn’t your thing and that’s ok, or you may find an instructor that helps you go further than you ever thought possible.

Disclaimer: I am not a fitness expert and do not claim to be one. Everything stated above is my opinion and you should always consult your doctor before starting a new fitness routine.

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