Each month, Body & More contributing writer Linda Ober will try her hand at a health-conscious food, fad, exercise or activity. This month, she tries a group cycling class at the Auburn YMCA-WEIU.
By Linda Ober, Contributing writer
Pedal Pusher
As a rule, I generally do not like to be yelled at.
But when Marie Nellenback told me to "Push!" "Dig!" and "Breathe!", I welcomed the encouragement.
Marie, an instructor at the Auburn YMCA-WEIU, shouted at me (and four other women) above heart-thumping pop music. We were all participants in her hour-long group cycling class, but unlike the others, this was my first foray into any kind of cycling experience.
I had wanted to take such a class for a while, as I had heard what an incredible workout it can be.
"It's great because it's both strength training and aerobic at the same time," Marie told me, touting cycling's benefits for your heart and lower body.
She also noted cycling's ability to burn anywhere from 300 to 500 calories in an hour, with participants taking close to 300 steps a minute.
Yet I approached the 9 a.m. activity with a mixture of excitement and nervousness, fearful that I would be asked to cycle at a ridiculous pace and wondering what kind of insane boot camp I had just joined.
At 26 years old, I'm a healthy weight but not really in shape, as a life of teaching, writing, tutoring and planning for a wedding hasn't really made exercise a top priority of mine. Would all of these women be much more fit than me, and would I be hugging my bike, desperate for the 60 minutes to end?
My first challenge was getting on the apparatus, which proved somewhat more difficult than I had expected. Because I'm only 4'10", Marie had to adjust everything to the smallest settings, which still weren't quite small enough.
When this was done, she showed me the various parts of the bike. I paid particular attention to her explanation of the tension knob and the brake.
She explained that throughout the class, she would be asking us to turn up the tension, or resistance, but that I could do as much or as little as I wanted.
"You control your own workout," Marie said. "Everyone's at their own pace."
Before the class started, she turned on some music and dimmed the lights.
"Phew," I thought to myself. "Now no one will be able to hear me panting or see me struggling."
Marie then began the routine, which took us through the four seasons of the year ("Picture yourself cycling by the lake, the wind at your back�"). We started pedaling fast with no tension, and every few minutes Marie asked us to stand up in the bike, squat, pedal faster, turn the knob a quarter, and another quarter, and another quarter, now a half
Those first 15 minutes, as I pedaled my little legs away, I wondered what I had gotten myself into. I was enjoying it, and I knew I would feel fantastic afterwards, but I wasn't sure if I could last another 45 minutes.
But at the 25-minute mark, when Jennifer Lopez's "Let's Get Loud" came on, I was suddenly renewed, suddenly in the zone, and I knew that I could and would finish the workout.
Though I was far from a seasoned cycler, I was standing up and sprinting when Marie told me to. Yes, there were a few times when she asked the group to turn up the resistance, and I said to myself, "No way!", but for the most part, I was pedaling fast to the beat of the music.
When we had climbed our last big "hill," I was disappointed that the workout had come to an end, though not sad to bid farewell to the hard, uncomfortable seat (Marie said I would get used to that after a few classes).
Though I expected my entire body would be burning the next day, I was shocked that I felt little beyond the usual soreness after a hard workout. And I was also surprised at how strong I felt and how eager I was to cycle again.
Such a feeling is apparently not uncommon, as everyone from 80-year-old men to training outdoor cyclists enroll in the YMCA's classes. There are even beginner, 30-minute classes for those who, like me, are doing this type of exercise for the first time.
And I would encourage you to do so. Trying this class made me realize that I can branch out in terms of my exercise routine, and that, when it comes down to it, I've got the mettle for the pedal.
Breakout1: For more information on the Auburn YMCA's group cycling classes, call 253-5304 or visit www.auburnymca.org. Cost is $10 per class for nonmembers.
Breakout 2: Want to see Linda try a new healthy diet? Exercise? Fad? E-mail her at srtabaja@yahoo.com.
Pedal Pusher
As a rule, I generally do not like to be yelled at.
But when Marie Nellenback told me to "Push!" "Dig!" and "Breathe!", I welcomed the encouragement.
Marie, an instructor at the Auburn YMCA-WEIU, shouted at me (and four other women) above heart-thumping pop music. We were all participants in her hour-long group cycling class, but unlike the others, this was my first foray into any kind of cycling experience.
I had wanted to take such a class for a while, as I had heard what an incredible workout it can be.
"It's great because it's both strength training and aerobic at the same time," Marie told me, touting cycling's benefits for your heart and lower body.
She also noted cycling's ability to burn anywhere from 300 to 500 calories in an hour, with participants taking close to 300 steps a minute.
Yet I approached the 9 a.m. activity with a mixture of excitement and nervousness, fearful that I would be asked to cycle at a ridiculous pace and wondering what kind of insane boot camp I had just joined.
At 26 years old, I'm a healthy weight but not really in shape, as a life of teaching, writing, tutoring and planning for a wedding hasn't really made exercise a top priority of mine. Would all of these women be much more fit than me, and would I be hugging my bike, desperate for the 60 minutes to end?
My first challenge was getting on the apparatus, which proved somewhat more difficult than I had expected. Because I'm only 4'10", Marie had to adjust everything to the smallest settings, which still weren't quite small enough.
When this was done, she showed me the various parts of the bike. I paid particular attention to her explanation of the tension knob and the brake.
She explained that throughout the class, she would be asking us to turn up the tension, or resistance, but that I could do as much or as little as I wanted.
"You control your own workout," Marie said. "Everyone's at their own pace."
Before the class started, she turned on some music and dimmed the lights.
"Phew," I thought to myself. "Now no one will be able to hear me panting or see me struggling."
Marie then began the routine, which took us through the four seasons of the year ("Picture yourself cycling by the lake, the wind at your back�"). We started pedaling fast with no tension, and every few minutes Marie asked us to stand up in the bike, squat, pedal faster, turn the knob a quarter, and another quarter, and another quarter, now a half
Those first 15 minutes, as I pedaled my little legs away, I wondered what I had gotten myself into. I was enjoying it, and I knew I would feel fantastic afterwards, but I wasn't sure if I could last another 45 minutes.
But at the 25-minute mark, when Jennifer Lopez's "Let's Get Loud" came on, I was suddenly renewed, suddenly in the zone, and I knew that I could and would finish the workout.
Though I was far from a seasoned cycler, I was standing up and sprinting when Marie told me to. Yes, there were a few times when she asked the group to turn up the resistance, and I said to myself, "No way!", but for the most part, I was pedaling fast to the beat of the music.
When we had climbed our last big "hill," I was disappointed that the workout had come to an end, though not sad to bid farewell to the hard, uncomfortable seat (Marie said I would get used to that after a few classes).
Though I expected my entire body would be burning the next day, I was shocked that I felt little beyond the usual soreness after a hard workout. And I was also surprised at how strong I felt and how eager I was to cycle again.
Such a feeling is apparently not uncommon, as everyone from 80-year-old men to training outdoor cyclists enroll in the YMCA's classes. There are even beginner, 30-minute classes for those who, like me, are doing this type of exercise for the first time.
And I would encourage you to do so. Trying this class made me realize that I can branch out in terms of my exercise routine, and that, when it comes down to it, I've got the mettle for the pedal.
Breakout1: For more information on the Auburn YMCA's group cycling classes, call 253-5304 or visit www.auburnymca.org. Cost is $10 per class for nonmembers.
Breakout 2: Want to see Linda try a new healthy diet? Exercise? Fad? E-mail her at srtabaja@yahoo.com.
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