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Your aging brain will thank you.
I was a decent sprinter in high school, many moons ago.
I can still smell the rust colored track. Crouching down into that coiled spring-like starting position, that pungent whiff of rubber against my spikes would trigger my senses and snap my mind into laser focus.
That palpable shift in consciousness would spark my nerves — and my competitive instinct. I came to rely on that mental jolt during those few gut churning seconds before every 100m race. I needed the edge it gave me to blast out of the blocks.
Don’t get me wrong, I was certainly no Flo-Jo.
But in my school’s rather sparse talent pool, I was up there with the top few and my PE teacher would always insist on my competing at county level.
I’ll never know how far I could have taken track & field because I abandoned it after high school. College work took priority over most things, and hobbies were replaced with socializing. No doubt, I could have carved out some time if I’d really wanted to, but ultimately I just wasn’t committed.
It’s sort of a life regret.
Over the next two decades, my ‘fitness regime’ was non existent. Sporadic aerobics classes at the local squash club, dancing in the club on weekends and the odd charity fun-run was the extent of my cardio during my entire 20s. Strength training took the form of unloading groceries from the car.
As I headed towards 30, lack of exercise was a mild concern that I pushed to the back of my mind. I was never noticeably overweight, although I was definitely holding onto a few extra pounds. I’ll get around to addressing it at some point. In hindsight, I was either in denial or just plain ignorant about my semi-sedentary lifestyle and the health problems that can cause down the road.
Moving to Miami sparked a big attitude shift
I’m from a landlocked city in England so uprooting my life to take up an exciting job offer in the Sunshine State was a life-altering move.
Embracing the lifestyle & culture of a place like Miami Beach meant getting comfortable wearing less clothes — and quickly. It’s a vibrant, fast paced and energetic city where the locals workout regularly and spend a lot of time outdoors in the tropical heat.
Enter ‘Flywheel’
Moving into my new neighborhood opened up a whole world of new fitness opportunities. An impressive array of shiny boutique-style gyms offering a hot take on boxing, yoga, pilates, HIIT and indoor cycling all within a three block radius. And it felt like high time I got involved.
I’ll admit the first time I showed up for my first Flywheel session (a freebie for newbies so I figured I had nothing to lose) I felt intimidated, out of my depth and — at age 37 — way past my ‘athletic best’.
But it’s a false notion that, because it’s such an intense cardio workout in a dance club like setting, it’s only for the young and fit (I know many fellow Gen-Xers who wouldn’t step foot in a spin studio for this very reason — whether they’ll admit it or not).
Encouraged to see throngs of riders of different ages and body types, I filled up my water bottle, strapped on my cycling shoes and clipped into my pedals. The lights snapped off, dance music started blaring and a peppy instructor took command of the packed stadium-style room. I caught sight of my shadow in the mirrored wall and — heart thumping — braced for action.
After about 10 minutes, it struck me that absolutely no one was watching me. In that dark room, my fellow riders seemed too pumped and focused on their own performance to care about me huffing and puffing in the back row.
That 45-minute sweat fest was probably the most intense — and exhilarating — workout I’d ever experienced.
I can only describe it as feeling ‘washed’ from the inside out. No doubt, my entire body was beat — but it was also humming with a zesty energy reminiscent of that sprinting high I’d not felt for two decades.
Yes I was relieved to get out of the studio but I already suspected I’d be back — I’d felt that burn once and, it sounds like a cliche, but it lit a fire underneath me. (Most cliches have a grain of truth anyway — something else I’ve learned with age!) The next day I woke up craving that energizing buzz and I returned twice that week.
I caught the indoor cycling bug at an age where I was wise enough to be kind my mind, body and soul and not expect too much from myself too soon. To give myself a break, ease into it and let myself enjoy it.
My twenty-something self would have viewed such intense cardio as pure torture — more of a punishment for my body than a gift.
In no time, I was hooked and spinning became my go-to workout. Instead of targeting weight loss, I’ve always focused on my performance. Sticking with the beat and choreography for the entire ride is my personal goal. Dropping those initial few pounds was just an inevitable — and welcome — side effect of becoming stronger and fitter.
In late 2020 I pivoted to SoulCycle after my beloved Flywheel perished during Covid-19.
For nine years, the myriad benefits have been empowering. I’ve developed mental strength & discipline, a sense of gratitude and an unwavering appreciation for self. During emotionally tough times, I’ve gained comfort and solace during class — I’ve even shed a cathartic tear in there once or twice.
Spinning has empowered me to take charge of my own life.
As one of my favorite wellness experts Dr Rangan Chatterjee always says — “You feel better, you live more”.
Sure, there are minor setbacks — sometimes I absolutely suck during class! In these moments, I simply choose to keep going. I slow down, take a breath and put one foot in front of the other.
Never once have I picked up an injury from this low impact workout, which is known to be gentle on joints. Read more about the health benefits of spinning as you age here. And if you want the science, here you go.
These days, I combine thrice-weekly spin class with HIIT and strength training — which is also important for long term health. And hey I’m no a physician, I’m here sharing my own experience to help anyone who is considering giving spin class a try but feels too damn daunted.
Obviously, medical experts know best so always consult a doctor before starting an intense exercise program.
Here’s me celebrating a birthday ride with Miss Eddy Pink, one of the rockstar instructors I’ve been lucky enough to have over the years.
Now heading towards my late 40s, I know I’m not the oldest rider in the spin studio — but one day I might be! And that’ll be absolutely fine with me.
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