I love SPIN class; Support, Endorphins and the importance of the cool down ;)

Yep, I did it. I went back to one of my favorite fitness activities, SPIN. I was once athletic as I mentioned before. I know I am not svelte any longer but I am strong as an ox. To look at me you, like others, may assume that I live a very sedentary life, ha! I have a hard time settling down and relaxing on vacation. Granted this was one of my first trips to the Y in about a year, or more. 2010, was really bad for me. Back to the subject at hand, I returned to spin. I did it this morning with the help and support of my entourage; Suzi, Tad, Shannon, Maddie and Kim Potter. With the pleasure of finding a friend there, Mimi. I picked this class because I have had my eye on the Y class schedule for months. It was only 30 minutes and supposed to be a beginner level class. Even if it was not a beginner class I can do almost anything for 30 minutes, right?

In we trounced to the spin room after signing up for a bike at the desk. We were a few minutes early and enjoyed some chat time before the instructor came in from teaching another class. The room to her surprise was beyond capacity. She was truly perplexed. She had no idea I was coming with my entourage for her class. Well you can never take these things for granted. I came with friends to enjoy something I had not done in too long.  I have to say if it was just Suzi and I a may have weaseled out of it to clean my house for it to be shown today.  I keep remembering the endorphins that come with the
exercise but lately it has been a little blurry in the memory bank. So the friends, Maddie, Shannon and my son Tad were just the obligation I needed to get me there. Who am I to stand in the way of college kids and exercise?  The usual  class where looking at our crew in the back of the room wondering were the heck we came from and why were we on their bikes! The instructor almost checked id's to be sure we signed up for our places.

After entering and being thrown completely off balance she jumped on her bike  and as  second thought asked if anyone (while staring straight at me!!) was new to spin.  I think it was surprising to her I didn't fall off my bike. I did choose a bike in the back, near a fan and the exit. All of my posse was in front of me. She started off right off the bat full throttle...I hung with her peddle for peddle all 30 minutes.
Little did she know she was playing to my strength by standing for most of the class. It was no where near a beginner class. We all were quite sweaty..the final challenge of the day was a 4 or 5 minute climb.
I felt good..the endorphins were pumping. As the song winded down she took us from climbing to stretching. Are you asking yourself why is giving us this TMI? Well it was the way it happened and the important lesson was her lack of cool down. We were really pumping feeling it and then..that is it.

After the climb we stretched in the saddle and got off our bikes. I looked at Maddie who was having some knee pain during class and she looked white as a ghost. My Mom radar was screeching. I thought I would be the one to topple at spin. Maddie was the one. Not because she is old and not svelte like me
but because the instructor went from 60 to zero in less then 45 seconds. Here is the importance of the cool down. When you heart pounds you need to slow it down no matter your age or fitness level. Maddie is probably ..groaning, Mama D what are doing embarrassing me. Not trying to sweetie, just a lesson learned today at spin. I was glad after some time she regained her color and was able to go shopping with her mom..I want to see your coat. I bet shopping got her endorphins flowing too.

Well my endorphin buzz still hasn't worn off..tomorrow more spin? I think YES. A big thanks to my

support system for getting me back in the saddle again.








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