Indoor cycling can seem intimidating if you’ve never attended a class. Jen Barnet, owner of XCYCLE indoor cycling in Las Vegas, Nevada, is here to tell you why it’s not; the mental and physical benefits; and why you should opt for indoor cycling over a gym.
1. Why should anyone opt for indoor cycling from the traditional gym?
XCYCLE indoor cycling is like no other! It is very different than anything you would get at a gym. We dance, we become alive within our hearts, minds, and bodies and we discover a powerful side of ourselves we never knew we had. That is not anything you will get at a regular gym. We do not focus on calories or weight. We focus on the journey of the mind that gets the body to respond to each and every fitness goal you have. It is all about the energy you create within the 45 minutes at XCYCLE. If you want to have a team around you at all times rooting you on and acknowledging the progress of all the hard work and dedication you put in…come to XCYCLE!
2. Doesn’t cycling only target legs?
Cycling does not only target the legs. In fact, cycling is a full body workout. Cycling, when done correctly, engages the core, back, glutes and arms. Your form on the bike is EVERYTHING to your 45-minute ride. It is very important to ask a staff member or the instructor to make sure your bike is properly set up for your body to have the most efficient ride.
3. Aside from physical benefits, what are some other benefits gained from cycling?
Indoor cycling is not only an amazing physical workout, it is also a magical mental work in!! Yes, we sweat and get our cardio on while on the bikes, but so much more happens within our nervous system during our classes– endorphins are kicking in. Happy chemicals in the body are being produced to help elevate you to the next level of YOU. This is where the magic starts happening when you are so happy to be present with yourself, on the bike, in a room filled with 35 other souls all riding in the dark; all dealing with something different in life pushing through thresholds they never knew they had, is THE moment of change! It becomes the healthiest addiction in your life after that.
4. How can one tell if they’re getting the most out of their cycling?
You can tell you are getting the most out of your cycling when you can visually see the improvements you have been wanting to see, but most importantly, you FEEL stronger and healthier. It is all about how much you want to commit to yourself.
5. Some people would argue that cycling is a young person’s game. Is this true?
Cycling is for any age! At XCYCLE, we only have a height requirement, which is 5 ft. We welcome anyone that wants to better themselves and get their sweat on!
6. What are some of the common challenges beginner cyclists experience?
Some challenges a beginner cyclist could have are feelings of intimidation that the class may be too hard. That is most likely the #1 thing we see from our beginners. After they fight that fear within and they go for it and show themselves they can do it is when all you see are smiles all over the room. Take that first step for YOU.
7. Tell me about your personal tips for endurance. I feel like that’s the thing that intimidates people the most. They’re scared the instructor is going to stop the whole class and yell at them to keep pedaling, ha!
Endurance. This is what keeps us going! My personal tip on how to build up your endurance is trying to build it more and more every time you step on the bike. Push your sprint further than yesterday. Add one more turn to that wheel and try to be just a little stronger than yesterday. Embrace the times that feel the hardest and turn your focus [to] your heart and teach yourself the things that get you to push your hardest. At XCYCLE we support one another to be each other’s best and we leave the rest behind.
8. So why did you choose cycling? What’s your personal connection to it?
I chose cycling because I love the feeling of music and movement. I found what made my mind and body connect with one another again– it was indoor cycling. This type of fitness has brought the absolute best out of me, my heart and my physique. I encourage all my riders to lose themselves in the music!
9. What’s the overall takeaway for anyone cycling at your studio?
My riders leave feeling uplifted, strong, fearless and unstoppable! The beautiful energy we create in that cycling room in 45-minutes changes lives!
Photo Credit: XCYCLE
