First off, I'm not one of those super-hardcore spinners that wears the spandex cycling shorts
and the clip-in shoes
to spinning classes at the gym. However, I have on occasion frequented a spin class or two...One thing about spinning perplexes me - why are spinning classes done in the dark? The only thing I can think of is that since spin classes are almost always setup in a semi-circle fashion, this means that some of the participants end up facing one other head-on.
My experiences with spinning have always had me getting quite the workout - sweating a fair bit and probably making funny faces as I agonize over the sprint sections (those always kill me - way more than the hill climbs). So, I'm thinking that spinning is done in the dark so people don't have to be self-conscious about others looking at them directly when they are struggling to climb to the top of some imaginary hill...
I guess having the room dark could also help spinners focus on the exercise and not the others in the class. And for the true cycling enthusiasts, maybe the darkness helps them picture themselves on the road or in a race? Plus, unlike step aerobics, there is no safety concern with having the class in the dark.
The other thing about spinning is that the music is fairly loud. This leads me to my final hypothesis about the dark beat-pumping classes - mystique. These blackened bass-filled spin classes make the workout seem like more than it actually is - pedalling a stationary bike!
I mean, as far as bike riding goes - the stationary bike has to be as boring as it gets. To jazz it up, they lower the lights, pump up the tunes. I've even heard of some clubs that have disco balls in their spin rooms as well as black light and glow in the dark bikes - sheesh!
Spinning is great in the winter or on a rainy day - but on good-weather days, a real bike ride outside (on a bike that actually takes you somewhere) is tough to beat.
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6 comments:
Well I hate that spinning is in the dark because I don't ride my bicycle outside in the dark, but it stems from the some of the original spinning rooms which have black lights and hills painted on the walls to simulate rides. There are also some spinning classes that actually have a screen with a simulated ride too.
I wish the classes that don't offer simulated rides would durn the damned lights on.
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Just curious, would the black lights be enough of a UV source to promote D hormone absorption or production? I really believe that it promotes a bit of privacy and focus in a fairly crowded room of sweaty and fatigued individuals. Make sure to wear your favorite deodorant.
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It would seem like we would burn fewer calories and workout somewhat less hard with the lights off, anyone know?
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