Adults who are avid fans of spinning classes already know the potential benefits, from setting fitness goals to the joy of getting in shape while being motivated by an instructor (perhaps aided by catchy music) Each class seems to have its own personality and that can be part of the fun as well. But how many parents have considered the possibility of family workouts, ones designed for spinning bikes? If this seems impossible or out of reach, it is not.
More and more fitness centers have been expanding spinning classes to reach out to families. In some cases, if the family is large enough, there may be enough participants to fill an entire class, with one instructor. In other cases, two families may decide to sign up for a class, making sure that they have the required number of people to meet spinning class size requirements. This not only allows time to socialize and bond with one’s own family but perhaps to enjoy the company of another family as well, perhaps good friends. A great way to blend fitness with socialization (although, admittedly, there isn’t always a lot of time to chat while pedaling, depending on the difficulty of the class.
When children start spinning classes while young, they may develop a passion for cycling. Of course, getting into the fitness habit at an early age is always a plus. Instead of sitting in front of the television or playing video games, families have a chance to challenge each other to reach new fitness goals while becoming healthier. Music can be tailored to the family as well. For some families, spinning class workouts may be alternated with cross training, perhaps with a game of basketball or even a swimming session.
If you decide to plan a family workout using spinning bikes, be sure that the leader (whether a parent or certified instructor) is experienced in working with both children and adults and has experience with spinning bikes. Focus on fun and not on being a drill sergeant and avoid overly strict instructors. After all, this is a family activity, geared for fun. You’ll want to think creatively, too, and perhaps pretend that an uphill cycling routine is part of a search for hidden treasure. Involve your children’s imaginations and there may be no limit to where a family spinning class workout could end -including a lifetime of physical fitness.
Some additional suggestions? Be sure to consider your children’s personalities and interests. Make them a part of the planning process and you could be surprised by the suggestions and creativity they offer for family workouts on spinning bikes. Some might suggest a pretend trip, setting mileage goals per session. Others might want to cycle to music that is set to various movie themes. The possibilities are limited only by the imagination.
A final option could involve using spinning bikes at home, perhaps as part of a home gym. It may be more convenient to set a specific time or day when the family gets together and participates in a workout and spinning class. The benefits of this option need to be considered carefully and parents need to be sure that they can keep their children as motivated as home as they would be in an organized family workout class in a gym. A compromise solution could be paying a personal spinning class instructor to come to the home to monitor classes.