Spin and Chill! The Many Benefits of Cycling & Cryotherapy!

By: Anna Soucier, OC FitMommy

Looking for a fun way to get in shape? Perhaps, you’re just looking to spice up your current exercise routine? Or maybe, just maybe, you’re one of the 80% of people who have already fallen off track to meet their 2020 New Year goal?! Oopsie! You’re needing to move onto plan B for achieving your weight loss goals, STAT. It happens to the best of us. Whatever the case, Cycling has you covered!  Yes, cycling! We’re keeping things simple and suggesting that you hop on a bike and ride! Then go for a chill after the ride to recover so you can ride another day.

Let me quickly sell you on cycling, just by sharing the results and benefits of it!

Celebrities cycle to stay in shape!

Yup, that’s right! Cycling is the secret behind many toned and strong celebrity bodies, such as that of…

Jennifer Lopez

Khloe Kardashian

Demi Lovato

Matthew McConaughey

Patrick Dempsey 

Hugh Jackman

Demi Lovato is so into cycling, she even brought her bike on tour with her!  Khloe Kardashian’s more recent trim figure is partially brought to you by her love for spin class (indoor cycling). She says the studio makes her feel as though she’s dancing at a club, rather than working out.  Yes, please! The lighting, motivating music, and energy from fellow spinners, does a wonderful job of masking the fact that you’re working out. That’s a win win in my books.  

Jennifer Aniston and Hugh Jackman often get spotted outdoors, cycling their way to healthy fit bodies.  I can’t think of many celebrities who are aging more gracefully than these two. If cycling is what’s doing it for them, I’m sure as heck going to consider it! Oh, you too? 

Cycling or spinning, you can call it what you want. Essentially, they’re the same thing, but cycling is done outdoors, and spinning is done indoors in a studio.  Wherever you choose to do it, it all just boils down to getting on a bike and pedaling your way into shape! Working out should be fun! And cycling can be just that!  You can make it a social sport by joining a studio or outdoor team, or you can hit the pavement with your bike, solo, if you dare to be alone with your thoughts! The intensity of cycling/spinning is scalable, so rest easy, there’s a place for everyone. Whether you keep it outdoors with an amazing adventure in nature, or bring it inside, it’ll burn calories and you reap the rewards, just the same!

Benefits of Cycling

According to a Harvard Medical School study (I always trust those folks at Harvard) there are 5 main physical benefits of cycling.  Let’s take a look at them.

  • It’s friendlier on the joints. Compared to alternative forms of exercise such as running, cycling is much easier on your joints.  When cycling, weight is focused on your pelvis bones (ischial tuberosities). When running or walking, weight is placed on the legs, making it tough for those who struggle with joint pain.

  • It builds muscle (and burns fat).  Cycling is an amazing full body workout, but it’s especially known for building shapely glutes, quads, thighs and calves, due to the lower body pedaling action involved. By default, because you need to balance your body on the bike, your abs, arms and shoulders also contract and do some work!  More lean muscle typically equates to less body fat, and who can argue with that? Cycling is a huge calorie blaster, making it a great weight loss tool. Calories burned will vary greatly depending on the individual's size and the intensity and duration of workout. Because of that, I won’t quote any numbers here, but they can get enticing!

  • Cycling builds bone.  The motion of pedaling pulls on your working muscles, which in turn pull on your bone.  This increases bone density, which is a beautiful thing, especially as we age.

  • It’s a form of aerobic exercise. Cycling gets your heart going, stimulates your brain and gets those blood vessels pumping.   This results in a post workout “feel good” sensation, also known as an endorphin rush.

  • It helps with other everyday activities. Cycling results in better general overall body balance, which helps with walking, standing, stair climbing your endurance.

    Additional Non-Physical Benefits

    Some arguably more compelling benefits of cycling (and it’s really a neck in neck tie here) are the non-physical benefits of the sport.  Many on this list are the same rewards as the amazing ones that come with incorporating any exercise and healthy diet into your daily routine.  These include:

  • Increased brain power 

    Cycling helps build new brain cells in the hippocampus (responsible for memory), which starts to deteriorate from age 30. If you want to remember important dates and your family members as you age, get cycling!

  • A lowered risk of cancer and slowed aging

     All forms of exercise, accompanied by a healthy balanced diet, help reduce the risk of cancer and aid in slowing down the aging process.

  • Higher self esteem and mental well being 

    It’s hard not to feel good about yourself, between the endorphin rushes and positive physical changes.

  • Less stress

    We all know that breaking a sweat helps us reduce stress and handle our lives a little more gracefully than we would otherwise.

  • Better Sleep

    Exercise leads to better quality sleep.  It’s hard not to immediately zonk out as soon as you hit the hay, if you’ve had an intense workout during the day.

  • More Energy

    Even though working out requires you to expend energy, post workout, your body ends up producing more energy during the day. 

  • Strong Immune System 

    Exercise has huge benefits on the upper respiratory system, helping us fight off the common cold.

  • Grow your Social Circle

    Cycling is typically a group sport, and joining a group or studio will no doubt result in new healthy and fitness inspired friendships!

    Safety Never Takes a Holiday  

    A few  precautions, as always…

    Check with your doctor before starting any new physical activity, especially if you have heart disease, arthritis, or thinning bones.

    Your seat height should always allow for a slight bend at the knee. If it’s too high,  your legs straighten out too much and you can fall off. Contrary to popular belief, spandex isn't a necessity, even though many cyclists find them most suitable for the occasion.  Wear whatever makes you happy and comfy! Always stay o hydrated before, during, and after your workout.

    And what about recovery? 

    Well that’s where cryotherapy comes in. Yes, we want to reduce the likelihood of being sore the next day after we cycle.  And cryotherapy will do just that. Just hop in the chamber after you cycle for about 2-3 minutes and you will be ready for your next ride. Yes, that’s how LeBron and a bunch of other athletes recover and stay in competitive shape.  

    So, get Pedaling!

    It’s hard to pass up an opportunity to feel good, get/stay in shape, and have a ton of fun while doing it. If cycling outdoors doesn’t sound like your thing, you’ve likely noticed indoor cycling bars popping up around your town. If you have yet to check out the rage, a great recommendation is Cycle Bar! http://Cyclebar.com It’s an alternative to other major cycle studios, such as SoulCycle and Flywheel, but offers a much friendlier price point than some other studios. If you’re in the California, Hillcrest area specifically, check out https://www.cyclebar.com/location/hillcrest. It is loads of fun. 

(This blog is brought to you in part by the sources: https://www.inc.com/marla-tabaka/why-set-yourself-up-for-failure-ditch-new-years-resolution-do-this-instead.html; https://www.shape.com/celebrities/celebrity-workouts/8-celebrities-who-love-spin-their-way-list-bodies?;https://www.bicycling.com/news/g20735106/celebrities-who-ride-bikes/?slide=24; https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-top-5-benefits-of-cycling; https://www.bicycling.com/training/a20029633/8-ways-cycling-will-make-you-healthier/; https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/fitness-and-training/30-great-benefits-of-cycling/)

Joy Laws