Is Spin Better For You Than Traditional Cardio?
By NATHAN WITT/Editor-in-Chief, JIM RASBERRY/Staff Contributor, and ANNA ARSEINKO/Staff Contributor
Amy Pemberton never intended to be a spin class instructor. After four years of participating in classes, she was asked to lead when her normal instructor didn’t show up. She’s been teaching ever since. In her words, “Spin is an instructor-guided ride on a stationary bicycle.” She offers free classes to UT Tyler students on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:15 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Herrington Patriot Center (HPC).
“Riding a bicycle promotes joint health longevity by offering a zero impact resistance training,” says Pemberton. “Running, on the other hand, is a repetitive motion of constant pressure and pounding on the joints given certain terrain, form, and footwear.” To her, spin is the perfect pairing to weight training. Nursing Professor Belinda Deal, PhD, says, “The main goal of the spinner is to increase muscle flexibility and prepare the muscles for strengthening.” Dr. Deal uses spin herself to combat her knee pain from arthritis. “Overtime, spin is the safest and most efficient exercise to improve cardiovascular health,” says Pemberton.
The guided journey consists of varying resistance levels and speed intervals to mimic a real bike ride. Pemberton, like most spin instructors, uses music to lead the pace of the session. “The beat and tone of the songs are designed to motivate the participants using energetic beats,” she says. Shavon Foreman, a participant in the class, says it works. “It keeps us going for sure.”
Mental health is at the very core of her classes, according to Pemberton. She says, “The younger one learns the value of protecting one’s joints while increasing heart and mental health, the greater their potential for longevity, happiness, and success in life.” She started taking spin classes months after having her youngest child. The mother of three says that the decade of spin has not only made her healthier but it’s also made her a better mom.
For more information about Spin or any other free classes offered at the HPC, visit their Instagram.
Editor’s Note: Shavon Foreman is a Staff Contributor of Talon Student Media.