My client Kate invited me to go to a spin class that she has been going to for a few months. Now I have been taking spin classes for years and feel pretty confident that I could do her class and agreed to go with her. She described what the class was like, however, and I started getting a little nervous. This sounded nothing like what I am used to and since I'm her personal trainer, I felt the added pressure to show no fear.
For those of you who have never heard of a spin class, it is a stationary bicycle class. The classes that I take are done in an ice cold room filled with bikes. The instructor is at the front of the class on a platform facing us with a microphone. We pedal (spin) and change the resistance level throughout the class to mimic going up hills, sprinting, climbing and flat roads. The music is blasting, the room is dark and despite the ceiling fans and air conditioning, you sweat!
So yesterday I met Kate at her class at a place in East Sacramento called Team Ride. It is an indoor cycle studio owned by four sisters. The outside of the building painted orange with flowers and in front were round orange tables and chairs to sit outside and hang out with friends. Very girly and cute which helped calm my nerves. I was greeted at the door by one of the owners. She introduced me to the instructor and showed me to the cycle room. It looked similar to my class, just bigger. As the class started showing up, I got a little intimidated. It was mostly women. Very fit women. Thank God my bike was at the back of the class!
I noticed right away that it was pretty warm n the room. The ceiling fans were going, but it felt like it was 85 degrees. The instructor showed me how to set up my bike and mentioned that if I had trouble breathing due to the heat to just take a deep breath and calm my breathing. What? Was the air conditioner out? Um, no. They purposefully keep it hot to increase the sweat factor. Uuugh!
The class started and this was like no other spin class I had ever taken. We were doing push ups, moving side to side, and all sort of other maneuvers that I had never done. It was like a dance class on a bike. Once I figured out the moves, I felt comfortable. For about a minute. Oh my gosh, I was sweating like crazy, felt like the air was thickening and started panic breathing. I looked to my right to see if I could sneak out the door without anyone noticing, but then I heard the instructor say, "Great work, Michelle!" Well for whatever reason, that comment gave me a little motivation and I got my breathing together and was determined to make it through the class without embarrassing myself. Looking back, this 45 minute class flew by, but there were moment that I was so uncomfortable I thought I would die. But I didn't. When the class was over I felt like a rock star. I did it! I broke free from my comfort zone and challenged myself in a way that I haven't done in a long time.
As a personal trainer, I have had many clients that want to reach a personal goal, but get stuck in their comfort zones. I admit, it is scary to step outside of it into the unknown. It sometimes hurts, it is always hard and sometimes we panic. The bottom line is, "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. So if you're feeling uncomfortable right now, know that the change taking place in your life is a beginning, not an ending." - Neale Donald Walsch
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