No, Indoor Cycling Isn’t Overrated Here’s Why You Should Give It A Try
Over the past year, indoor cycling has gotten immensely popular. It makes sense since we all needed to stay home for such a long time. Home workouts can be enjoyable, but there are those who need something more exciting than burpees and squats or yoga. Enter indoor cycling. It may be an investment to purchase an exercise bike, but it’s a very worthwhile piece of equipment to have in the house. If you’ve never done indoor cycling and are debating if to start, take a look at some of the excellent benefits this form of exercise has to offer.
It Builds Strength
One of the most significant benefits of indoor cycling is the muscle it builds. If you’re serious about improving your strength, aim to do cycling for at least 150 minutes a week. By nature, cycling is endurance training, meaning that it engages slow-twitch muscles. These are fibers that are fatigue-resistant and focused on sustained smaller movements. This means you’ll develop lean and toned muscles – especially in your quads and glutes. After a few weeks, you may start seeing results – keep going to maintain them and improve them!
It Improves Mental Health
After each cycling session, you’ll probably get a rush thanks to the endorphins that exercise releases. Research has shown that any type of exercise done regularly can help alleviate long-term depression. Especially nowadays, with everything going on, it’s doubly important to prioritize your mental health with healthy habits like exercise.
It Improves Cardiovascular Health
Like many other types of intense exercise, indoor cycling helps improve your stamina and endurance – your cardiovascular health. It’s ideal for those who want to do a cardio workout without putting too much stress on their joints.
It Burns Calories
Indoor cycling is a fantastic way to burn some serious calories. Depending on the difficulty and duration of the class or session, you can burn between 400 and 600 calories per class. To see significant weight loss results, you’d need to do three to six classes per week. In fact, a study from 2018 found that indoor cycling and strength training are enough to have a positive effect on endurance and strength – without even changing any dietary habits! Of course, it’s still important to eat a healthy diet that includes enough carbs and protein.
It’s Always Available
No matter the time or weather, you’ll have your exercise bike at home waiting for you. It’s even better for those of us with busy schedules who have a hard time finding the right moment to hit the gym. You won’t have to force yourself to go to the gym next time it’s pouring rain – you’ll be able to work out in the comfort of your own home.
It Reduces Your Risk Of Injury
Riding a stationary bike reduces your risk of injury, making you less prone to falls. This is ideal for people who have balance problems and concerns. Those with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis will greatly benefit from indoor cycling since it helps strengthen all the leg muscles as well as the core, allowing the body to stabilize in a more efficient way.
