The Swiss Alps dot the horizon in the distance as you peddlepast cottages and over rolling hills. "Come on, push yourself!" amiked voice says in the background.
As you approach a hill, you mentally prepare yourself for thetough climb. You don't think your legs can take it. Every muscle issore, and you're gasping for oxygen.
"Alright, let's cool it down," says the voice. You get off yourbike, sucking in the country air as you see mountains mirrored on adocile lake.
After you're done, you look down at the parquet floor and yourpuddle of sweat, wondering where the 400 to 700 calories have goneafter you've spent an exhausting 40 minutes on a stationarybike.
Spinning, or studio cycling, is becoming increasingly popularamong college students nationwide, and has hit home with a numberof students at The University of Memphis. During a class, ridersare asked to visualize any scene they want to help them get themost out of a session.
"I think it's starting to catch on more than people realize,"said Kevin Bohannon, senior journalism major. "I get more out ofthis than people do in the weight room."
Created by world-class cyclist Jonathan Goldberg in 1987, theintense, sweat-inducing class provides anyone a greatcardiovascular workout along with a fun, yet demanding, atmosphere,participants said.
Fitness clubs, health spas and gyms everywhere are getting in onthe craze.
Spinning has grown all over the nation and has increased inpopularity by 28 percent over the past seven years, according toAmerican Sports Data, Inc. Almost 6.1 million people in the UnitedStates enjoy Spinning classes today.
"Without a doubt, you use every muscle in the body," saidinstructor Christen Roland, while recovering from her almosthour-long ride Wednesday.
The low-impact cycling class prides itself on breaking away fromthe ordinary repetitive workouts, offering something students canget hooked, thanks in part to a team atmosphere that makes theclass a favorite.
Roland, who took her first Spinning class almost seven years agoat a conference in Washington, D.C., said she hated it. Not knowingwhat to expect and the lack of a positive influence to guide hermade it tough, she said.
Now a group cycling instructor with more than two yearsexperience, she can't say enough about it -- especially theimportance of a group atmosphere.
"It's like zapping each other with energy," she said. "Youraverage person gets on a treadmill for 30 minutes. They're bored,they need the people, they need the group to hold them accountable.(My class) knows that every time they come in they're going to getsomething different."
Forty-five minutes may seem too much for a novice, but Rolandsays this type of exercise is one of the best.
"There is no study and no research (suggesting) negativeeffects," she said. "Just about anyone can ride a bike, even peoplewho don't have any balance can come in and sit."
Jeanette Thomas, an administrative secretary for the director ofCampus Recreation Services, has been in the class for close toseven months. She says she likes the convenience of going down thehall for 40 minutes on her lunch break and getting a greatworkout.
"Nothing else pushes you as much as this class, well, I shouldsay as Christen does," Thomas said. "It's brought my blood pressuredown."
Some studies have found people not used to working outintensively shouldn't jump into a program not ready for thepotential intensity of the class. If done correctly, however, aclass could provide great aerobic benefit.
Group cycling classes are in the Campus Recreation and FitnessCenter on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at noon.
