All Spin Instructors Are NOT Created Equal

This post is dedicated to my two favorite spin instructors, who probably know who they are - the Head Coach of the Tri Club, and a certain West Coast Brit.


This is NOT the Y

I did an hour spin class last night and a short stint on the tread this morning.

I hate to keep repeating myself, but this is NOT the Y.

During spin last night, it became patently obvious that Y members and LA Fitness members are a totally different animal (maybe even species.) I lasted the whole class (as if there was any doubt), and was quite proud to see that, despite getting my ass kind of kicked, "30 %" and "70%" were actually one-third and three-quarters turns of the tension knob (unlike some of the people around me).

Ok, enough being petty and/or gloat-y. . . . on with the observations that may/may not be gross overgeneralizations. The best way I can describe the difference to you is this: Y members are serious and LA Fitness members are not. The funniest part about this? LAF members think they're serious, while Y members are more low-key.

For example, outfits at the Y are not as tight, makeup is not as flashy, and the place is frequently overrun with kids. Conversely, there are more sterotypical Gym Bunnies at LAF, complete with heavy eye makup and Bebe track suits/sports bras. Not a kid in sight at any of the locations or any times I've attended. But, amazingly enough, the Y members I know (and I know dozens), are all, in general, more fit, effortlesssly attractive people. (Think: no heavy black eyeliner needed.) They possess more quiet confidence/cockiness than flash/wannabe glamour, and they're almost all excellent athletes.

The vibe and instructors in group excersize are also completely different.

**Disclaimer: not trying to offend anyone here . . . just voicing my opinion. I am not an expert, nor do I claim to be**

The difference I noticed at spin may be coincidental, and I'm sure it has more to do with individual instructor style, but the stark contrast cannot go unremarked. A typical spin class at all 3 of the YMCAs I've visited were likely to be attended by 5 or more triathletes wearing either race t-shirts, spin/tri shorts, and calm smiles. I was the keener dork of the class last night in my spin shorts and race tee. The Y instructors usually have awesome form on the bike, walk around some during class, talk to everyone, adjust your gears for you if they know you well enough, etc. Nothing against last night's instructor - she was cool - but she sat on the bike the entire time and was focused more on how much effort she could crank out than her form. She didn't walk around until the end of the class and she didn't offer any helpful instruction.

Sigh. I'm so spoiled. I keep having to remind myself that this is all for the good of my budget . . . . And now I sound like a pompous ass for acring/noticing . . .


The Fourth Discipline
Unsurprisingly, my efforts to improve my life overall post-diagnosis have extneded to diet. I'm supposed to eat more protein than carbs, especially because I'm insulin resistant. I'm trying to make an effort to do this more frequently.


Crap I Want to Do Before I (Well, You Know)
Thyroid cancer is SUPER treatable, but anything involving cancer makes you consider your mortality. So, finally, I've decided I need to get off my ass and go sailing and to Europe some time soon. I've always wanted to, and I don't see any time like the present.

JUST THE FOOTPOD IS OVER $100?????

So I'm getting ready for spin class . . . yes, you heard it - second workout during a week when I'm barely ready to work out again. I pulled some old workouts, I put on my heart rate monitor, I grabbed my water bottle, and I put on my shoes . . .

Only to realize that I have lost my footpod to my Polar SD HRM.

So I pull a "dad," (my dad being the King of Online Bargains), and try to find one online.

JUST the footpod is over $100.
WTF???
I spent about $200 on the whole unit!!!

GRRRR.

I'm off to spin.

Swim, Bike, OM.

I've been very open about my love affair with College Park Yoga. As emo, as new-age, as mother-earth, hippie-chick as it sounds . . . when I go there, I just feel like I am at home. When I spend any significant length of time in the studio, I unfailingly come away feeling as if I've had some kind of spiritual and physical awakening. (This endorsement is not paid for in any way, unless you count the satisfaction I get by introducing new people to the studio.) There is just no other place in the world where I can focus completely on the often-overlooked, ever-important connection between mind and body.

Well, besides in the pool, on a good day, thousands of yard, strong drills, good catch-and-release, with my shoulders burning and only 2 breaths per 50. {Flavor Flav}YEEEAAA BOOIII!!!!{/Flavor Flav.}

See, the thing is . . . most people completely underrate yoga. Oh, it's just breathing. It's just stretching. It's just relaxing. You don't really work in yoga. Or, if you're working that hard at yoga, it must be one of those weird "hot" yoga joints where they crank up the heat to like 96.

Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, WRONG!

I can tell you that, on a weekend of back-to-back classes at CPY, there is no muscle in my body that does not feel both incredibly at ease and totally worked. I'm not quite sure whether I blame the upper body fatigue I've got on the 3000yd swim on Saturday or the yoga two days this weekend - but, suffice it to say, the yoga had an impact either way.

And it's not just that. I go to yoga there because it is a place where, without judgment or criticism, I can completely, totally, 100% GET AWAY. I get away from my house, my animals, my worries, New Guy, my job, my friends, my family - AND ME. I GET AWAY from ME.

Believe me, everyone needs a getaway from me - especially me.

I am positively exhausting. The thoughts constantly running through my head, the obsessing, the fretting about tiny details, the indecisiveness, the excitement and excitability, the incessant giggling and unstoppable chatter - not to mention the tireless philosophizing.

You know how our ideas of what we are vs. what we REALLY are are so different. Well, that? Is how I feel (some times).----->

<----That? Is what I really AM. (Makes ya tired just lookin' at it, doesnt it?)

Anyway, since my IT band is still tweaked, I'm not running yet. It was really rough at the beginning of last week (like, drink 1.5 bottles of fucking wine to fall asleep rough), so I backed off from all activity this week. With good results, I just started back to swimming, yoga and cycling this weekend. Hector (of course) kicked my ass today in spin class. Four of us were waiting outside the room, all the bikes were full except the old, rickety one. And, of course, $he spotted me, yelled out my name to everyone and put me RIGHT at the FRONT of the CLASS . . . . on the oldest bike, no less. And he doesn't realize I'm still injured.

UGH. It wasn't as fun as my last class. I got my ass kicked.

But, in all fairness? I needed an (mental and emotional) ass-kicking. I mean, what kind of intelligent, self-respecting girl - after everything I've been through, especially recently - what kind of strong, supposedly independent woman continues to date a guy who has admitted he doesn't know what he wants out of the relationship, doesn't make plans with her very far in advance and isn't clear with any of his words or actions, but continues treating her like a girlfriend?

The kind that needs an ass-kicking.

As I lie in shavasana this morning, trying to clear all the thoughts from my brain (and nearly succeeding, I am very proud to say), T. reminded us of something very important, very basic - something even the most poorly informed wannabe yogi would understand and agree with: yoga is about trying to get steady. Trying to get the mind steady (and, of course, the body will eventually follow). But to be steady, she said (paraphrased, of course - the exact quote is at the top of my blog), you don't spend time wanting to be where you're not, even if that "other place" is "better" than the place you currently are. And yes, I'm going to apply what she said to life and not just to yoga here . . . . if you're in pain, if you're comfortable, if you're happy, if you're sad (if you're boyfriend and girlfriend, if you're not - if you want to be and he doesn't) - it's more about acknowledging and accepting what IS than it is about trying to make everything something it's NOT. And then she added something which, for me, is an even more important reminder about every single little aspect of my life right now and about how completely spun up (NICE PUN!) I get . . . .

and then you have to be willing to let go.

Even if you didn't read my previous entry, that is so eerily accurate for what I'm going through at this place in my life that anyone can see how it resonated with me.

I am still shooting for St. Anthony's. If I can afford FL 70.3 and it's still open, I'll probably sign up for that with my next paycheck. I'm trying to be where I am, and where I am is trained enough for an Olympic to 70.3 and an occasional half marathon . . . no more - and, on some days, that's even the limit. But there are plenty of months and years for me to worry about 140.6 and 26.2 . . . . and, as I said before, it's not like we all know I can't do it.

And I keep moving on . . . letting go . . and being where I am. Still no Kona decisions. I'm just loving on him and working through it.

Swim workout: 3000yds. 300 free warmup. 200 yds each: fingertip drag drill, fist drill, kickboard (2x200), pull buoy, side kick with fins. Mixed with 15sec RI and 200yd free in between. 300 free cooldown.

Spin workout: warmup at moderate resistance. Single-leg drills, accelerators at 15-and 30-second intervals. Repeats of 75-90% effort, 7-9 level resistance: 45 seconds seated, 15 out of saddle.