Spin Cycle 04/23-25/08

I rode on the bike for my classes last week. I felt much stronger and was able to move around a bit more. The music I used was a playlist with a bunch of "bouncy" songs on it in order to promote moves in position 2. I forget when I originally rode to it, but here it is:

1. Bring Your Lovin' Back Here - Gomez
2. Get Back On the Train - Phish
3. This Is Us - Mark Knopfler + Emmy Lou Harris
4. New York City - moe.
5. Vertigo - U2
6. I Can't Explain - The Who
7. Ride the River - Eric Clapton
8. Where Are We Runnin? - Lenny Kravitz
9. Want You More - Duran Duran
10. Higher Ground - Stevie Wonder
11. Think I'm In Love - Beck
12. Clocks - Coldplay
13. Here It Goes Again - OK Go
14. Love Invincible - Michael Franti + Spearhead
15. Take the Money And Run - Steve Miller (Acoustic version)
16. Sabrosa - The Beastie Boys
I made a new playlist for this weeks ride. I like the songs on it - mostly newer releases, though there are a couple of "oldie but goodies".....I'll try to be more on the ball about posting it.

Spinc Cycle 04/16-18/08

Yeah, I'm a week late, I know....but, I am better! Not all the way, but much better than I was. After some PT, it was determined to be the Psoaz muscle group that was giving me trouble, not nerves.
I've been doing the exercises that I was given, and I am now at least able to work only at a reduced level, but at least its better than not working out at all.
I did teach on the bike last week, but simply just turned my legs.
I really loved the playlist I put together.....here it is:
1.New Soul - Yael Naim
2. Supernatural Superserious - REM
3. I Don't Wanna Be - Gavin DeGraw
4. Feels Like Tonight - Daughtry
5. Funplex - B-52s (which BTW, is an amazing new release by them! Pick it up if you are a B-52s fan, it's fun, and man, are they horny)
6. Intro - The New Deal
7. I Feel Love - The New Deal (These 2 songs are a downbeat electronic version of Donna Summer's I Feel Love - really great)
8. Higher - Creed
9. Hard Sun (Main) - Eddie Vedder (need I say more?)
10. Ooh Yeah - Moby (also off his new release, which is good - lots of dance music)
11. Get Down - Groove Armada
12. Pump - B-52's
13. Love Remains the Same - Gavin Rossdale
14. Say - John Mayer

The weather is SO beautiful today, I'll be surprised if I get anyone in class tonight....
till next time....

Spin Cycle 04/09-11/08

Oh woe is me.
And, I really mean that.
Those who know me understand that an injury to my body, causing any pause in my exercise, would be DETRIMENTAL to my mental health.
Well, I don't know what the "f" I did to my back, but last Sunday, the 6th of April, around mid day, as I sat on the toilet, and then tried to get up again, but couldn't because my lower left back/hip went into spasm, I knew I was screwed.
I had a tedious rest of the day and sleep (read, I got no sleep), and tried to do some yoga on Monday morning to loosen up my back. That was a semi disaster.
I called the doc on Tuesday, and got in to see him on Wednesday. He concluded that there was a nerve coming off my spine, running into the hip area that was "aggravated".
So, I taught my classes last week, off the bike completely. I have never in 12 years of teaching done that before. It actually was pretty interesting and empowering.
Though, I felt a bit compelled to talk the entire time, I felt pretty comfortable with it.
It is killing me though, that I haven't been able to exercise, thus the "detrimental to my mental health" portion of my story.
I am going for some physical therapy on Wednesday. In the mean time, I just am damn uncomfortable.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel - I do feel a bit better, and I now can actually do a standing forward bend, as well as lift my left knee, 2 things I couldn't do at the beginning of last week.
It is my hope on Wednesday, that they tell me I can at least start light exercise, like some modified yoga flow, or even some slow cycling, or else I might just be insane when I post Spin Cycle again.
Since I knew I wouldn't be riding, I didn't want to "waste" a new playlist, so I used an old one. My students felt bad for me and were convinced that I made the class much harder to compensate for the fact that I couldn't ride. Probably, subliminally I did.
Here's the music.....first used in July of last year, in a class that our former nanny, Lynn, (who now sits for us on days that I cook), came to...

1. I don't know the title or the artist!
2. Give it to Me - Timbaland
3. Hips Don't Lie - Shakira
4. What Goes Around Comes Back Around - Justin Timberlake
5. Lets Get it Started - Black Eyed Peas
6. Pon de Replay - Rhiana
7. Life is a Highway - Rascal Flatts
8. God Digger - Kanye West
9. Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson
10. Jump - Madonna
11. Talk - Coldplay
12. Not Coming Down - moe.
13. It's Not Over - Daughtry
14. Say it Right - Nelly Furtado

I'll of course keep you posted on my status. I just might try to ride (gently) tomorrow morning, and do some upper body weights, just so I only partly lose my mind.
I happen to be working on a new playlist, so I hope I get to use it this week.
Over and out.

Spin Cycle 04/02-04/08

In Wednesday night's class I kicked my own ass, and if felt great.
I teach at one club, but in 2 locations (there are actually 5 locations). I guess April is Instructor appreciation month, which I had no idea about, and as I was beginning my class on Wed. eve, the fitness director entered the spin room. I wasn't quite sure what was going on, as she was smiling at me, but still, I was confused as to why she was coming in.
She announced to the class that it was Instructor Appreciation month, and that Wednesday was my day to be appreciated. All the students clapped, etc, and the fitness director presented me w/ and instructor tank top. It was nice, and totally unexpected. I guess that inspired me to teach harder that night.

The ride was a loop ride:
2 min down to build hill
2 min climb in 3rd
2 min jump on hill from 3rd
take resistance down a bit and band into 2nd for 2 min
jump from 2nd for 2 min
2 min acceleration seated
Repeat.
I stuck a hill on the end to finish up.
The 3 classes really liked the ride - loops always go over well....

Here's the music (some classics!!):

1. What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
2. Bohemian Like You - Dandy Warhols
3. Steve McQueen - Sheryl Crow
4. King Without A Crown - Matisyahu
5. Amazing - Seal
6. Steal My Kisses - Ben Harper
7. End of the Line - Traveling Wilburys
8. Kentucky Woman - Neil Diamond
9. You Wreck Me - Tom Petty
10. Ramblin Man - The Allman Brothers
11. Why Bother - Gomez
12. Righteously - Lucinda Williams
13. Heavy Metal Drummer - Wilco
14. Burnin' For You - Blue Oyster Cult
15. Avalon - Bryan Ferry

Have a good weekend...

Spin Cycle 03/26-28/08

I used my women in music set list to spin to last week. I don't even remember when I made the list up, but again, like last ride, I moved some songs around, added some, deleted some etc. It went over pretty big, since I teach at an all women's gym.

I also had to berate the classes again. Well, not berate, but lecture gently about making a change. I am sick of seeing people come into class and sticking the resistance in one spot and going the same speed. Nothing irks me more. There are a few people in each class that do that, and you know what? THEY NEVER CHANGE - THEIR BODIES NEVER CHANGE!
I pointed out that the change to the wheel and the change to the speed is what makes the difference and makes the change. We'll see this week if they heard me....

Here is the muzak:

1. Tomorrow Never Knows - Sheila Chandra
2. Naked Eye - Luscious Jackson
3. Black Horse and the Cherry Tree - KT Tunstall
4. Delerium - Enigma w/ Sarah McGlaughlin
5. You're Not Alone - Olive
6. U + Ur Hand - Pink
7. I've Got To Use My Imagination - Gladys Knight and the Pips
8. They - Jem
9. It Don't Mean A Thing (If it Ain't Got That Swing) - Ella Fitzgerald
10. Tell Me 'Bout It - Joss Stone
11. Ring My Bell - Anita Ward
12. Unwritten - Natasha Bedingfield
13. One Way or Another - Blondie
14. Tattooed Love Boys - The Pretenders
15. Silent House - The Dixie Chicks
16. Breathe (2AM) - Anna Nalick
New Playlist this week.......