Why spin class will get your cogs whirring

1 min read

Feeling lacklustre now summer’s long gone? One 30-minute workout could be all it takes to reboot your motivation and restore your sunny disposition

CLICK YOUR MIND INTO A HIGHER GEAR
WORDS: SCARLETT WRENCH. PHOTOGRAPHY: JOBE LAWRENSON; GETTY IMAGES

01 SPIN TO WIN

02 CLASS ACTION

We’d forgive anyone who finds the preternatural enthusiasm of spin instructors a little alienating. Who, after all, is that happy before 6am? And midway through hill climbs, no less. But, according to the latest science, there might be good reason for their gusto – and you can harness it for yourself, too.

In a study by Iowa State University, 30 volunteers who were experiencing symptoms of depression were assigned to either a half-hour indoor cycling session or asked to sit and rest for the allotted time. All participants were quizzed on their mental state before, during and after the task to gain insights into their mood, their capacity for pleasure and enjoyment, and their cognitive function (ie, their ability to think clearly and process lots of information at once).

Not only did the cycling group report feeling brighter both during and after their workout, their moods remained elevated for at least 75 minutes after they’d hopped off and towelled down.

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