Bolster your Routine: Your Guide to Rêve Mat Classes in 2022
And just like that, we are ushering in a New Year – it’s hard to believe that 2021 is now in our rearview mirror. With all the changes, and uncertainty that’s pushed its way into our lives over the last two years, our time spent together at the studio has become not only a staple in our every day routine, but also an outlet, meditation, and a place for connection amid constant moments of uncertainty. The new year brings a fresh beginning to start something new, or simply build upon the foundation that already exists within us. And at Rêve — we believe in building a strong foundation both on and off the bike!
If you’re a regular rider here at Rêve, you’re probably well aware of the benefits of a cardio workout. Cardio, such as spinning, running, or swimming, helps to improve your body’s ability to deliver oxygen to your muscles and organs, strengthening your heart and lungs. Regular cardio also aids in lowering blood pressure, regulates blood sugar levels, and reduces inflammation and body fat. You’ve also probably noticed that you feel positive and confident after a good ride, because aerobic workouts (cardio), lead to mental clarity and serotonin production.
Each ride at Rêve taps into those feel good vibes; a euphoric feeling that is almost indescribable (yeah — we love it too!) However, we strongly encourage a balanced approach to your workouts! If you’re doing long stretches of cardio driven movements – and you’re not training for anything – you might have noticed that after a few months of routinely doing the same thing, you begin to plateau. Classes might start to feel less challenging, or you feel all that focus on the same muscle group is causing long-term fatigue or tight areas – hip flexors, anyone?
Our incredible team of mat instructors: Nicola, Lily, Jennifer, and Amber, blend together strength based moves — off the bike in our yoga room — and incorporate little bursts of cardio, yoga flows, and intention setting into each of their uniquely designed classes that are sure to bolster your workout routine. In fact, research shows that adding strength training into a regimen full of cardio (like spinning), offers numerous health and fitness benefits.
Health and fitness professionals recommend endurance athletes add in strength training or “cross training” into their weekly workout routine. Strength training helps you create muscle that will help you in your everyday life – and certainly while you’re in spin class! Strength training also boosts your metabolism, stimulates bone growth, and will make you feel more empowered as you create strength in new muscle groups.
One specific benefit that riders notice after adding in our mat classes is increased core strength and stability. Having a strong core helps with balance and posture, and on the bike you’ll feel you can sustain out of the saddle work, choreography, and isolations more easily. Many folks who experience low back pain after a few days in a row of riding might find that focused core work will help to relieve some of that pressure in the hips and low spine.
In addition to the exercises and movements designed to build muscle, our mat classes also offer a chance to spend more time stretching and lengthening muscle groups. You’ll often hear our spin team of instructors end classes by encouraging students to stretch more than the few moments offered at the end of their class– and if you’re someone who struggles to find the time to do this – jumping into a mat class a few times a month will give you an opportunity to build that extra stretch into your schedule! Our mat instructors all have a background in yoga and incorporate time for poses that specifically target areas that are tight for riders – such as low back, hips, quads, and shoulders.
The best part? Our mat classes were created using the same philosophy behind each spin class you already know and love. Our instructors create a challenging but safe environment, teach beat-driven classes to fun playlists, and intentionally work to build community. Using equipment such as weights, resistance bands and yoga blocks, mat instructors work to keep classes dynamic and unique – we promise you’ll never get bored!