Indoor Cycling has been shown to provide many benefits to health and wellness. According to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) if you are looking for a cardiovascular workout that offers a large expenditure of energy with minimal impact on your hips, knees and ankles, indoor cycling is an excellent option in both areas.
If you are recovering from addiction or alcoholism, Indoor Cycling can be a great way to alleviate stress and promote overall health and wellness.
The ACSM specifically mentions the following fitness benefits with regard to indoor cycling:
1. Cardiovascular
ACSM recommends that healthy adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week. Exercise recommendations can be achieved through 30-60 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise (five days per week) or 20-60 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise (three days per week). An indoor cycling class can keep your heart rate well within a vigorous range for approximately 45-60 minutes. As with all continuous cardiovascular activity, an indoor cycling program can help lower the risk of coronary artery disease.
2. Lowered Stress Levels
You have probably heard of the term “runner’s high.” Surprisingly, it’s not uncommon to see many runners participating in indoor cycling classes. An indoor cycling class can provide that same rush of adrenaline and a release of those happy-mood inducing neurotransmitters known as endorphins. Endorphins are known to create feelings of euphoria, lower stress level and enhance the body’s immune response.
3. Increased Muscular Endurance
Muscular endurance refers to the ability of a muscle to continually and repeatedly exert force over an extended period of time. Indoor cycling classes has the participant pedaling against resistance, which can greatly increase the endurance of the muscles in the legs: quadriceps, hamstrings, gluteus, and even the calf muscles.
4. Low Impact
Indoor cycling is a low-impact activity. People recovering from orthopedic injuries often participate in indoor cycling as part of the rehabilitation process. If cycling is done correctly, there is minimal impact on the hip, knee, and ankle joints. A person, whether recovering from injury or not, avoids the pounding associated with other activities such as running.