Silent Devotion

Once you reach a point in time where high impact aerobic activities leave your joints aching, you’ll want to consider something equally as effective but less bone jarring. While jogging and aerobic classes are great workouts, they’re stressful on your joints. If you’re considering other alternatives, you might enjoy indoor cycling or spinning classes.

Having added indoor cycling and spin classes to my workout regimen a few months ago, I can tell you the benefits have a positive impact. Weight loss, increased energy level, and more restful sleep are just a few. Even so, I almost walked away from these classes not long after I started.

If you’re just getting back into working out aerobically after a long layoff, you’ll need to reacclimate. A key element is a concept called aerobic base building, which basically means establishing a base level of aerobic fitness. Just as it’s important to build a solid foundation for your house, it’s equally important for your fitness level.

Build Your Aerobic Base: The 3 Steps

There are three factors you’ll need to consider, and accept, when building your aerobic base. With indoor cycling, you’ll typically have display monitors telling you how hard and how long you’re working, which is quite helpful. The same is true with spinning classes, as most instructors will check in with students and ask questions during the class to monitor exertion level. Let’s look at each of the three factors.

Step One: Your Target Heart Rate

First, you’ll need to know your target heart rate. Your target heart rate is a range that’s 65% to 80% of your maximum heart rate. Determining your maximum heart rate is easy — just subtract your age from 220. Then, multiply that rate by 65% to get the lower end of your target rate, and by 80% to get the upper end. As an example, I’m 46, so my maximum heart rate is 174. 65% of 174 is 113, and 80% of 174 is 139. That means I should strive to pedal at an exertion level that makes my heart beat between 113 and 139 times per minute.

Step Two: It’ll Take Some Time

Expect to build your aerobic base over a 6 to 8 week time frame, possibly longer if you’ve been inactive for a while. Plan to gradually challenge yourself so you can maintain your target heart rate for a longer period of time. Remember, the longer you work out at your target zone, the more fat you’ll burn.

Step Three: Endurance And Intensity

Once you’ve built your aerobic base and know your target heart rate, it’s time to challenge yourself. Add to the length of time you work out, and push yourself a bit harder. You’ll find as you become more fit, you’ll need to challenge yourself to reach your target heart rate. That’s good, because it means your heart is healthier, you’ve attained increased cardiac output, and you’re more fit overall.

After a few weeks at most, you’ll begin to notice the positive effects of indoor cycling. You’ll have more energy, you’ll sleep better, and if you watch your diet you’ll lose weight as well. If high impact exercises cause your joints to ache, you’ll find spinning classes and indoor cycling to be a very viable and challenging alternative.