Sweaty is Sexy

"Sweaty is Sexy." A little plaque with this statement rests on the front desk of one of the gyms where I teach classes. It is owned by 2 women, and has a high percentage of women clientele, all of whom work impressively hard. In an "image is everything" environment, it's a great reminder that it's a good thing to sweat. I love to sweat. When I was pregnant, one of the things I missed the most was working up a really good sweat. So, I am often surprised when I meet people who hate it. I work hard not to judge the person who comes into the already over-air conditioned Spinning room and asks for the air to be turned up higher. Maybe it's because I sweat so much during a workout. Yeah, I'm the girl who leaves the puddle under the bike. Sexy? That's your call, but it feels so great. On a physical level, it's so healthy for the body. Among other things, it's a release of toxins, like a quickie internal cleanse. On a mental level, it also feels releasing, like all of the negativity and stress is, literally, pouring out. One of my favorite moments during a class is when, after some time climbing, we hit a fast seated flat for an extended period of time, and the sweat really flows. Very early on in the evolution of Spinning, there was a Schwinn ad campaign that talked about feeling that first trickle of sweat running down your back. I get it...that image has stayed with me all these years.

I am supposed to take part in a Native American-based sweat lodge experience this weekend, which I have always wanted to do. Plans may have to be postponed, but I am looking forward to the experience, whenever it happens. I find that staying still and sweating, like in a sauna, requires a different kind of energy. When exercising, it feels secondary. But, when I am still, it feels like surrender...the act of letting go and letting the body do it's job.

Today's class is one of my all-time favorites. We ride 4 loops...each loop has the same elements to it, but the tempo is really quick the whole way through. Happy sexy sweaty Spinning!


4 Loopspin

1. Do Your Thing/Basement Jaxx (warm-up)
2. Dangerous Power (Cicada Full Vocal Mix)/Gabriel & Dresden
3. The Way I Are/Timbaland
4. U + Ur Hand (BeatCult Remix)/P!nk
5. Sanctuary (Radio Edit)/Origene or Mercy/Duffy
6. Take Me Out/Franz Ferdinand
7. The Rockafeller Skank/Fatboy Slim
8. Blinded By the Light (Radio Mix)/Royal Melody
9. Black Horse and the Cherry Tree (Radio Version)/KT Tunstall
10. Future Lovers/Madonna
11. Unwritten (Johnny Vicious Club Mix)/Natasha Bedingfield
12. After Tonight/Justin Nozuka (cool-down)
13. Landslide (Acoustic)/Fleetwood Mac
14. Longing/Ty Burhoe

Comments

gosisterhood said…
I agree--I love the feeling of sweating during a spin class. When the room is warm, I feel more connected to the ride and I block out anything else that is going on in my life...Sometimes going back to basics is great. Go Rocky Balboa!! Go Jen!!!
August 15, 2008 at 6:22 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

the "I Can't Wait Until March" playlist

Image
I am a huge U2 fan.  I even met them when I was a teenager.  They walked into the tiny "greasy spoon" diner where I was working, only a few days after I had seen the Joshua Tree tour. I served Bono a bagel with cream cheese, was invited to join them at their table and we had a nice chat.  Over the past few weeks, I have heard increasing buzz about the new album being released during the first week of March.  So, I thought, in honor of that and St. Patrick's day, I'd do an hour ride to just U2 music...in March. I've been going through volumes of music, trying to decide which ones to include. There could be numerous playlists. Problem is, I'm so psyched about it, now I can't wait to ride it.  So, it will be on sometime this week...and again in March with, hopefully, some brand new stuff....until then.... 1.  City of Blinding Lights (2005 Live from Milan) Let's warm it up... 2.  One (Achtung Baby) Getting up and over one big hill, right away.  STC the who...
Read more

#17

Image
Let's talk about sex and the Spin room. Did I get your attention? Just about a year ago, there was a Facebook challenge going around among my friends to list 200 things about yourself. They could be random, deep, factual, opinions, whatever you wanted. It was actually a great challenge and I highly recommend it. Very telling, introspective and also amusing to see how the mind works. I offered up some small facts and some deep comments, but it was #17 that got the most attention..from every one who read it. It said: "I know what you are like in the bedroom by the way you ride the bike." Come on, instructors, you know exactly what I mean. And, if you don't, have fun in your next class. It became a hot topic of conversation, among students and instructors, with interesting stories coming out all over the place. I'm not sure exactly what it is, but there is something about sex and the Spin room. I think it's a combination of things: the "obvious...
Read more

Balance. The 9/22/10 playlist.

Image
So, this go-to ride is archived here sometime back in 2008, but I had a request for the playlist from today, so I'm posting it again.  The playlist is slightly different, the profile is slightly different, I am slightly different.  Everything grows and changes, as is evidenced by the trees changing colors, the leaves floating to the ground and the fact that I can make eye contact with my oldest son without looking down.  Today is the equinox, a time of perfect balance, day and night, dark and light.  I've been super busy and have only had a glimpse of where my balance is today....time to check-in, assess, and, yes, grow.  p.s. As it has been lately, there are some mash-ups that made their way into this playlist.  If you want them directly, drop me an email. Roller Coaster Ride Playlist: 1. I Feel the Way Love Goes/Mash-up 2. Everybody Got Their Something/Nikka Costa 3. Disturbia/Rihanna 4. Do It!/Von Iva 5. So Fine in the Sun/Mash-up of Weezer (Isla...
Read more