So, you've braved the crazy lines at the gym to work off those holiday meals and shape up for spring. You know the ins and outs of the MBNA Fitness Center -- but one thing remains rather mysterious.
As you walk down the hall, you hear music coming from a hidden hallway just outside the fitness center.
The motivating music, enthusiastic cheering and energetic voice over the microphone are the sounds of Penn State fitness' best-kept secret: the Indoor Cycling Studio.
During the day, the cycling studio -- located in room 45 White Building, down the little hallway just past the old locker rooms and off to the right -- may look just as desolate as the hallway itself. But almost every evening, the gray room with 30 bikes lined up in a row comes alive with students looking to tone up, slim down and have fun.
An indoor cycling class offers one of the best sweats of your life. The instructor will lead you through a 45-minute workout that begins with a brief warm-up. Following the warm-up period, you will ride at various speeds, resistance levels and intensities. The class ends with a relaxing cool-down and stretch.
Cycling is great for those who are new to the fitness world, as well as those who are regular gym-goers looking to work hard. The class allows you to make the workout your own by stepping it up or toning it down a bit to maintain your own comfort level. This allows you to push yourself to your max, but also requires some self-motivation and desire to do your best.
The secret to workout intensity is the "resistance knob." This little black knob in the center of the bike is what gauges your workout; the more you turn it up, the harder you will work, the more you will sweat and the more calories you will burn.
The key to getting a good workout in a cycling class is to show up. I'm not saying you can just sit on the bike for 45 minutes and become any lighter, firmer or flatter. But I can promise you that with dedication and self-motivation, adding cycling workouts into your regular fitness routine will be one of the best things you do this year.
You need a current Penn State fitness membership to get into a cycling class. Stop by the fitness bulletin board in the White Building and look at the cycling schedule, or go to www.psu.edu/dept/fitness/schedule.htm. Then follow the music to the Indoor Cycling Studio. You won't regret it.
