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Need A New Workout For 2015? Try Spinning

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Are you ready to try a new way to get fit and stay fly? All week long we'll be showcasing different workouts for you to try heading into the New Year.

Tuesday, the experts at Surge Cycling brought their spinning class on WCCO This Morning to show us the craze with cycling and how it can keep you fit in 2015. Instructors Donald McFarland and Chris Cronick were in studio to talk about the benefits of spinning.

Surge Cycling, located in St. Louis Park, offers group spinning classes. They say one of the biggest benefits is that it's a group workout that everyone attending can get something out of.

"It's simply the energy that it brings. It's hard to work out when you're alone," McFarland said. "It's hard to really stay focused and get your adrenaline moving. Group exercise really harnesses the energy of everyone in the room, when everybody is working hard."

Experts in spinning say you should really focus on pedaling to the groove of the music.

"Music is the lifeblood of our studio. It really is the heartbeat of what we do," Cronick said. "As instructors, we're all so passionate about it, we change our playlists weekly. We're kind of DJ's on a bike."

So what are some good tips for someone thinking about trying spinning for the first time in 2015?

"Anybody and everybody can do this. It's like riding a bike," McFarland said. "You can be a beginner or you can be experienced and still get a great workout."

He says the key is to work hard, stay safe and have a great experience. Because you're on a bike, you can adjust the workout for yourself. You can go as fast as you're comfortable with, and adjust the gears on the bike as you see fit. As the gears go up, it's harder to pedal so you can start low and work your way up.

Many people who are avid spinners have special shoes for it, but are they really necessary?

"They do help, they do fire different muscles," Cronick said. "But in our studio we rent them, so you can come in brand new to cycling and try them out."

In a 55 to 60-minute spinning workout, McFarland estimates you can burn about 600 calories. The harder you go, the more calories you can burn.

Need A New Workout For 2015? Try Spinning

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