January 2014

312 330

HEALTH&FITNESS
312 January14
Spinning in water? As a self-confessed
addict of spinning on dry land, I just had
to give it a try. Here’s what you can expect
from an Aqua Spin class.
Before the class
As the classes take place in open air swimming
pools (are there any indoor ones in Singapore?),
slap on the sunscreen, your swimmers, socks if you
think your feet may be sensitive to the pedal fins,
and don’t forget your towel. Bring drinking water if
you like, but they do provide cups of water halfway
through the session.
In the pool
Trainers and Aqua Spin owners Yannick and Alicia
place the stationary bikes (ten in total) in the pool,
well spaced out. They’re submerged, apart from
the handlebars, and the pedals have a yellow “fin”
covering them. I swiftly find out that this makes
them even harder to pedal in the water.
Alicia stands at the end of the pool, music blaring
to get us going, and the warm-up begins, working
the legs at 50 percent, 75 percent and then 100
percent capacity. We’re clearly instructed to move
into various positions, working at different levels
to target several areas of the body and build up
our cardio fitness.
The class isn’t all legwork, although there’s plenty
of that, with more variety than in a normal gym
Times
and Cost
Aqua Spin
classes are run
from Monday
to Saturday, at
the British Club,
the Polo Club,
the Swiss Club,
Serangoon Country
Club, One Degree
15 and the Tanglin
Club. Classes can
also be arranged in
private pools, with
group sessions
starting at $70 per
person for a group
of three, to $45 for
a group of six or
more.
Water WheelsBy Amy Brook-Partridge
spinning class. We work on biceps and triceps, and
even do a series of sit-ups whilst lying back on our
seat with our feet gripping onto the handlebars.
The class finishes with a series of high-intensity
sprints, culminating in us using our hands to keep
us balanced in the water, while giving 100 percent
with our legs.
After the class
I’m not going to lie: the class was tough, and I
expected to feel some soreness or tightness in
my legs the next day. However, the fact that you’re
exercising in water actually means you’re also
getting a gentle massage at the same time, and this
helps to reduce the amount of lactic acid build-up in
the thighs and consequently reduces muscle pain.
The best bits
According to Yannick, you can expect to burn 800
calories or more in a class. What’s more, it can
help break down cellulite and reduce the risk of
varicose veins and water retention.
And finally…
Due to the buoyancy of the water, the exercise
is suitable for any level of fitness, from novice
to triathlete. Aqua Spin has also just launched
dedicated prenatal classes, on Monday mornings
at the Polo Club. The exercise is ideal for mums-
to-be: you can keep cool while exercising, and the
water reduces any stress on the body.
AQUA SPIN