Spinning and kickboxing are both gym trends that have proven to be lasting attractions. Both offer a vigorous workout, yet the two disciplines cater to different audiences. You don't have to be Jean-Claude Van Damme to enjoy a kickboxing class and you don't have to be Lance Armstrong to get a kick out of spinning, but you should have a good idea of what you're getting into before you step into either of these intense pursuits.
Calories Burned
In a study conducted by Dr. Herman Falsetti and published in the spinning instructor's manual, subjects were found to burn an average of 475 calories in a 40-minute spinning class. That works out to about 356 calories in 30 minutes of effort. This is roughly comparable to kickboxing which, according to Harvard Health Publications, will burn anywhere from 300 to 444 calories in half an hour of exercise, depending on your body weight.
Muscles Worked
Spinning focuses primarily on your glutes, hamstrings and quads. On vary rare occasions you'll use your upper body to support some of your weight on your bike; otherwise, spinning is strictly a lower-body activity.
Kickboxing, on the other hand, works your entire body and focuses more on integrated motions involving your upper and lower extremities and your core.
Function
Spinning may be used as an intense cardio workout, to tone your lower body or as training for a competitive cyclist.
Kickboxing, like other martial arts, may be practiced as a means to developing self-discipline or self-esteem, as a way of learning to protect yourself or to burn calories and tone muscles. You might also train to kickbox competitively or to supplement mixed martial arts training.
Equipment
Spinning, obviously enough, requires a spinning bike. If you're phenomenally self-disciplined you can purchase a spinning bike and put yourself through solo workouts, but for most exercisers the group environment contributes to the spinning experience. Instead of purchasing a bike, put your money toward joining a gym that offers spinning classes.
Theoretically kickboxing doesn't require any equipment, but you'll learn much better and faster from a professional teacher than you would on your own from a DVD or online lesson, and you may find some equipment, like a heavy bag, not to mention the company of a sparring partner, to be useful in your training.
Types
While spinning workouts will vary based on the teacher's training, style and mood, you can rest assured that you'll get a kick-ass bike workout. If you're looking to start kickboxing lessons, you should always clarify whether you're enrolling in actual kickboxing classes or aerobic kickboxing. The latter is modeled on the former, but shouldn't be mistaken for an actual martial art or form of self-defense, because aerobic kickboxing focuses purely on burning calories.
Posted in: Kickboxing