Anyone want a free spin playlist?
Good! You’re in the right place. In fact, I’ve got not one, but TWO Spotify spin playlists for ya.
But first, a little update – I got kinda very down this week. Just feeling very isolated and missing home. As much as I love Hawaii, I’m often anxious for time to pass so I can return to Cali.
BUT I don’t enjoy being a Debbie Downer so I joined Bumble BFF to meet some friends out here! I had my first “date” last night with a rad chick named Evie. It was a lot of fun and I loved her!
Definitely check out the app if you’re feeling a bit lonely in the friend department. It’s a fast and easy way to get connected with other women who are also looking for friends. But maybe tell your husband first? Mine nearly had a heart attack when a Bumble notification flashed on my phone! haha If you want more tips on how to survive moving to a new city, check out this blog post.
Now the good stuff: spin playlist time!
So honestly the main reason I miss SoCal so much is I miss spin. I LOVE IT SO MUCH. Thankfully whenever I go back to visit I still get to guest teach at my former studio, PURE Indoor Cycling in San Diego. Like seriously, I LIVE for those trips. If you’re in San Diego, definitely go check PURE out! AND I’ll be there the final week of October for another round of guest teaching, so be on the lookout for that!
I love to play the latest and greatest new releases in my classes.
I never use the same spin playlist twice and try to focus on the current best (in my opinion) songs that have come out in the past month or so. It’s everything I’m listening to and loving at that moment, which is always new. That’s just my personal preference, because whenever I go take a spin class, I’m mentally taking notes the entire time hoping to discover new music.
I’m a MUSIC PSYCHO. I love music. I can/do spend endless hours going down a Spotify rabbit hole just listening to new music and hunting out artists I’ve never heard. So I think of my classes as like a radio station playing the best in new music. But I totally do throw in older songs to shake things up when I’m teaching regularly. You’d be surprised how much work it actually takes to build a spin playlist – it’s something clients don’t really know.
We fitness instructors spend a LOT of time on putting together original playlists.
Or at least they should if they’re good, I should say. You can tell when an instructor is just streaming Pandora or using one of those 45 min nonstop covers of hit songs but like from the 90s… Anyone know what I’m talking about? (That’s the kind of spin that currently exists on the island, which is why I’m not currently teaching, btw. It’s awesome if that’s your thing! But it’s not my thing.) They’re just not as passionate about it. Some studios have rules against instructors using their own music, and I think using a company-wide playlist really cheats the class out of an awesome experience.
Anyway, I don’t really limit the songs in my spin playlist to a specific genre (I love EDM + techno pop though), but they’re obviously all very upbeat, high energy songs. Then I arrange the songs by BPM to structure a really challenging class. I also want my songs to kind of tell a story and create a sonic experience.
I’ve loved so many songs lately that I decided to make two playlists for ya this month. I use Spotify and post all my class playlists (and tons of other awesome playlists for every mood) on my account, so feel free to stalk me a little!
My favorite kind of spin is the Rhythm style, where you ride to the beat of the music, do moves on the bike, and have a kind of emotional experience through it all.
Think SoulCycle. So I build my playlists according to that type of “non-traditional” spin class. Totally cool if that’s not your thing, but I’m hoping this can help out my fellow dance-on-a-bike spin instructors out there and anyone who loves that style but doesn’t have access to a group glass.
This is a great way to get a KILLER workout by yourself!
Since I don’t have a spin studio to go to out here, I bought a used Schwinn spin bike of my own off of Craigslist for $300. My husband and I take turns listening to my most recent spin playlist and doing the whole class on our own. It’s actually a ton of fun!
And before our bike arrived with the rest of our stuff (I had to spend the first month here living in a house with only a mattress. It was… liberating?), I went to a local gym. Most larger gyms have spin-style bikes out on their floors with the rest of the cardio equipment (or they sometimes are tucked in a corner, ask at your gym if you can’t find it! Do not use a recumbent bike!). You kind of have to be willing to not give a shit what you look like if you plan to do push-up/tap-backs on your bike in front of everyone slowly moving on the ellipticals behind you while watching Bachelor in Paradise. But once you put on your headphones and close your eyes and start riding, you’ll feel so free. It’s incredible.
But of course, remember that you’re responsible for your health and safety when you work out, so I really only recommend the following classes for experienced riders. (fyi – here’s my disclaimer)
Here’s how to do use each spin playlist:
Your goal is to ride to the beat of the music (always with enough resistance that this is slightly challenging to do). You’ll do the move listed next to the song whenever the chorus drops. So it helps to maybe listen to the playlists and get familiar with the songs beforehand. You can ride in or out of the saddle (I ride primarily out). Make sure you’re watching your form!
Each class is 45 minutes long. Remember to push yourself but to always listen to your body. And have FUN!
If you have any questions about anything at all, please comment and I’ll explain anything you need!
September Spotify Spin Playlist #1
Click here to open the playlist in Spotify.
The Breakdown:
1 » Silent Skies » Drop Elbows Straight Down
2 » Sorry Not Sorry » Push Elbows Out then In
3 » 2U Remix » 2 30 second Sprints (1:58-2:28 + 3:19-3:49)
4 » Text Ur Number » Push-Up/Tap-Backs (push elbows out then slightly lunge hips back until you lightly tap the back of the saddle with your booty)
5 » Let ‘Em Talk » Tap-Backs (if out of the saddle) OR Triceps Crunches (drop elbows straight down while in the saddle)
6 » The Man » Figure 8s (move your hips to back of your saddle, then the front, moving your torso side to side like you’re tracing a figure 8)
7 » Feel Good Remix » 2 30 second Sprints (1:06-1:36 + 2:45-3:15)
8 » Your Song Remix » Weights (grab a couple hand weights and do whatever upper body exercises you like – you can get off the bike or stay on, sitting upright in the saddle)
9 » What Would I Change It To » Just ride. (no fancy moves – just reflect)
10 » Dawn » 1 60 second Sprint (I know – 1:14-2:14) followed by 1 45 second Sprint (4:07-4:52)
11 » The Louvre » Stretch (seriously – take a couple minutes and DO IT)
12 » We Did It » A song to make sure you walk away from your workout feeling like the badass you are.
September Spotify Spin Playlist #2
Click here to open the playlist in Spotify.
1 » Silence » Drop Elbows Straight Down
2 » All My Love Remix » 2 30 sec Sprints (1:16-1:46 + 2:48-3:18)
3 » Look What You Made Me Do » Travels (move hips to back of saddle for two counts then forward to the front of the saddle for two counts)
4 » Falls » Push Elbows Out then In
5 » You Don’t Do It For Me Anymore » A Waltz! Crunch side to side every count of three.
(This is a little tricky. Let’s break it down. The counts go 1 2 3, 1 2 3. It does help if you’ve ever learned how to dance a waltz before, but you’ll eventually get it. Normal counts in music go 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8, so we do moves based on 2 or 4 counts. That’s totally different in a waltz, so stick to those counts of 3. You’ll step Right Left Right, Left Right Left, Right Left Right, Left Right Left, over and over again. It does actually help to say that out loud, and emphasize that first beat. Then, when the chorus hits, you’ll do an oblique crunch to that side with your torso, dropping that elbow down. So you’ll crunch Right (2…3…), Left (2…3…) and so on. If that’s totally confusing just focus on nailing that dance with your feet.)
6 » No Limit » Tap-Backs (if out of the saddle) OR Triceps Crunches (drop elbows straight down while in the saddle)
7 » Da Da Ding » Figure 8s (move your hips to back of your saddle, then the front, moving your torso side to side like you’re tracing a figure 8)
8 » Jealousy » Push-Up/Tap-Backs (push elbows out then slightly lunge hips back until you lightly tap the back of the saddle with your booty)
9 » Space Jam » 2 30 sec Sprints (1:18-1:48 + 2:26-3:06)
10 » Wild Thoughts Remix » Weights (if you’re on your own, grab a couple hand weights and do whatever upper body exercises you like – you can get off the bike or stay on, sitting upright in the saddle)
11 » Younger Now » Just ride. (no fancy moves – just reflect)
12 » Attention Remix » 1 30 sec sprint (1:10-1:40) followed by 1 40 sec sprint (2:25-3:05)
13 » I Could Fight On A Wall » Stretch (seriously – take a couple minutes and DO IT)
14 » Show Of Hands » A song to make sure you walk away from your workout feeling like the badass you are.