Miriam Bilander, BSRV Program Manager, writes about this accessible Spin class in Pascoe Vale.
In most Australian gyms and leisure centres, you will find a room filled with stationary exercise bikes, each incorporating a weighted flywheel. During the week, these rooms will be filled with people huffing and puffing doing a class called “Spin” or “RPM" (Reps per minute), whereby an enthusiastic instructor directs riders to cycle fast or slow, with more or less resistance, stand up or sit down, take a breather or push the limits, all to the sounds of loud motivational music. Within seconds of joining a class like this, one feels their cardio system kick in and an electrifying sense of freedom.
On Friday the 11th of August, Blind Sports & Recreation Victoria’s Program Manager, Miriam, coordinated an Introduction to Spin Classes at the Oak Park Sports & Aquatic Centre in Pascoe Vale, Melbourne, for adults with vision loss.
Out of the eight people who came along, seven had never done a spin class before and four had never even heard of this activity previously. The result was a resounding zest and zeal for this form of exercise.
One participant, for example, said, “The program was so accessible and achievable. It wasn’t just hopping on a bike and peddling, it was a whole program, and doing it to music just pumps you up. I loved it!”
After the work-out, the group gathered in the café area for a well earned coffee, pastry and social catch-up.
Thank you to the Merri-bek City Council Community Grants Program, as well as the team at Oak Park Sports & Aquatic Centre who were so inclusive and welcoming on the day. Thank you also to wonderful BSRV volunteer, Liz Denham.
