The Country's First Underwater Spinning Class

by Grace Clarke

The Spinning frenzy has reached such a fever pitch, we're now officially onto the next wave. No, really: After sweeping over France, aquatic spinning hit the U.S. last week with the opening of Aqua Studio in New York City. The underwater workout has been lauded as restorative, rejuvenating, and amazing, and when it comes to the dimly lit, cavernous space in TriBeCa, that's all true! Lowered showerheads (to preserve blowouts, which stay dry during the workout), organic bath products, rough-hewn wooden beams, and dark stone tiling--the ambiance is so heavenly, it's practically a spa. Just one tiny problem: When I was actually in the water, I was so bored.

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Spinning at Aqua Studio is a lot like "dry" Spinning at a place like SoulCycle--thumping beats; yogic, inspirational instruction; constant action and motion. But because the water is supporting your body weight, when you hoist yourself up out of the saddle (that's off of the seat, for non-Spinners), you aren't working against gravity in the same way. It just isn't all that difficult. The session felt more like splashing around in a swimsuit, wearing jelly shoes (that's them below), and having a little dance party on a bike. Fun, but not exactly hardcore.

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After class, I felt lighter and more buoyant, and I smelled of eucalyptus. But I wasn't sore or red-faced. Mind you, this isn't a turnoff to everyone: My editor just finished reading the paragraph above and said, "You don't sweat and it isn't hard? Sounds like my kind of Spinning!" But I'll pass on the aquatic novelty in the future and sweat it out on land. Sometimes, you don't need to reinvent the (Fly)wheel.



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