Spinning takes on new meaning at holiday time

Audiences love the message that Jeff MacInnis delivers. As the leader of the first team to sail the Northwest
Passage, captain of a top 10 Eco-Challenge Team, a World Cup downhill ski racer, avid cyclist, best-selling author and entrepeneur, Jeff makes time to teach the Wednesday morning spinning class at the Fitness Institute. Come rain, or shine, sleet, or snow, he makes the trek from Mississauga to the club at Victoria Park and Sheppard, to get in by 6:00am. He’s built an avid following of regular spinners, and has coined the term “Team Wednesday” to give new meaning to getting up to make a break-of-dawn fitness class.

Each Wednesday morning is a treat for those of us who get up early to make his class. But holiday time is always a special time. The group pulls together a spin class of epic proportions. And this is probably the 4th year we’ve been doing it. Jeff brings the decorations and Santa costume, and people chip in with champagne, egg-nog, baked treats, and other goodies. And the background spinning tunes change their beat. You won’t hear the typical Madonna, Yolanda Be Cool, or techno-music pounding at this morning class, but rather, the beat of Christmas songs with a much gentler rhythm. And heart rates still get up over 140 beats per minute. It all seems to work.

And so it was, this past Wednesday, December 22nd, when all 25 spin bikes were taken, and there was standing room only for this annual event. No tickets were sold in advance. The party wasn’t subsidized by the club. It was just a bunch of people who love to spin, doing a bit of planning, and getting together to make it happen. That’s how things seem to work at the Fitness Institute.

Until we do it again next year!

Before you leave, spend a couple of minutes looking at the rest of the pictures from the party. Then you’ll get a first-hand sense of what it was like to be there.

If you were one of the spinners at this party, we’d love to hear some of your thoughts. Feel free to leave your comments below.