The Nazi

This week was pretty much a bust for me as far as cycling. I made it to Spinning on Monday and Saturday, but was not able to get outdoors. My priority this weekend was the Easter Bunny, since my kids were home, including my little 19 month old granddaughter. Now that all the festivities are over, it's time to work hard this week.

With that said, let me just say that Saturday's spin class was not what I had hoped for. Two good things occurred ... I got a good workout and I liked most of the music (with the exception of some stupid rap song ... I don't even know how that stuff can be considered music). But the good was overshadowed by Nazi Woman!

The normal instructor for this particular class is a wonderful leader for the group. She incorporates mind, body, and soul into the workout. Her music is always inspiring, she coaches us through the class, and she is just an overall nice person.

Apparently, she had a conflict this Saturday and could not be there. Instead, we got Nazi Woman. The Nazi was the first spinning instructor I ever had, and I vowed to never go to another of her classes. She is a crazy woman. She never, I mean NEVER, shuts her mouth. Try to practice deep breathing and forget about all your daily stresses when she is screeching the lyrics of "Celebrate" at the top of her lungs (her all-time favorite song, by the way, which means she knows every freaking word!) And that was just the warm-up! If she had a pleasant voice, it might be tolerable. But her voice is like hearing someone scrape their fingernails across a chalkboard. Oooh, just typing those words makes me shudder.

If you are new to spinning, she would make you feel like you have to kill yourself even if you think your heart is going to explode. There is no time for checking your heart rate, no time for checking and controlling your breathing, no time for checking your cadence, no recovery period whatsoever between songs. It's extremely frustrating, which takes the joy out of the class.

The Nazi's favorite thing to say is "Add resistance". Let me rephrase that ... her favorite saying is "ADD RESISTANCE!!!!!" I mean, if I would have added any more resistance, the wheel would not be spinning anymore. At one point, I almost threw my water bottle at her! I was so frustrated that halfway through the class, I almost walked out. But I decided I was not going to let her loud mouth stop me from getting the workout I needed.

So from now on, I will keep ear plugs in my tote bag in the event the Nazi appears. I thought about listening to my Ipod, but she is obnoxious enough to ask me what the heck I'm doing and to make a big production about it.

Okay, I'm done venting. On to more positive things ...