Attend a spin class.

“Everyone cycles with seeming ease. I, meanwhile, trudge one leg after another with great effort, thinking only of Hannah’s promise of “recovery” because I am already experiencing quite a lot of discomfort. There’s no other way to put this: being on the bike hurts my bottom. [...] At this point, my legs are burning and I have no choice but to sit and pedal, which hurts elsewhere. I’m alternating between two uncomfortable situations and unable to escape either because my feet are locked to the bike. It is literally a vicious cycle.”

“I went to spin class twice a week for 3 months before I didn’t feel like jumping off my bike and leaving 10 minutes in. Now almost 2 years later, cycling is like breathing and I can push myself way harder than I ever imagined.”

“But I am so glad I went. The class was… fun? The lights and music took my mind off of the actual exercise, and having the lights turned off makes it easier for me to focus on myself instead of comparing how I was doing with everyone else. Plus, the instructor was so fun and motivating! He was so enthusiastic, which makes it better for everyone. It was like all the benefits of personal and group exercise rolled into one workout.”