As we enter into 2010, it’s hard not to get caught up in some of the lists that are giving credit to the best and worst that 2009 had to offer.
Best sports play, most fascinating person, greatest athlete, best movie, biggest scandal and of course, biggest news story were some of the lists that were dominating the headlines as the clock wound down on 2009.
That being said, we here at ExerciseToronto.com could not help ourselves from giving our ‘two-cents’ on one of these top ten lists… But of course, with a little bit of an Exercise TO spin.
Because we are a niche website that is exercised focused and exclusively focused on the Greater Toronto Area, we thought it would be a cool idea to generate a list of the: “Top Ten Spin Class Songs of 2009.”
To get to the bottom of this, we had to go straight to the source. We had to pick the brains of the individuals who not only lead spin classes, but the ones who actually choose the songs that exercise enthusiasts ride to.
We polled seven spin class instructors from across the GTA to find out what tracks were dominating their spin classes at the end of 2009.
(Admittedly, polling seven instructors in no way is a scientific poll…However, for the purpose of amusement and to at least scratch the surface of the GTA spin class industry, we feel it’s as close a representation as there is!)
The Top Ten Spin Class Songs of 2009 (As Voted By Seven Toronto Spin Class Instructors)
(Press Play To Listen)
No doubt, this list is sure to raise some eyebrows. So we sat down with Vaughan based, spin class instructor, Katherine Shields to get a better understanding of this list and the reasons for her ranking:
Exercise Toronto: Katherine, first of all, we have to say this list is quite interesting. There seems to be a variety of genres within it, as an instructor what exactly are you looking for when selecting songs for a spin class?
KS: “Well there are a few things that I feel are important to take into consideration when selecting a classes’ playlist:
a) First, I want something that the whole class is going to enjoy. It’s not uncommon for me to have a number of playlists in mind before a class begins and end up selecting the playlist that I feel will mesh best with the demographic of the participants.
b) Second, Variety. Variety is hugely important. For example, you don’t want to play to much dance early in the class, causing people to burn out… There is a gradual curve to a spin class, and I generally like to the start the class with something upbeat, but slower paced, such as the Kings of Leon song on the list.
c) The third thing I consider is the appropriateness of the music. People don’t come to a spin class to be brought down by negative lyrics and profanity, so the appropriateness of a song is a major key.”
Exercise Toronto: There are two Lady Gaga songs listed in the top three of the list…. What gives?
KS: “Haha, well I can’t say that I’m surprised! (Lady) Gaga is everywhere these days, she has certainly taken the music world by storm. I think she’s refreshing… She has a great sound, puts on a great performance, and nearly everyone in all my classes likes her.
It’s actually really interesting. As a teacher, I get to watch the effort that the people in the class put out, as well as the expressions on their face. And every time a Lady Gaga song comes on, you see smiles across the room, as well as maximum effort on the bike… So I totally think that her ranking on this list is warranted and justified.”
Exercise Toronto: Overall, do you agree with the list and the rankings of the songs?
KS: You know what, yea I do. 2009, was a great year for music. And I think this list is a pretty accurate representation of this year’s hit songs and where music is headed in 2010.
There is one thing that I think is worth mentioning… There are no Michael Jackson songs on the list. I can tell you that I played a lot of Michael Jackson in my class this year, as did my colleagues. But I understand that this list is only polling the NEW music of 2009, and not the most commonly played songs…
If it were the other way around, I’m sure we would see a lot more of ‘Thriller,’ ‘Smooth Criminal’ and ‘Beat It’ on there… As well as some ‘Pour Some Sugar on Me’ and ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ by Journey!
Exercise Toronto: After only talking to you for a few minutes, it’s clear that spin classes are a passion of yours. How did you get started in the industry?
KS: Back in 2001 I took my first spinning class, and immediately became hooked. After that first class, I made it out to every class that I could, it became an addiction as I saw my whole body reshaping… I started seeing muscles in areas I never knew had muscles.
I started teaching classes in 2004, and am now a firm believer that there is no better form of exercise than spinning. It allows for an intense workout, at your own pace, in a communal atmosphere.
Exercise Toronto: Thank you for your time Katherine. All the best moving forward.
KS: Thank you so much for reaching out to me… All the best to you.
Katherine Shields is a freelance spin class instructor with an active presence in the exercise community of York Region (Specifically Vaughan & Richmond Hill). She is a graduate of York University in Kinesiology. Currently she holds certifications in Can-Fit-Pro, Reebok Spin, Pilates Mat and Body Combat.
She can be reached at: Katherine.Spinning@Gmail.com
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Exercise Toronto.com Staff
We want to hear your thoughts on the top ten list created by Toronto’s Spin Class Instructors… Please leave a comment!
