Strap yourself into some shoes and prepare a gel cushion for your butt at XYZ, the city's premiere indoor cycling studio that will have you toned in no time
Looking for a new way to get your sweat on this year? We hear you! We love cutting shapes at these dance classes, taking things alfresco at these outdoor fitness classes in Hong Kong, and stretching it out at the city’s best yoga studios, but we also have a secret… somewhere we go when we want to feel the endorphins race through our veins in a matter of minutes, and that place is called XYZ.
What is XYZ?
In a nutshell, XYZ is an indoor cycling studio, but it’s a spin studio that’s been elevated to the highest level of fabulousness. Disco ball? Check. Coloured lights? Check. Bangin’ soundsystem? Check. Amazing instructors who challenge you but don’t frighten you? Check, check, check.
Also, the locker rooms at XYZ are really nice and tidy and the staff are super helpful, especially for beginners – case and point, on my first ride they made sure my seat was fitted with a gel cushion so my posterior was comfy (now that’s service!)
What are the classes like?
Short answer: varied.
Long answer: classes at XYZ are kind of like bike dancing, which isn’t really a thing, but if it was, then this is what it would be like. You’re not just going up and down in your seat, like you do at many other spin studios, but there are all types of up and down and roundabout movements that get incorporated into the beats of the mighty fine music.
I’ll admit, it does sound tricky, especially when your just trying to make sure you’re pedalling fast enough to keep up with the rhythm, but I found the instructors really good at ensuring that beginners just stuck with leg movements and forgot about all the really difficult moves at the start.
Over the course of the three classes I tried, I was able to bust out some of the moves along with the regulars, and I think it wouldn’t take too long to have them totally down.
XYZ also offers a Breathe class that blends spin, meditation and stretch. This was a great way to spend an hour just focusing on myself and forgetting about work etc. while still getting some cardio in, and that post-meditative glow.
What kind of results do you get at XYZ?
Honestly, I’ve grown up riding a bike, from mountain biking in New Zealand to hooning around town on my foldable Hummer in Seoul, and I love how cycling keeps you fit. After just three classes at XYZ, my thighs were becoming visibly defined and my legs just felt stronger, but don’t think that they’re the only part of your body getting a workout. Between the weights they throw in and the dance moves I spoke of earlier, this is one full body workout where you’re actually going to see results quite quickly. Plus it’s addictive, so there’s that.
With its location in Central, the hardest thing about starting out at XYZ will be finding the right elevator up to the studio.
XYZ, 2/F, New World Tower II, 18 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong, p. 2865 0999, 中環皇后大道中16-18號新世界大廈2座
