Cycle-Yoga: Spinning and Yoga Come Together

What other group fitness class can blast 500 calories in an hour and simultaneously strengthen and sculpt your entire body, especially your arms and abs? The answer is a new blend of yoga and spinning: Cycle-Yoga. Most gym classes are geared either to fat-blasting aerobics or strength training but very few can claim the benefits of both.

While blitzing hundreds of calories pedaling, a cyclist's posture contributes to muscle tension and imbalance since the spine is constantly flexed forward over the handlebars. In order to achieve overall flexibility and balanced muscle groups -- and to sidestep common injuries -- a biker desperately needs yoga to sculpt the abs, balance upper and lower body muscles and get out all the kinks. There are several progressive two-for-one classes at health clubs around the county, and while there aren't DVDs of this dynamic duo yet, stay tuned to That's Fit and we'll keep you posted.

Cycle-Yoga
Where: Bodies in Motion, Century City, Calif.
For the first 40 minutes, instructors lead you through sprints and out-of-the saddle rides, and then you transition to strong standing poses on your yoga mat and begin those Sun Salutations. Quite the challenging workout!

Cycle In/Yoga Out
Where: Equinox Fitness Clubs in Los Angeles and New York
Thirty minutes of cycling precedes a flowing strength-based yoga class where savvy instructors favor toning postures that bike riding ignores: plank pose for arms and abs; backbends to soothe lower-back cycling muscles; and handstands for agility.

Cy-Ga!
Where: Cyga Studio in Shorewood, Wis.
Cycling and yoga unite in this head-to-toe, athletic workout. Teachers combine 30 minutes of cycling with 30 minutes of Power Yoga (lots of jump backs and Warrior poses) to optimize balance, flexibility and strength.

Yoga and Cycle
Where: Breathe Studio in Denver, Colo.
You start with 30 minutes of interval training on a bike, lots of riding out of the saddle to boost cardio endurance, and then enjoy 30 minutes of a gentler flowing Vinyasa-style yoga with a nice, long stretch and seated meditation at the end.

Soul Cycle
Where: SoulCycle's Tribeca studio in New York
As with other classes, instructors prefer warming up and doing hill training on the bike for 45 minutes first to loosen muscles and prep your joints for the power yoga flow poses to come. Most studios also charge a couple bucks more for a Spinning-Yoga class, so call first!

Discover other efficient cross-training workouts.

Fitness expert Nicole Dorsey Straff is a Los Angeles-based exercise physiologist and author, and frequently writes about diet, health and wellness.