Yes, I love hopping on a spin bike and peddling away my daily stress. I mean, I LOVE it. Going to spin helps me stay motivated and helps get the endorphins flowing. And let’s be honest. I also go because you can burn anywhere from 400 to 600-plus calories depending on your intensity and how long you’re in the saddle.

I absolutely adore the loud peppy music, which gives me the energy to really sweat and give my all throughout the class. I am so busy having fun, I actually get lost in the music and instructors commands. There’s nothing like keeping the pace with a good beat and seeing everyone else around you riding in sync. Research even supports that athletes work out harder when listening to music at a faster tempo. If you’re anything like me, then music is critical to a great workout. It’s also a terrific way to lift your mood or change your emotional state from negative to positive. Music has the capability of helping us hit the reset button, even on the worst days.

I’ll be totally honest. Some mornings I’ll tell myself I am too tired to go, but in the end, I pull myself out of bed and make it to class and afterward, I always leave feeling awake and alive—ready to start my day and face whatever challenges I might face.

There’s great satisfaction in pushing yourself to the max. In testing your limits and best of all, breaking barriers you didn’t believe possible. I love spinning because I am motivated by the people around me who are all there with similar goals. The energy you feel from your spin class peers is contagious. No doubt we are feeding off each other’s energy and for the most part, give in to our natural competitive nature. And the benefits of expending all of that energy are so good too. A good spin class will offer a total body workout, help build strength and endurance. And by the way, it’s a huge misconception that your legs are going to get big if you spin. The interval training that most studios practice, with some upper-body work, allows you to tone muscles that you may have not even known you had and sculpt your body back into youthful shape.

It doesn’t matter if you are just starting out or have been riding for years as I have—you control the resistance and speed with which you ride, so you can make it easy or hard.

When I finish a 60 minute ride, I have sweat, struggled and yes, leave with a euphoric sense of accomplishment that sticks with me. It really sets the tone for my day and helps me feel good about myself. Besides, by 7a.m. I’ve already done more than a lot of people will do in a week. It’s so important to take care of ourselves, especially our body and our brain. Choosing to ride doesn’t mean giving up other exercise. But adding spinning to your routine a few days a week can help you advance your mental and physical well-being. Why not give it a try?