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Darien's JoyRide Spins Fitness And Community Together

DARIEN, Conn. – Although many have given up on their New Year’s resolutions by mid-February, at JoyRide Cycling Studio in Darien they have found that those who sign up for classes stick to their goals after falling in love with the studio’s commitment to fitness and community.

Rhodie Lorenz leads an indoor cycling class at JoyRide in Darien.

Rhodie Lorenz leads an indoor cycling class at JoyRide in Darien.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of JoyRide
In addition to indoor cycling classes, JoyRide also offers other exercise classes such as circuit traning.

In addition to indoor cycling classes, JoyRide also offers other exercise classes such as circuit traning.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of JoyRide
Rhodie Lorenz, who co-founded JoyRide with Amy Hochhauser and Debbie Katz.

Rhodie Lorenz, who co-founded JoyRide with Amy Hochhauser and Debbie Katz.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of JoyRide

JoyRide first opened in Westport in 2011, and co-owners Rhodie Lorenz, Amy Hochhauser and Debbie Katz expanded to Darien in 2013. The studio offers a variety of indoor cycling classes, as well as other workout regimens, such as Pilates, circuit training and hip-hop dance classes.

“It incorporates aerobic and anaerobic exercises, as well as high intensity interval training, which is growing in popularity in the fitness industry because it’s one of the most efficient ways to burn calories and increase your fitness level,” Lorenz said.

The classes take place in a darkened studio, where people can work at their own pace without feeling like they are being watched or that they aren’t keeping up with everyone else in the class. The instructors get to know their clients and work with them to help them identify and accomplish their own personal fitness goals.

JoyRide also has licensed studios in Ridgefield and San Antonio, Texas. Hochhauser said the San Antonio studio was launched by a former Westport client who moved there and found other studios didn’t offer the same feeling JoyRide did.

“A lot of the expansion has happened organically. People who already love JoyRide branch out and want to spread it to other places,” Hochhauser said. “People have said that nothing they’ve seen compares to JoyRide, the energy, and the way we treat our staff and customers like they’re part of big family.”

Community plays a big part in the JoyRide atmosphere. People who take classes together often form friendships, hanging out after class to chat and connect. The studio also is focused on giving back to the community by hosting fundraising rides and participating in events like Spin Odyssey. Last year at Spin Odyssey, the 58 members of the JoyRide team led in fundraising by raising $78,000 to fight breast cancer.

Classes are accompanied by blasting music to help motivate people to move. Sometimes JoyRide will bring in a DJ or even a live band to make the classes more exciting and make you feel like you’re at a concert and exercise class rolled into one.

“Music plays a huge part. The workouts are choreographed, so you can really get lost in the workout and get into it,” Lorenz said. The music includes lots of remixes and mashups of different genres that changes as you go through the class. “The beat drives the workout, it makes you want to work harder.”

In addition to getting into shape, Lorenz said the workouts release endorphins and help people cope with stress in their lives.

 “It’s almost a form of moving meditation,” she said. “In a 50-60 minute class they can disconnect from the world and focus on themselves, on that mind-body connection. They can clear their mind and be in the moment.”

JoyRide is at 25 Old Kings Highway North in the Goodwives Shopping Center.

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