By Matt Wiley
Let’s be honest, it’s been a little cold outside recently, so cold that getting outdoors, hopping on a bike and riding several miles might sound pretty intimidating. However, it’s never cold at Pura Cycling Studio in the Shoppes at New Tampa in Wesley Chapel, where sweating out calories and getting “the good burn” are the goal each day and key for reaching the “Pura Vida” (“pure life”) mindset.
Following a trip to Costa Rica, Pura Cycling co-owner Stephanie Farquhar wanted to bring the “pura vida” mindset back to Wesley Chapel and decided to do so by opening a cycling studio with Alfio Carroccetto.
“Exercise should be fun and not a chore, so we wanted to create that for our members,” Farquhar explains. “Our studio is all about escaping from the daily grind and taking the time to take care of yourself with a strong cardio and strength training routine centered around proper nutrition.”
Pura has done this during the last year+ by offering indoor cycling (just don’t call it “spinning”), but Stephanie and Alfio have recently added yoga and group fitness classes, as well as semi-private personal training to offer a more complete fitness opportunity.
So, whether you’ve never stepped on a bike or have made it a major part of your life over the years, Pura Cycling has something that everyone can enjoy, without feeling overwhelmed or intimidated. And, it all starts with a consultation.
“We get to know your specific goals and motivations so we can find the program or programs that suit you best, then design your program to fit those specific goals,” Carroccetto says. “We then take initial metrics like body fat percentage, body mass index (BMI), inches measurements and your weight, as well as a few before pictures, so that we have a starting point. Then, we meet every month to reassess your progress, see where your successes have been and if we need to make changes.”
During that month, clients are encouraged to take part in Pura’s myriad of classes. For beginners, Farquhar recommends any of the studio’s 45-minute cycling classes.
“Any of our 45-minute cycling classes is great for beginners; however you control the intensity of the class and the instructors always give different cycling options throughout the class,” she says.
Customize Your Ride!
For example, Pura offers a “Morning Burn” class to get the workday started. It lasts 45 minutes and has a mix of interval training and strength work on the bike. Pura also offers a “Strong Roots” class that also lasts 45 minutes, but is a strength ride to push your legs and body to your own limits. Remember, no matter what class you take, you control your own intensity!
If you have more time and are looking for a longer workout, consider an “Escape” class. For one hour, riders of all experience levels put the “pedal to the metal” in a mix of terrain types (uphill, downhill, straightaways, etc.), for the ultimate burn!
“Pura Vida” rides are offered in both 45- and 60-minute increments and focus on endurance and strength training with pulse-pounding music and long climbs and straightaways.
Pura’s 30-minute “Elite Core” class also is a great option for right after a cycle session. Instead of relaxing and meditating with some yoga stretches, this class has you stretching resistance bands to help you tone up.
“Our most popular classes are the ‘Pura Vida’ rides combined with ‘Elite Core’ afterward,” Carroccetto explains. “Riders get a full-body workout with 45 minutes of mixed terrain on the bike, followed by 30 minutes of core exercises off the bike. Participants can expect to burn anywhere from 400-700 calories with the cycling alone and up to 300 more calories when you add the Elite Core class!”
Any of Pura’s cycling classes can leave you winded and tight, which is why Stephanie and Alfio have added a yoga class to the mix to help you relax and unwind, immediately following the cycling session. Classes last 45 minutes and focus on poses that can be found naturally in cycling, while focusing on the muscles that just got used the most.
Personal Training, Too!
One of the newest additions to Pura Cycling’s repertoire is a semi-private personal training class.
“These sessions have a maximum of five participants per 50-minute class where we focus on functional fitness training, which is perfect for building muscle and shedding fat fast!,” Farquhar explains. “We call it our ‘FitPro’ accelerator program, in which we combine your cardio exercise (cycling) and strength training (semiprivate sessions) with flexibility (yoga) and proper nutritional counseling (which can include guided public shopping trips, monthly assessments and progress monitoring). Classes are offered daily.
Each class is taught by one of Pura’s team of eight instructors, almost all of whom are Madd-Dogg spinning (although Pura prefers to call it “indoor cycling”)-certified: LuAnne Borak, Audrey Biggs, Julie Hinson, Claire Forrester, Christi Slaven, Erica Lembo and the newest addition to the Pura team, Tasha Bomar.
Accomplishments don’t go unnoticed at Pura. If customers take part in the “Kapok Loyalty Club,” which tracks the number of rides each member takes, he or she can earn free Pura products, such as Dri-fit shirts and gift bags.
“We track all of our members’ rides and when they hit milestones like 25, 50, 100 and 200 rides, they get free Pura ‘schwag’ and, of course, bragging rights for being on our leader board at the studio,” Farquhar explains. “Our top rider, Domenica L, will hit 200 rides by the end of January — our first 200 milestone! We have more than nine other riders with more than 100 rides.”
Pura customer Clara knows the benefits of getting active at the studio.
“I had the wonderful opportunity of having a one-on-one spin class with (Faraquhar),” Clara explains. “The ride was fantastic! The entire staff at Pura Cycling is so warm and friendly. It’s a marvelous environment for anyone to get in shape.
Feel like changing your lifestyle for the New Year? Visit PuraCycling.com and sign up for a class or call the studio at 501-2124.
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