By Craig Lindberg

“The Skinny” is a Fitness column by Craig Lindberg, CPT and Founder/Co-owner of Optimal Performance Center in Shrewsbury (www.opcfitness.com). If you have a question about training, nutrition, bodybuilding, or anything else that falls under the topic of Fitness, please send it to craig@opcfitness.com. Craig will answer one or two questions each month, so check here as soon as a new issue of Pulse hits the streets to see if he’s chosen yours!

Haunted Shred-O-Rama

Not for the Faint of Heart

By Craig Linberg

fitness-the-skinny-haunted-copyAh, October ~ and the chance to write about two of my favorite things: Halloween and myself (in no particular order, of course).

Most of you reading this column month to month probably go to your gym or studio of choice somewhat regularly. Said gym or studio probably offers indoor cycling classes commonly known as “Spinning” ~ a fun, moderately challenging, predictable workout experience.

This is not that class.

Haunted Shred-O-RamaTM is the spawn of my two great loves, fitness and scary movies. An experienced group exercise instructor, I am always looking for ways to keep things challenging and interesting. I struggled with that from time to time because of what’s considered “acceptable” …and then one day a voice inside me said, “Hey dummy, you own the place…do what you want!” And so I did.

Shredder is the Optimal Performance Center’s clever name for indoor cycling; Haunted Shred-O-RamaTM is my version of Shredder. It combines my passion for heavy music, horror movies and just a touch of self-aggrandizing. The music is always heavy, driving, motivating…seamlessly mixed with movie sound bytes and a couple of other surprises along the way. Each mix even has its own unique name and theme like “Shriek Fest Scare-A-Go-Go,” a faster, sprint style ride, and “Sunset on Planet X,” a high-tension grind that challenges your strength as well as your endurance.

Then there’s the 42″ HD monitor centered between two revolving, multi-colored club lights synced to the beat of the music. The monitor plays movie trailers from classic…and not so classic…horror and sci-fi films from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Some of the material can be a little, shall we say, risqué, but is there as entertainment or art, if you will, and a distraction from the tortures of the actual ride…which I conduct in a homemade thermal skeleton shirt, face mask and gloves. Originally worn as an intimidation tool, the outfit became a symbol of what can be achieved once you put perceived comfort levels aside. If I can complete the ride in this get up, then you have nothing to complain about in your tank tops and t-shirts.

All the flash and Barnum-esque hoopla aside, what truly separates Haunted
Shred-O-RamaTM and Shredder from other indoor cycling classes is the workout.

“I’ve taken many spin classes in the past and Shredder is by far the most challenging,” says OPC member Christa Rebidue.  “The music and lights set a dark and sinister mood, while Craig takes you on a ride that pushes you to the limit. It is a ride like no other!”

As a wise man once said, “There’s a big difference between what you want to do and what you can do…you are here to do the latter.”

Photo of Craig by Jenna Faden Lindberg