One of our major hopes in Colombia was to have a bit of a reset. We wanted to focus on slowing down, taking care of ourselves, and resting up before starting the remainder of our journey (where we wouldn’t have 3.5 weeks in a single place for quite some time).
One component of taking care of ourselves has been being more active. This past year we had sort of fallen off the exercise bandwagon (womp womp). With a lot of hikes and other active experiences coming up over the next several months, we wanted to use Colombia as a chance to get into a little better shape. Plus, with the altitude, what better way to “train” for the rest of our trip?
We wasted no time seeking out opportunities for fitness during our time in Colombia. Our first discovery was the amazing park just steps from our apartment (we can see it from our window if we crane our necks!). In the park there are walking paths and little sections of outdoor workout machines, including pull up bars, an elliptical, and many other machines. Super cool!
With the park nearby, we’ve made it our daily goal to reach at least 10,000 steps (using my Fitbit), though most days we’re averaging around 13-15K! Wohoo!
Additionally, we found an indoor cycling center within 30 seconds of our apartment. We noticed these all around during our first walk to the grocery store, so we thought we’d give it a try. Nervously, we made our way there on our second morning to check it out.
We signed up for a 3 class package at first to make sure we could survive it liked it. We got our spin shoes (they provide these for each class, pretty slick for us!), and a brief introduction to the center.
Conveniently one of the staff members spoke English, so after at first translating for Adam, I relaxed a bit once she walked over. She explained how to set up our bikes, program them, and how the class would work.
It was a 45 minute class, so how hard could it be?? Famous last words. I almost barfed and died didn’t make it, as it was SUPER cardio. Plus with the altitude… ooftah (we blamed it all on the altitude… no, we’re not out of shape… …). I have asthma and haven’t been conditioning my lungs like I should, so it was a real breathing challenge for me.
But we both survived, and after walking around the park to cool down, we came to the conclusion that we liked it. We’ve since signed up for a package to last the remaining time in Bogota, doing it about 4-5 times a week. We’re addicted!
The interesting thing about this cycling class is that it is called “Cyglo” because the bikes glow different colors. The instructor tells you what color to reach for each song – red being the “hardest” level. It’s really motivating, and then you also have a bit of social pressure… you don’t want to be THAT person in class that is on white the whole time.
The other interesting thing is that the whole class is in the dark! At first I was nervous about this aspect, but now that we have several classes under our belt, I have found this to be one of my favorite parts. Because it’s in the dark, you’re not noticing or worrying about what you look like, grimaces you may make in class (or make during the entire class), or what other people are doing or look like. It allows you to zone in and focus.
The other great thing about these classes is that it’s like going to a dance club – the music is loud and has a great beat. Each instructor has their own style and own music, which makes each class different. Some instructors have more latin music, while others use a lot of popular music from the US. It’s a good mix.
Between the darkness and the music, you’re totally distracted from the fact that you’re killing it on the bike.
I know we’ll miss going to these classes when we leave, but it’s been a great way to kickstart being more active. We’re hoping to continue to be active as much as possible as we travel to new places.
Off to another Cyglo class… 🙂
– Kelly
Around the World in 180 Days 
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