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Health & Fitness

Meet the Instructor: Sydney Merriman

The Lync Cycling instructor found solace in cycling. Now, she helps her clients do the same.
By Laurie Snyder |
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An avid client at Lync Cycling (formerly Beyond Pedaling) when she was an undergraduate at Southern Methodist University, Sydney Merriman found the dimly lit room and loud music to be an escape. She was instantly hooked after a friend took her for the first time and returned to ride the following day.


Now serving as the studio’s manager and an instructor, Merriman provides her clients with the same positive experience that kept her coming back. Indoor cycling impacted all aspects of her life for the better, and she motivates her clients to gain more than just a heart-pumping workout from her classes. Cardio purposes aside, Merriman sees her classes as an opportunity to inspire and empower her clients. Here’s how Merriman fell in love with indoor cycling, transforming her life in the process.


Why is indoor cycling important to you?


Indoor cycling has been so much more than a cardio workout for me. My outlook on my body, mind, and soul was completely revamped once I started taking classes. I was dealing with a lot of stress and anxiety when I started riding, and it was the first workout that helped me start letting go of all of that. I felt like I was in control of my life again.


I was dealing with a lot of stress and anxiety when I started riding, and it was the first workout that helped me start letting go of all of that. I felt like I was in control of my life again.


It was something I felt confident and comfortable doing, and every time I walked out of the door, I felt better about myself. Now [as an instructor], I get to wake up every day and do what I love. Not to mention, I have the precious opportunity to affect our riders’ lives in a positive way. Whether it’s a mental release, a physically demanding workout, or a little of both, I’m going to do my best to help get them there. I want the riders at Lync to know that they are strong enough to take on everything I throw at them (and everything that life throws at them), and I am going to be right there with them every step of the way. I’m all about motivating – not intimidating.


What does wellness mean to you? Why is it important to you?


Wellness is such a broad term for me. We want to eat healthy food and exercise so that our bodies are physically “well.” But for me, wellness is more about the mind and soul. You can be fit and eat healthy, but that doesn’t always mean you’re happy. We need to make sure that we are doing things for ourselves, things that make us happy. Things that make us glad to be alive. Sometimes we need to slow down, take a breath, and enjoy the world around us, whether that means spending time with friends and family, reading a book, finding a new hobby, traveling to a place we’ve never been, or doing something to push us out of our comfort zones.



How do you live “well?”


I live well by doing exactly what I want to do, at any point in time. I don’t let people tell me I need to act a certain way, live a certain way, eat a certain way, dress a certain way, [or] look a certain way. I say, live it up! Live by your own rules. Do you want to do three workouts in one day? Go for it. You want to have pizza and wine for dinner two nights in a row? Have at it; I’m not judging. It’s all about balance. Do good for your body, take care of it. But also don’t take life too seriously. Have a little fun and indulge every once and awhile. We only get one shot at this life, and the next moment is never a given. So live with purpose, live with conviction, and – most importantly – live with gratitude.


What’s your favorite local outdoor activity?


I love being outdoors. But as I said before, I’m not much of a runner. So, I could lie and say when the weather’s nice I love to get out on the Katy Trail and take a jog, but let’s be honest: When the weather’s nice, I’m sitting on a patio with friends enjoying a yummy beverage.


What’s your favorite healthy restaurant in Dallas?


True Food Kitchen is always a go to for a solid, healthy brunch – a great post-workout meal.

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