This RPM class review is based on my first day back at the gym after being away for a while. I only planned to take one class, ease back in slowly and see how my body responded.
I chose RPM with Maria João Lopes, and it turned into one of those comeback classes that made me feel awake, happy and fully connected to training again.
If you want to know what an RPM class can really feel like from a student’s perspective, here is my honest experience.
Quick Verdict
- Intensity 1 to 10: 8
- Good for: people who enjoy indoor cycling, music-driven cardio, strong instructor energy and classes that build gradually before becoming seriously intense.
- My after class mood: proud, emotional, energised and genuinely happy to be back at the gym.
Class Snapshot
- Duration: around 45 minutes
- Format: indoor cycling class with music-led tracks, speed work, climbs, mixed terrain and recovery moments.
- Equipment: stationary bike, water bottle and towel.
- Instructor style: warm, musical, motivating and very connected with the room.
- My focus today: ease back into training, listen to my body and enjoy being in class again.
- Body notes: the first tracks helped me settle in, but tracks 3, 4 and 6 pushed my legs hard. By the end, I felt tired, proud and fully alive.
WHAT MY RPM CLASS WITH MARIA JOÃO LOPES REALLY FELT LIKE
I just want to SHOUT with joy! I am back training at the gym!
Today I decided I would only do one class. Better to ease back in slowly. If we can even call RPM with Maria João Lopes “easing back in slowly”!
How wonderful it was to see that beautiful face again. She is genuinely so lovely. I asked her for a photo straight away. I had to mark the moment.
I was like a little kid, I was so happy. I took a good look around the room, photographed even the empty stage (the things you do when you have missed a place…), soaked in the familiar sound of everyone arriving, sat down on the bike and waited for the class to begin.
During tracks 1 and 2 I was still “waking up” to RPM mode.
But when track 3 started… I snapped right to attention! What a track! Maria was right: it was not a typical one. And I LOVED it! WOW!
And track 4?! Seriously! The mixed terrain always destroys me… and today was no exception… Maria usually has excellent taste in music. But today was something truly extraordinary! I loved the music in that track so much, it pushed me in the most incredible way. My whole body came alive and I had no choice but to go as fast as I possibly could. Spectacular!
In track 5, my legs were screaming: “can we not rest for a second…? Track 6 is coming next!!!”
And yes, in track 6, I was nowhere near my usual level. I started out going full force, but 30 seconds in my legs were saying: “See? We warned you.”
Maria must have noticed things were getting complicated, because at one point I hear: “keep the rhythm, da-da-da!” which helped ENORMOUSLY in pushing me to accelerate… And then towards the end, she kept saying: “Stay with me!” I think by that point my legs were already halfway out the door and I had not even noticed!
Track 7 was REALLY good, from the music to the workout! I always say that woman has exceptional musical taste.
I made it to the end, incredibly proud and genuinely over the moon. It was a PHENOMENAL class, with an instructor who was absolutely ON FIRE, and who even had us HAPPILY SINGING along!
I left the gym on top of the world, Les Mills Passport in hand, and even caught another wonderful face on the way out: Rita Calaz, who gave me the warmest hello!
WOW! What a COMEBACK!
Instructor Notes
Instructor credit: Maria João Lopes. She is the instructor featured in this RPM class experience.
What stood out most in this RPM class was Maria’s warmth, musical taste and ability to keep the room moving even when the effort started to feel serious.
Her energy made the class feel welcoming from the beginning, but also challenging in the right way. Track 4 was especially strong, and the music pushed the whole experience into something more than just cardio. It felt emotional, intense and motivating.
From a student’s perspective, this was exactly the kind of instructor energy that makes a comeback class memorable. I arrived wanting to ease back in slowly, but I left feeling proud, awake and genuinely happy to be training again.
How I Felt After Class
- Right after: happy, sweaty, emotional and proud to have completed my first class back at the gym.
- Later that day: still thinking about the music, Maria’s energy and how good it felt to be back in the studio.
- Next day: aware of the legs, especially after the mixed terrain and speed work, but in the best possible way.
Final Thoughts
This RPM class with Maria João Lopes was a powerful return to training. I went in planning to take it slowly, but the music, the room and Maria’s energy pulled me straight back into the feeling of being in class again.
From a student’s perspective, this was not just a cycling workout. It was a comeback moment. The class was intense, musical, emotional and motivating, especially because I had missed that gym atmosphere so much.
This was the kind of RPM class that reminds you why group fitness works: the instructor, the music, the people around you and the feeling of pushing through together.
My Gym Essentials
Everything I actually use and love during my workouts. Tested, approved, and practical for busy women who want efficient results.
- Water Bottle: essential for staying hydrated during strength classes.
- Training Towel: useful for sweat, equipment, and comfort during the session.
- Training Shoes: stable enough for squats, lunges, and standing strength work.
- Small Bag: practical for carrying small essentials.
- Smart Fitness Watch: useful for tracking heart rate, calories burned, and workout intensity.
Read next:
