At 6:30 on a Wednesday morning, long before the rest of Spanish Fork fully wakes, the cycle studio at the FitCity Center is already buzzing. The lights are on, the bass hums through the floor, and a dozen riders settle onto their bikes as instructor Sarah Stevenson cues up the next playlist. The room feels like part workout space, part mini-concert — exactly the vibe Stevenson aims for.
“I would describe it as having a really fun vibe with the music and the challenges that we throw out,” she said. “It’s a different type of energy and it’s the best.”
Stevenson teaches two of the center’s most popular programs: Cycle (Wednesdays and Fridays at 6:30 a.m.) and strength (Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:30 a.m.). Both draw regulars of all ages and fitness levels, thanks to her upbeat coaching style and the classes’ smart design. Each program delivers a distinct workout, but both share a common goal: helping people feel stronger, healthier, and part of a community.
Stevenson emphasizes that her class is built for everyone, not just seasoned riders. Much of that accessibility comes from the technology inside the room, including the use of Stages bikes, which are high-performance indoor cycling bikes.
“They’re honestly the best bikes,” Sarah said.
The bikes include a sprint-shift lever that instantly adjusts resistance, along with metrics that let riders track power, speed, and cadence. The real magic, Stevenson says, comes from pairing those metrics with music.
“I’m a big music person,” she said. “I tailor my class to the beat of the music, like the BPM of music. I’ll match people’s RPM (Revolutions Per Minute) to the BPM (Beats Per Minute). You’ll hear the beat and, naturally, you’ll want to move to the beat.”
For beginners, the biggest reassurance is that everyone controls their own resistance. If Stevenson adds a full turn on the dial, you can add a half. If the pace is fast, you can stay steady. Nobody gets left behind.
While cycling delivers high-energy cardio, Stevenson’s strength class is all about controlled, intentional muscle work — that she works hard to keep refreshingly simple.
“I keep it all strength,” she explains. “My strength class, typically, will be a full-body strength workout, and I don’t do any cardio. It’s not like, ‘Okay, now we’re going to do jumping jacks after we did strength moves for my strength classes.’”
Each class builds through several targeted segments. One block might hit the back with flys and plank rows. The next may shift to legs with squats and wall sits. Later blocks revisit upper body groups like triceps or shoulders. The pacing is steady enough that participants can choose heavier weights than they might in faster-paced lift formats.
Because the movements aren’t rushed, people can concentrate on form, muscle engagement, and building strength progressively week after week.
And like cycle, strength class always includes options for every level. If someone can’t plank due to wrist issues, Stevenson provides alternate moves. If heavy dumbbells feel daunting, lighter ones work just as well.
“[The classes] are for everybody because you can always tailor it to meet your needs,” she said.
When asked what Stevenson loves most about teaching group fitness classes, she said it’s being able to connect with others.
“The heart of group fitness is about being together with other people, because you find motivation from each other, but you also find friendship,” she said. “Maybe on those days where you don’t feel like going to work out because you’re feeling a little down, the idea that you’re going to see a friend also helps lift your spirits.”
That sense of togetherness is especially meaningful to Stevenson personally. She’s been teaching since 2017, but her relationship with fitness started long before — to years when she was navigating depression and autoimmune struggles. Exercise, she said, became a lifeline.
“On the days when I really struggled with really bad depression, I could at least get myself to go work out because I knew those endorphins would at least lift me enough to survive,” she said.
Whether you want to sweat, get stronger, improve your mood, or simply meet new people, Stevenson’s classes are designed to welcome you in. They’re challenging, yes — but in the best possible way, and only to the level you choose.
“If you’re looking to have fun and to be challenged and motivated, and to find other like-minded people, these are the classes you want to go to,” she said.
At FitCity Center, the room fills early. Riders clip in. Dumbbells are lined up. The music starts. And the community Stevenson has built grows a little stronger each week — one pedal stroke and one rep at a time.
