Over the weekend, I took my first class at SoulCycle. In the interest of full disclosure, it wasn’t exactly my first attempt at taking a spin with them. Back in 2015, I signed up for a class, but quickly realized the workout wasn’t for me (I also didn’t exercise nearly as regularly back then as I do today). Between the heat, the loud music, and the dark workout space, within a few minutes I was on my way out of the room. But that didn’t stop me from wanting to try (and complete) the workout in the future.
So, on Saturday morning I signed up for a class with Ayana. A few people I work with had taken her class before and said she was amazing—and she happened to be celebrating 10 years teaching at SoulCycle on the day I took my class! This time, I came prepared to sweat and ready for an intense workout (although I was still a bit sore from my reformer Pilates class the other day).
The studio was just as I had remembered it—hot, dark, and filled with some serious spinning pros. I decided to go at my own pace and while Ayana (and the loud music) kept the energy up, I slowed down when I needed to—and stayed hydrated.
I’m not a huge fan of spinning, but the class was more enjoyable than I thought it would be and it provided an amazing workout (I literally came out dripping sweat). I’m glad I challenged myself to try another ride at SoulCycle and could definitely see myself signing up for some rides from time-to-time.
If you’re new to SoulCycle, make sure you bring lots of water with you. They will give you cycling shoes, if you don’t have a pair (I even learned how to clip in and out all by myself), and you’ll want to keep a towel handy. If you’re not a fan of super loud workouts, I would suggest bringing a pair of earplugs to class. And, make sure you take the class at your own pace and do what you can—it’s your workout, after all.
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