To my delight, we spent a week and a half in DC, which always means good food, usually means walking, and sometimes means making my way to the hotel gym. Because we were there in what was apparently the coldest days of the winter, we opted to get a 7 day Metro pass for the bus (best $17 I could have spent) and I decided to give SoulCycle a spin … see what I did there.
Like most, I’ve heard people rave about SoulCycle since it became a thing, but being in Charlotte, trying out a class wasn’t an option. This fact didn’t stop me from taking them up on their 3 classes for $60 option because I just knew I would love it and if I didn’t, I was going to force myself to finish out the 3 class package as punishment for all the amazing food I knew I shouldn’t have been eating.
After some Yelp investigating, I decided I HAD to take a class with Cher and she just so happened to be teaching at my local, Westend, location. I logged into my, newly created, account and selected bike 35 in Cher’s 5:30 pm class that evening. Tip: The diagram on the web is a bit more intimidating than the layout actually appears when you’re standing in the class, so if you get stuck in the front, it’s not nearly as bad as you think it’s going to be.
The desk associates were extremely welcoming and explain all you need to know. Shoes are $3 to rent if you don’t have your own but free on your first visit. The locker area is co-ed, but there are separate showers for men and women with anything you could ever possibly need.
After locking my stuff away and waiting for the previous class to end, the studio doors finally opened. This was a Nicki Minaj versus Lil’ Wayne class, so I was greeted with the sounds of their music as I made my way to my chosen bike. Tip: Don’t forget to grab a pair of disposable earbuds at the door if you think the music is too loud for you.
Cher came in, ready to get the party started, and I immediately understood why she was so popular. She was a firecracker, full of energy that exploded out in the form of encouragement that kept me peddling even when I thought my thighs were going to fall off. In between actively participating on her own bike at the front, she would walk around to assist riders with their form for maximum results and let you know you were working it out just when the thought to stop for a break crept into mind. Tip: If you think you need to stop, don’t, simply slow down a bit and take a swig of water. If you’re not coordinated enough to dance and peddle, just peddle, it’s SoulCycle, not Soul Train.
While I drank water to prepare for the loss of fluids and stood every few minutes to prevent that inevitable pain my crotch feels from the seat, I wasn’t prepared for the therapy season I received. Cher put out a message of self-love and motivation, reminding the crowd we choose to put out what the world sees, so not to get caught up in what we’re seeing scrolling across our Instagram feeds. That if we’re unhappy with what we’re seeing in ourselves, we have to put in the work to change it because wasting time comparing ourselves to others, or worse, hating on others for what they worked for, doesn’t change our status.
The class was over and I was hooked. My legs were wobbly, my clothes were soaked, and my soul was full. I left completely understanding why people pay $30 a class and realizing, they don’t call it “SOUL” cycle for nothing.
What’s your experience with SoulCycle? If you’re in Charlotte or another city without SoulCycle, have you experienced a cycling class you think is comparable? Please share with me in the comments and thanks for reading!
