If you haven’t heard of the latest exercise trend or are thinking of jumping on the Soul Cycle band wagon..then this is indeed a must read.
With a mash up of cardio fitness, motivational sayings, celebrity sightings and the excitement that comes from (an expensive – begins at $32 for a class) 45 minute class you are sure to leave with an overwhelming feeling that you can conquer the world.
And before you sign up please read 5 MUST THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU TAKE YOUR FIRST SOUL CYCLE CLASS:
Last week I attended my first Soul Cycle class located in Bronxville (the newest studio located in Westchester, NY) with my Junior League members and since I am not a spinner or even own a bike, I was beyond intimated. So with deep breath in I was awaited with white walls of positive affirmations, accomplishments, athletic gear and Soul Cycle etiquette….oh damn, you had me at gear!
With little to no time to panic, the front desk immediately greeted me with smiles and asked me to sign-in. Note, if you book online you have the option to reserve a bike according to your desired studio. For your convenience, the desk is stocked with compliementary ear plugs (the music can be deafening), gum and hair elastics. A large bottle of water is for purchase as well as cycling shoes. If you decide to bring your own note that the pedals are SPD and delta clip compatible.
Bikes have towels set out on them when you arrive and extra towels at the front next to the instructor’s bike if you need them. There are also hand weights there in case you want to switch out the weight that is at your bike from the previous class. In addition to the instructor, there will be multiple SoulCycle employees walking around helping people get set up properly on their bikes. So don’t worry if you are new to cycling and/or using cycling shoes-they will make sure you feel comfortable.
My instructor Monique eased us in with a warm up routine and then took it a whole degree up with her upbeat tunes from Whitney Houston to Sam Smith/Disclosure. I must say I was in a zone. With the dim/candlelit room I felt like I was a place where I could be free and hold nothing back. Monique even got off the bike and dance along with us riders as we climbed up and down the abstract mountain.
The last half of the class we used two 2lb hand weights, which are attached to the back of the bike. How cleaver! Indeed a great way to get a total body workout. And trust me, don’t let the 2lb weight fool you…its so much tougher as you pedal and work on your triceps. And like that my 45 minutes were up!
I was a sweaty mess, but so was everyone else. That’s what so great about these classes…its ok to let go and to drop your ego and boundaries out the door! Thanks again Soul Cycle for an AWESOME workout…you will be seeing me again. Now I know what to ask for my birthday and christmas…
So as promised, here’s 5 things to do before you register for your first class via SoulCycle.com:
1. PREPPING FOR YOUR SOUL
HYDRATE
Drink, drink, drink! The key to a healthy body is staying hydrated. So be sure to have water before, during, and after your ride.
SNACK
You heard it from your mom: be sure to eat a little something before you exercise. We recommend eating a light snack 30 minutes before you ride.
WHAT TO WEAR
If you’ve never ridden with us at SOUL, we suggest sporting a tee or tank on top and form-fitting pants or shorts on the bottom.2. CHECK IN
ARRIVE EARLY: Nothing’s worse than a last minute set-up! Do yourself a favor and come to the studio 15 minutes before class starts. Be sure to let the front desk know you’re a newbie and we’ll get you set up on the bike and outfitted with cycling shoes.
SIGN IN SHEET: Make sure you claim that bike! If you signed up in advance, your name will be listed on the sign-in sheet next to your bike number. You will be asked to initial for your bike, so that we know you’re here. Note: If you’re not signed in 4 minutes before your class, your bike may be released.
NEW RIDER WAIVER: New to Soul? We need your info. Fill out a new rider waiver when you arrive.3. SHOES AND WATER
SHOES
Yup, it’s true… we clip into the bike. But don’t let that scare you. Clipping in provides a more stable, safer ride and also allows our riders to target the correct muscle groups.
For your first class, shoes are on us; going forward rentals are $3. If you’re already a pro and you have your own cycling shoes, we recommend using Look Delta clips, but our pedals are also SPD compatible.
WATER
Trust us on this one… you’ll want some water on that bike. We have water available for sale in all of our studios, but of course you can bring your own or fill up at our fountains. Small waters are $2 and large are $3.4. LOCKERS: Your stuff is safe at SOUL! Our daily lockers have coded keypads, so no need to bring a clunky lock. If you’re not familiar with the system, ask for a tutorial or read the directions inside the locker. They’re easy!
5. BIKE SET-UP: Our SOULCYCLE bikes aren’t just beautiful, they’re simple to set up! In case you’ve never done it before, there are 3 places where you can adjust your bike:
1) Seat height
2) Fore/aft seat position
3) Handlebar HeightIf you’re new to cycling, arrive early and ask the front desk for assistance. They will record your settings and add them to your rider profile (how cool is that?).
