A MODA Blogger's First Time at SoulCycle
A cult. An obsession. More than a workout. SoulCycle first swept into many of our lives as that mysterious spin class frequented by Victoria and David Beckham, Oprah, Selena Gomez, really every celebrity on the planet. With its dark rooms, loud music and frequent celebrity postings, SoulCycle has become one of the most popular and talked about fitness classes in America with profiles in New York Magazine and Vanity Fair.
For many, myself included, who had never gone to SoulCycle, it carries with it a certain mystique. Is it a cult? Is everyone there a celebrity? Why is the room so dark? And what about SoulCycle is so much more appealing than other spin classes?
The first SoulCycle location in Chicago opened last spring in Old Town, and since then another location has been added in the north Loop. I went with a few friends for a Sunday afternoon class at the Loop location taught by Kellen.
The class was more or less what I expected. A lot of fit people in a dark room spinning and sweating to upbeat music. There were a few moments that veered toward cult-like, think the instructor telling you about feeding your soul, but I didn't find that aspect much different than a typical yoga class (friends of mine found it more low-key than SoulCycle studios in other cities).
The only truly unexpected part of the forty-five minutes was the intense arm workout using two-pound dumbbells. Going into it, I thought the workout would be pure cardio, and the use of dumbbells was a nice twist.
I left SoulCycle feeling rejuvenated, and I was happy to have finally gone to a class. For anyone who wants to see what's behind the celebrity Instagrams, SoulCycle offers $20 classes for first time riders that are definitely worth it for the experience.
SoulCycle has two locations in Chicago, its original Old Town studio (1225 N. Wells St.) and its new location in the Loop (111 Upper W. Wacker Dr).
Featured image via.
Have you ever been to SoulCycle? What did you think? Let us know in the comments below!
