the ride of a life

I took my first ride at Soulcycle last night. My friend S lives near one of the locations, she invited me to join her and then have dinner at her place afterwards. My kind of Friday night date!

Soulcycle is on another level of class. It's like a spa inside - you rent shoes if you don't have any, there's filtered water and pony tail holders. You can use a headband if you want. Need to check an email before class? No problem. There's a bank of computers at your disposal. And the locker room is bright, cheerful and super clean.

The classroom is packed into an inch of its life. You literally have just enough space to stand in between the bikes to stretch and that's it. Friends, I'm no stranger to a spin class. When I'm in shape it's my cardio workout of choice as it's the one way to get out of my head quickly and leave the day's shit by the door. 

The class I took on Friday night, (which S said wasn't even the best one), was on a whole other level. The entire 45 minute ride is spent out of the saddle, in third position. Ok, not the entire ride. There is the one song where you're seated to do the weighted arm exercises, but beyond that, you're up.

There is a shit ton of positive reinforcement in that room, and a few mantras to set free what might be bothering you that day. It's like a cult in that classroom with the high 5's and woop, wooping. There was towel twirling while riding in 2nd position and our very Wham-like teacher was literally dancing on his bike. There were a couple moments when I thought I'd puke. And I was seated in the saddle for a lot of that ride, trying to catch my breath and keep moving. 

Of course I want to go again. I think it would be a great, weekly treat to myself. Lord knows I can spend the cost of one class just as quickly, and it definitely wouldn't be as beneficial.