Have you guys heard of SoulCycle?
It’s a full-body indoor cycling workout offered in New York and California, and, being from Florida, I never heard of it until earlier this week when Ashley tweeted about it, asking if anyone in town for Fitness Magazine’s Meet & Tweet wanted to take the 6 a.m. class today.
Since New York City fitness classes have kicked my butt in the past (thank you, Physique 57), I knew I wanted to give it a go!
I awoke at 5:10 a.m. quickly scarfed down a Zone bar and met Ashley in the hotel lobby at 5:30 a.m. to walk to the class together in the rain.
We also met up with fellow blogger Kristine before it was time to ride!
Since it was my first class, I was able to attend at a discounted rate, otherwise classes are (get this!) $32. Insane, right? And they had a completely packed class. According to Ashley, the class books up ridiculously fast and is always full.
As a first timer, I was also given spinning shoes to wear during the class for free (you may also rent them there or bring your own).
When I heard I’d be wearing legit shoes, I got a little nervous! How intense was this class going to be!? I’ve only ever taken spinning at my local gym and never had fancy schmancy shoes.
Well, the class was most certainly hardcore and I was dripping sweat by the end of it. The music was loud and energetic and every song had a fantastic beat.
During the class, we did typical sprints and hill climbs, but also integrated arm movements like pushups on the bike and shoulder exercises with very light weights. I really felt the burn in my arms which totally shocked me since I figured it would be mostly a cardio or leg workout.
And you wanna know something pretty darn cool about the class?
Chelsea Clinton was in it this morning!
My friend Merri sees celebrities all the time in the city so last time when I was here visiting her, I was on the lookout for someone famous. Naturally I didn’t see anyone so I was pretty excited to see Chelsea.
I’m not sure how the security works for former first children of the United States, but I scanned the class for super fancy security guys and didn’t see anyone… but maybe they were undercover and super sneaky. Or maybe former first children no longer get security, which could easily be the case. Does anyone know?
Question of the Afternoon
- Have you ever taken a specialty fitness class like SoulCycle or Physique 57? Would you want to?
![\"Quantcast\"/](\"//pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-1e3-7hOJ_U8Bg.gif\")
I haven’t taken a class like SoulCycle, but I know a lot of spinning gyms are starting to pop up in big cities!
This is silly, but how do you get the weights when you are on the bike? Are that at your feet and you get off the bike to grab them? Or maybe they have fancy bike packs to hold extra stuff?
Haha that’s so funny! They’re not always that obvious but they always have the little thing in their ear. I see Barbara Bush on the beach in Maine every now and then and her guard is always with her in beach attire 🙂
That is so cool that Chelsea was in your spin class! Did you talk to her? Did she seem friendly?
Former first children are required to keep secret service until they’re 18. After that, they can choose whether or not they want to keep it. I think I remember my dad telling me this year’s ago, because he’s friend’s with one of Gerald Ford’s kids!
So interesting! Thanks for the info!
You are so lucky! Soul Cycle is supposed to be amazing. And to see someone famous there, gosh. That’s the best. I actually go to NYC somewhat frequently, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone famous there.
That’s awesome that you went to a Soul Cycle class. I’ve always REALLY wanted to try one, but I’m from AZ. I have no idea about the former first children… hmmm.
I would love to! I’m actually going to NYC this weekend…hmmm.
I’ve heard a lot of great things about SoulCycle – that’s so cool you got to try it out! I love that arm exercises were incorporated into the class, too. I’m jealous!!
I have heard great things about SoulCycle, and at that price, it had better be the BEST! What a great opportunity to take a class like that while you were in the City. Have fun on the rest of your outings today, can’t wait to hear about them!!
Very cool that you got to share a class with Chelsea Clinton!
I’m hooked to Flywheel. We have a studio in Atlanta, and it’s similar to SoulCycle. It was actually founded by one of SoulCycle’s founders. The energy and music are always great, and I love the stadium seating. At $25 a class, it’s a little expensive, but I love going each week! That fee also includes shoes.
Ahh that sounds so fun! New York definitely seems to have some of the best work out classes. That’s hilarious that Chelsea Clinton was in your class! Makes sense that celebrities would be in it though, you would have to have money to even attend a $32 class, yikes!
that’s cool you had a celebrity in your class! I would love to try soulcycle and am googling now to see if there is a place close to where I will be staying when I go to California at the end of the month!
Ahh I’ve been wanting to try SoulCycle forever! I’m a spin instructor but sadly there are no clubs up here that offer SoulCycle.. that I know of anyway. Did you enjoy wearing the cycle shoes? I used to wear regular running shoes but when I started teaching 4 years ago I got spin shoes and I can’t do a class in anything but them now! That’s awesome that you were able to borrow a pair, and very very cool that Chelsea Clinton was in the class too!
Fun fact- I lived in NYC from 2009-2011 and was getting my MPH in Health Policy (same as what Chelsea has, except she was one year ahead of me in the program at Columbia)- and get this, she was my teacher’s assistant- only like 15 people in my group too so i’d see her once a month for discussion! She’s super down to earth too- I always was suspicious that we had cameras on us or spies watching us…. but sounds like secret service isn’t a lifetime thing!
I’ve never heard of SoulCycle before, but the spin class I used to take in college included all sorts of push-ups and arm workouts. I loved it, because you really feel like you got an all around workout by the end when you weren’t expecting it. But $32 per class?!? Holy cow! Also, those shoes would kind of freak me out too – I always associate them with people who are really hardcore.
Radom question, but did Ashley go to UGA?
I’ve never taken a class like that, but if people are more than willing to pay $32, it must be pretty awesome!
Looks like you are having a blast and the retreat didn’t even start! Have fun!
So glad you tried soul out! I work for the upper west side studio and am an enthusiastic rider too! Such a fun release and those 45 minutes fly right by! Whose class did you take!?
That room looks tiny! I bet it was a super sweaty class if it was that packed! I’m pretty sure I’d die if I ever took a hardcore spinning class lol
How exciting to see someone famous! Have fun!
Ohh that is pretty cool that you saw her! hehe. You always seem to run into someone who’s been on TV. 😉 And I’ve never tried soulcycle! But it should be interesting~
Another blogger I follow is *obsessed* with SoulCycle! I’d love to try it but I’m afraid I’ll like it too much and at that price, I can’t afford to!
I LIVE FOR SOUL CYCLE. It’s such a crazy cult following though and so expensive. BUT they offer free classes a few times a week but you have to sign up RIGHT when classes open on Monday’s to get in. Glad you go to try it!! I love the pushups on the bike. Who was your teacher/which studio did you try?
Ah so cool! As a political junkie, I think I’d freak out more over seeing her there than most celebrities, haha.
I took a piloxing class in LA and Hilary Duff was in my class 🙂
May sound like a silly question, but how did you use the weights on the bike?
That looks like such a fun class! And thats so cool you got to see Chelsea Clinton. I’d be so awkward, do I smile and say hi or pretend not to notice her? haha Can you tell I’ve never met a celebrity in real life?
So glad you got to try SoulCycle, it’s one of my faves! And you scored seeing Chelsea! Jake Gyllenhaal is known for hitting up Soul too…I’m praying one day he’ll be in my class. Great meeting you at our meet & tweet today!
I have been DYING to try SoulCycle for a while now! I’m finally going to get to try it out in a couple weeks when I’m down in the city for business. I spin a few times a week at our local YMCA and it’s my favorite cardio workout. I hope the SoulCycle experience is all it’s hyped up to be!
Ah $32 must mean it’s an AMAZING workout!! That’s awesome Chelsea was sweating it up in there. Her father did have a heart attack so it’s wise of her!
SoulCycle sounds like a blast…but that price tag is out of control!
I would love to try SoulCycle! I need to plan a trip to NYC just to go to all the different fitness classes.
I would love to try SoulCycle but $30+ for one class is insane to me.
Sounds awesome! But you’re right … that’s an insane price for a class. My husband’s monthly gym membership is less than the price of that one class!
Man that sounds intense! I’ve been too scared to even take a normal spin class lol. The political science nerd in me is super excited that you got to see Chelsea!
SoulCycle sounds so amazing, I definitely want to try a class next time I’m in NYC! And super small world, that blogger Kristine you mentioned was actually my roommate in college at U of M! We were both in the same sorority and I just saw her last time I was in NYC in March…when I was reading your post I was like OMG, I know her! So crazy! 🙂
I wish there was anything like this near me! I’ve been dying to do a class like that!
from wikipedia: US Secret Service offer protection : Children of former Presidents until age 16 or 10 years after the presidency.
Hey Julie! So cool that you got to take Physique 57! I teach The Dailey Method (www.thedaileymethod.com) in San Jose, CA. It is VERY similar! I am completely obsessed with it! Since i tend to gain muscle easier, it makes my muscles LONG and LEAN which i love since i am only 5′ 2″. =-)
You should try it if you are in the area sometime! They are all over! I also do cardio/other classes, but i definitely love this!
Anyway, love your blogs! Keep them coming!
Stefanie
I think it’s so cool that Chelsea Clinton was in the class!
I never see celebrities. I get goose bumps seeing the baseball players at a baseball game, and I mean duh! It’s like I’m excited they are actually there!
What’s funny about this is that when my best friend worked in NYC for a summer in college she went to a Soul Cycle class and Chelsea was in it (before her big wedding)… When I saw Soul Cycle in the post, before I even read on, I immediately thought of Chelsea Clinton just because of it being my only prior association. I guess that’s just been solidified!
Too funny.
$32 a class?!?! I had to think twice about booking a $12 class today. That’s insane.
Alec Baldwin is in my cousin and her husband’s spin class! It looks like that’s the fitness go-to for celebrities! 🙂
That class sounds like it was so much fun!
I would never take a $32 spin class, that’s fo’ sho’. $15 is my tops. Unless I magically run into some extra money, then I’d probably change my mind since I love spin so much.
But I guess that’s NY for ya, right?
Oh, spin classes at the Y (Blanchard Park) incorporate push ups and light weights. So you don’t need no SoulCycle. 😉
Heads up on a rant….
As a certified Spinning instructor (which is a registered trademark), I need to first say that Soul Cycle, Flywheel, or any similar facilities are not “spinning” facilities but rather just some sort of indoor cycling class.
Spinning doesn’t encourage any weight bearing upper body exercises (or push ups) on the bike. Not only can it be dangerous but sitting up straight on a bike is not proper form/alignment.
I will admit that I too had been curious about these types of studios so I tried a local one. During the class I felt OK (aside from feeling a bit silly sitting up in the saddle holding a 3 lb body bar), but the next day my back hurt. I’ve heard the same from many other people.
Spinning is a cardio/lower body workout. End of story.
Sorry for the rant but as a by the books instructor, clubs like this make it harder for me to teach as participants now think they need bells and whistles.
Flywheel is opening in the summer nearby so it surely will only get worse.
I could go on…
Amen, Jessica! As I was reading this, I was actually thinking a lot of what you wrote. I’ve been spinning (aka not SoulCycle-ing or Flywheel-ing) for years and have never once used weights or done push ups on a bike, and I would like to keep it that way! Spinning (true Spinning) is an amazing lower body workout, but it’s just that: a lower body workout.
That class sounds so fun! I wish we had cool classes like there in Milwaukee with fancy shoes 🙂
I’ve always wanted to try Soul Cycle!! How cool that you saw Chelsea:)
You are have the BEST job ever.
My gym offers Soul Cycle, except they call it Zenergy cycle. I’m actually going to it in about 2 hrs time 😛 I love it, and the weights are such an awesome break from the spinning, it makes the time fly by. And also kicks your butt yes!
WOW! I might have to take Soul up soon… $32 isn’t bad at all! WAAAAYYY less than I’m paying now. Sounds like a steal 🙂