This article has been syndicated to Her Campus from Ampersand, an InfluenceHer Collective member. Read the full post here.
Last weekend, I reached my peak state of basicness: I went to a SoulCycle class. I know, hard to believe it’s taken me this long, but my curiosity finally got the best of me and I wanted to see what the hype was (Shoutout to Aminah for taking me, you’re the bomb.com). Well, everything you’ve heard about it is true and I get why people are obsessed with it because SoulCycle is absolutely LIT.
SoulCycle is more than just an exercise class, it’s a true experience. That sounds super dramatic and ridiculous, but it couldn’t be more true. It’s not just a spin class. You may roll your eyes at “finding your SOUL” while riding a stationary bike, but trust me, you have to be there to believe it. Yes, it’s an extremely hard workout (you will sweat A LOT) but you actually do walk out of there feeling incredibly empowered.
So if you’re even remotely considering SoulCycle, just sign up and give it a try. And just so you have a head’s up, here’s what to expect from your first class.
Before Your Class
Alright, so you decided you’re going to try this whole SoulCycle thing out–now what? Thankfully, I had Aminah to walk me through the sign-up process because it’s kind of intense. Let me break it down:
- Go onto www.soul-cycle.com and sign up as a new rider (basic information, email, password, etc.)
- To get the new rider discount ($20/first class), the best way is to call the studio where you want to go and tell them that you’re totally new to this whole SoulCycle thing. They’re very nice and accommodating. They’ll ask you for your credit card and add the new rider discount on your account.
- Okay, now pay attention. Every Monday at NOON, that’s when the weekly sign-ups start. So even if you want to go on a Saturday, you have to sign up Monday, starting at noon. And depending on how popular your instructor is, spaces fill up fast (seriously, it was the most stressful 10 seconds of my life, followed by that time I had to buy pre-sale Drake tickets), so make sure you’re logged in and ready to go. Just click on a bike marked by a number (they show you a map of the studio), and you’re registered to ride.
The really nice thing about SoulCycle is that they send you an email immediately after about what to expect/how to prepare, but here are some other things to keep in mind.
- Pack your bag: Especially if you’re going prolong your basicness by going to brunch afterwards (guilty), bring a change of clothes because you will get really sweaty. Other things to bring: socks (you need them for the shoes they give you), water bottle (a MUST) and towel (although they have them for you as well).
- What to wear: Capris/leggings or shorts that won’t ride up/chafe. (Really recommend super breathable leggings for ladies). A workout tank or t-shirt is fine, although most people (myself included) just end up wearing their sports bras (did I mention you sweat a lot?). You can wear whatever shoes you want to the studio (just remember socks!!) because they give you special shoes, as mentioned before.
- H Y D R A T E: Yes, you have a place for a water bottle on your bike, but I definitely didn’t drink enough water beforehand, which definitely did not help me. Drinks lots and lots of water the day/morning before.
- Eat a little something: This isn’t something like “oh I never eat before I go on a run.” You definitely need something in your stomach before you go. Doesn’t have to be a lot, but you really don’t want to pass out during your first SoulCycle class. My class was at 10:45 a.m., so about an hour before I had an apple with peanut butter and a KIND bar, and I felt good.
- Bring a friend: It definitely helped that I went with Aminah (who’s been before) so I could ask her a bunch of questions/calm my nerves, but if you don’t know anyone who’s gone before, bring a friend so you can try it together! I definitely was a little nervous leading up to it, so it was nice to have someone to go with.
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