Plain and simple, I’m addicted to SOULCYCLE. I never thought I would see or hear the day that those words would came out of my mouth, but after my second attempt at this spinning phenomenon, I can’t imagine how anyone wouldn’t like it (oh wait…maybe because classes are a million dollars each…I am savoring every class I’m able to take with the amount left on my giftcard).
So, last week on New Year’s Eve, I mentioned that spinning and I haven’t always had the best relationship. Let me clarify- we had an abusive relationship.
When I finished my freshman year of college and moved back home for the summer, I immediately joined the gym. Not necessarily because I wanted to, but because I took advantage of the freshman fifteen, put it in it’s place, and replaced it with the freshman forty (no, seriously…but that’s a story for a different time). As a last second attempt to feel comfortable during bathing suit season, I decided to take advantage of something healthier this time, and take a spinning class at my new gym. Low and behold, my body wasn’t on board with my new plan, and five minutes into the class my knee gave out while my feet remained strapped in pedaling along. A hot pang shot through my ankle, and I knew something more than the fact that I was awkwardly dangling from a stationary bike had gone wrong. To add insult to injury, the older man, who was maybe five times my age, nonchalantly climbed off his bike and came to my rescue; class had to stop (at this point I’m turning purple from embarrassment); and the instructor took me to a bench out in front of the gym, where I sat and recovered hysterically cried while icing my first sprained ankle.
With my first real injury in the bag, I vowed to stay away from spinning forever. That is until my boss gave me the best Christmas present ever, inspiring my new obsession with spinning and forcing me to finally get past my fear of stationary bikes.
If I’m being completely honest, though, I will never be 100% past my fear of stationary bikes. In my first SoulCycle class, I felt myself holding back, nervous that my knee may give out and leave me dangling once again. On the bright side, SoulCycle makes you wear cycling shoes that clip into the pedals. If I wear to fall, there is a better chance of my foot detaching from the bike than if I were wearing a running shoe and I were strapped in, as I had been back on that dreaded summer day.
Tonight I went to the 9:30 class, and hope to become a regular for all Thursday 9:30 classes. With slightly calmer nerves, I powered through the class with a smile on my face. Every song was exactly what I wanted to hear, which is my ultimate motivator; the little, yet powerful mantras that the instructor was yelling were somehow inspiring rather than annoying; and when the lights came back on I couldn’t even believe it was already over.
Overall, sorry to be so repulsively obsessed and happy. It’s the endorphins, so not really my fault. This is the start of a beautiful relationship with cross-training.
Are you afraid of any workouts/workout classes?
Has anything helped you or forced you to get over that fear?
Are you afraid of any workouts/workout classes?
Has anything helped you or forced you to get over that fear?
(Hi Batman & Ahnziiiee- thanks for being patient with me tonight)
What I’m Running Spinning to: The Veldt- deadmau5 feat. Chris James (Tommy Trash Remix)
Fueled by Endorphins 
7 responses to “I got Soul, but I’m not a Soldier”
I really love that shirt in the first pic!
Ouuuch, I'm sorry about your first injury, that just SOUNDS bad!
I don't have SoulCycle at my gym, but I have free spin classes that i've YET to take advantage of because I'm sooo intimidated! I'm intimidated because I'll be going on my own and feel like I'll never be able to keep up!
I was obsessed with it when I saw it the first time so I put it on hold to make sure I wasn't just being impulsive, but I had to go back and get it! It took me a really long time to work up the courage to take a spin class and then of course I fell off the bike haha… but it's such a great form of cross-training once you get past the initial fear. I feel like you'll definitely be able to keep up, though, especially since you run so much! I already noticed a difference this week from last week because of running in between. Plus, no one will even know if you're on your own.
I need a better boss… I got a bag of cheap chocolate from mine. There was a candy cane too… Yeah, not the same. Though, is giving your employee a fitness related gift strange? Is that like giving your wife/g/f a vacuum? Like, hint-hint, lose some weight?
Haha it might be in a different situation, but I should have explained better. We are both marathon runners and had talked about how cross training positively impacts results.
That makes much more sense. That is a lot of fun though! My boss is about as far from a marathon runner as they come.
I would LOVE to take a spin class, they sound awesome! (Except for your first bad experience!) I hope I get to someday!
It really is such a fun class and I'm happy that I finally went again after almost swearing it off forever. I hope you are able to take a class some time!