It’s a new season, which means trying new things is in style. Fall has arrived right on schedule and has brought along its pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin pies, caramelized apples, and other sweet treats – fitness off campus sounds more and more appealing to keep that summer body all year long!
Everyone knows the Brandeis gym can get a little crowded, a little sweaty, and a little old. Instead, SoulCycle offers intense but fun spin classes aimed to invigorate riders’ “souls” and set them on the right foot for the day. The classes also work out the core and arms – pushups and crunches are done on the bike and hand weights are also incorporated, which guarantee riders a full-body workout. After the 45-minute class is up, it is not uncommon to feel like a “rockstar,” as the instructors often point out. Jordan Dubin, a regular rider at SoulCycle for two years now, loves the intense classes because “of the energy from the instructors and the amazing music; it’s a great way to workout.”
The mission of SoulCycle is to positively alter the way riders think, look, and feel, along with improving their overall fitness and health. The classes are different than standardized spin classes because they are community rides. Everyone rides together to the beat of the music, whether it’s fast hip-hop, electronic dance music (EDM), slower reggae songs, or this week’s top hits.
Felicia Silber is one of Chestnut Hill’s regular riders and a Brandeis student. She says, “I love SoulCycle because it is a 45 minute distraction where I feel I can only focus on myself. The environment is very inclusive and makes you feel like you are part of a family every time you go.” Some classes are even themed to keep riders on their toes. This week at the Chestnut Hill studio, there’s an Iggy vs. Nicki ride, which is bound to be really “soulful.”
Riders hit each corner of the bike, tap it back, move across the handlebars, and even work their obliques, being sure to keep their pedals in sync to the beat of the music at all times. Each instructor picks his or her own playlist that is unique to each individual class, offering a different and empowering experience every time a rider gets on the bike. Negative energy is left behind.
SoulCycle is more than just a spin class. It’s an alternative way to workout and feels like a dance party, even at 7:00 in the morning. The studio in Chestnut Hill is the only one in Massachusetts and is just a ten-minute drive from Brandeis. Starbucks is right around the corner for those who want their pumpkin-fix after the soulful ride.