By Kabita Das
The only thing that’s consistent about my exercise routine is that I consistently bail on my gym plans. I enjoy exercising and feel great afterward, but the hardest part for me about working out has always been getting myself out of bed and into my gym gear. When you’re the only person that holds yourself accountable for fitting a gym session into your schedule, it can be really hard to stay motivated and upbeat. However, going to SoulCycle made me face my tendencies head on. When I signed up for a free class with HerCampus, I was intimidated and tempted to bail out again because SoulCycle is notoriously difficult. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to drag myself out of bed to do something I knew was going to be difficult, but I thank myself for managing to do it.
There was a lot of anticipation, and I felt nervous. However as I talked to other people on our way to the facility, my nervousness grew into excitement, and I warmed up to the idea of hardcore cycling for forty-five minutes. Our conversations stemmed from spin class and led into casual conversation; the act of committing to an exercise provided me with the opportunity to connect with the people around me and create a community, and this community made exercise feel less like a chore, and more like an activity. As we arrived at SoulCycle, grabbed our shoes, and got ready, my excitement grew. The facility itself exceeded all of my expectations and heightened by enthusiasm. As we strapped our shoes and tied our hair, the conversations continued, slowly transitioning towards motivation. We collectively made our way through the halls and into the studio, where all the bikes were lined up, and as we settled into our seats, faculty graciously helped us adjust our seating.
Class started and when the lights dimmed down and the music started blaring, there was an immediate sense of empowerment. As the music grew louder, the only thing I could keep my mind on was the instructor who only had encouraging and enthusiastic things to say, and so my mind was filled to the brim with positive thoughts. When I looked into the mirror in front of us, the whole class moved together in unison to the beat. There is something inexplicably powerful about this; even though I didn’t know the majority of the people that attended, I still felt connected through the common effort we all contributed.
Going to SoulCycle gave me a new perspective on physical exercise. Having a community is something that I never thought to be so crucial to staying healthy, and yet when I was there, being with other people made the experience uniquely powerful. There is a monumental difference between going to the gym, and riding the stationary bike for twenty minutes and going to SoulCycle. With all the motivational factors that it provides, it doesn’t even feel like you’re on a stationary bike because the atmosphere is so lively. SoulCycle has motivated me to find a community to make exercise as enjoyable and empowering as it was meant to be.