Instead of heading to a diner and ordering a plate of good ole pancakes, around 50 plus of Hoboken, New Jersey residents spend their Sunday morning in a fluorescent and modern studio space that has words like “Renegade” and “Warrior” written in gigantic letters on the white walls. Once they put their belongings into a small locker (with built in locks) they enter a dark candlelit room of organized gray workout bikes. Then, they hop onto their designated one and insert their lightweight cleated shoes into the pedals.

As soon as everyone is comfortable, the grapefruit scented room is filled with the sound of the fast paced wheels. The men, dressed in sleeveless shirts and shorts are significantly outnumbered by the women, dressed in sports bras and spandex. Almost all of them have an article of clothing on or a water bottle that has a logo of a skull or wheel. Eddie Corley, a small yet very fit man dives into the room of darkness as the instructor and immediately blasts house music from the speakers as a concert would.

This experience is known as the famous SoulCycle, the indoor cycling exercise class that has taken America by storm and has the likes of celebrities such as Vanessa Hudgens and Beyoncé. With studios across the East and West coast, it even plans to eventually go worldwide.

For the next 45 minutes, Corley, the instructor (sporting full SoulCycle attire and wearing a headset mic) shouts encouraging messages over the club like songs as the entire class follows his movements from the front of the room, which include high resistance sprints, uphill “climbs”, choreographed moves intended to target the core and an arm sculpting section using dumbbells ranging from two to five pounds. Although each rider goes at his or her own pace, everything is still performed with such intensity, accuracy and synchronization that you might mistake the class for a dance group.

Among the darkness, music, shouting and unbearable heat something indescribable happens. It’s pretty similar to the type of euphoric rush you get when you push yourself a little harder and exceed your expectations; a feeling that has people coming back for more.

Roslyn Stanfield is a prime example of that. “My first class was in 2016 and I’ve been going ever since…I try to go at least two to three times a week.” While she credits SoulCycle for keeping her body lean and trim she emphasizes the importance it has on her mood. “I can have a bad day or just be crabby, but once I leave a class I feel rejuvenated and ready to conquer anything.” Any negative thoughts or feelings she had prior to the ride are all gone afterwards.

First time rider, Elinor Mokaya, was quite hesitant about trying out the well-known exercise class, but “I am glad I did it,” she said simultaneously wiping the never ending sweat from her forehead. “I can see why it is so popular because it benefits the mind, body, and soul, hence the name.”