Today we're going talk about SoulCycle. For those who don't know what Soul is, it's an indoor cycling studio that provides a full body workout and incorporates spiritual, mental and emotional aspects.

Before Soul became a part of my everyday life, I really looked down on it. It seemed exclusive, hard to penetrate, and like an impossible workout. When I took my first class at SoulCycle in Chestnut Hill, I was seriously out of shape. It was during finals week of the fall semester, during which I probably slept a total of six hours; one of my best friends thought I might need a release.

I was stressed, overtired, and running on iced coffee, Adderall, and vending machine snacks from the library. When I got there, I was intimidated by the rippling abs of the girls in the front row and the peppiness of the instructor on a podium who must have been a superhuman because she could easily speak into a microphone and teach this insanely exhausting class without being out of breath.

I struggled through the class and vowed to never go back. A month later, I was going to two classes a week and couldn't get enough. By the time school was starting up again for spring semester, I realized that I probably couldn't afford to pay $30 per class when I was making no money, and I really felt more and more comfortable at Soul, so I applied for a job as front desk staff. After a couple of interviews, I was presented with an array of yellow shirts adorned with a wheel and "STAFF" printed on the back. After that, Soul became one of the most important parts of my life, changing my mind and body class by class. So, here are a few things I wish I knew before my first class.

1. It is a unique mind-body experience.

Me before Christmas break last year would have hated me too (as my roommate Ashleigh so lovingly captioned here) because I was so out of shape and didn't understand the full extent and release of Soul. But, nine months later, I still feel the same way as this moment Ash caught on Snapchat. I had to learn to really engage myself into class, both physically and mentally, and really get out of my own head and into the dark, candlelit room. When I made the connection between my mind and body during a class, which admittedly took well over a few classes, I felt outside myself and really understood why people become addicted to this place.

As for the workout, it's a killer every time I go. I have never sweat and smiled so much in my life, especially at the same time. Even after going to class everyday, I still find each class especially challenging. Each instructor is different in both their physical workout and their vibe of each class (if you need recommendations, message me!). I even recently went out to San Francisco and took a few different Soul classes, and the difference in community is incredible, but the message of positivity and strength is still the same.

2. I would make lifelong friends.

At first, Soul was just a place of physical and mental release, then a place of work, and then a home. Since being at Soul and opening up to the spirit of the company and brand, I have met some incredible people and gained some of the best friends a girl riding a stationary bike for fun everyday could ask for. The friends I have made are so different from the friends I have made through school and such, but we are linked through Soul; some are into theater, some into sports, some others passionate about their work in a huge range of fields from finance to art. The people I have met have helped me open my mind up to so many different parts of the world that I would have never experienced without them. Not only have they given me new experiences, but they have given me a new, truer sense of myself.

3. I would strengthen relationships I already had.

Not only did I strengthen my relationship with Lululemon and the new athleisure trend, but with people in my life, too. Explaining SoulCycle to people is one thing, but having them experience it is another. When friends who had been a part of the Soul gang tried to explain it to me before I went, I would roll my eyes and ignore their enthusiastic rants about the amazing music and the inspirational ways of the instructions. It wasn't until I experienced it for myself, felt the energy in the room for myself, that I began to understand why SoulCycle is taking the nation (and soon the globe) one unmoving yellow bike at a time. When I brought my friends and family to class, they were not only able to find their own unique experience at Soul, but were able to see firsthand how much I love it and how much it means to me from each hair flip and scream I let out during class.

4. I would become more confident in myself.

At first, I envisioned Soul as a basic, skinny white girl's heaven, but I could not have been more wrong. Everybody is different in Soul, both physically and mentally. SoulCycle means something totally different to each individual, but we are all in the same room, doing the same moves on the bike, listening to the same music and instructor. To me, this is what makes it so empowering; everyone in the room has the same surface experience, but we all gain something different from the class and build the Soul community whether we intend to or not. Through this, I have realized that my own unique body and ~soul~ is uniquely me, and that's awesome! Everyone's individuality should be appreciated by themselves because we are not only affecting ourselves, we are affecting everyone in that room. I have also become comfortable wearing workout clothes to any and every life event, usually stamped with a wheel or some Soul mantra or branding on it (yes I am one of the walking SoulCycle billboards you see around Boston).

SoulCycle came into my life at the perfect time, helping me gain confidence in myself from my physical health and body image to trust in my ability to roll with the punches. I am more confident in leading my own life without having to follow a traditional path. Soul has given me so much, and I want the company and brand to continue to change people's lives, which is why I encourage everyone to give it a try.

In Boston, there are currently three studios (Chestnut Hill, Back Bay, and Beacon Hill) and two more will open within the next year (Dedham - Legacy Place, and Seaport). With a variety of locations, instructors, and class times, it's easy to accommodate any schedule. Who can't take 45 minutes out of their day to possibly change their life? You can find schedules, read about instructors, and even book your first ride by visiting the website (https://www.soul-cycle.com), using the app, or calling the studio!

Also, check out some of my favorite Soul songs here!

Hopefully I'll see you on a bike soon... I'm always looking for more people to ride with!

- King Kenz