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Original SoulCyclists

• SC Originals: AMY PECK

  If there's one person who has truly changed the course of SOUL, it's SC Original AMY PECK. As Julie Rice put it, "Soul was good, but Amy Peck made it great." From transforming our PR, to organizing Soul events (down to the last detail), to planning photoshoots, to starting our social media, to running our customer service, to making staff shirts, to arranging flowers... there is not one part of Soul that Amy Peck has not improved. And on top of that, she is a dream to work with. Enthusiastic, thoughtful, generous, hilarious -- to know her it to love her. Here's to you, Amy Peck.
  

   

  

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  Posted September 22, 11

• SC Originals: SUSAN THOMSON

  Melanie Griffith convinced SUSAN THOMSON to come to SoulCycle for the first time... and thank goodness she did! For years Soul has reaped the benefits of Susan’s wonderful energy and bubbly personality -- not to mention her beautiful riding. Thank you, Susan! Can’t wait to “drop that double” with you at 77^th! 

  
  

  
  

  Susan at 72nd's Wreck the Studio Party! 

   

  How long have you been riding at SoulCycle? 
  Pretty close to when it first opened!
  
  
  How did you stumble upon the rear lobby?

  My friend, SoulCycle teacher Melanie Griffith, brought me there swearing I would love it!! She was right!!

  
  

  What brought you back a second time?

  The music, energy, Stacey and the crazy urge to sweat and become a better rider!!
  
  

  How has the studio changed since you started? What has stayed the same? 
  

  The space and energy has stayed the same. Thank God!! But it has certainly gotten more crowded!!
  
  

  What's a UWS memory that stands out for you? 
  

  The first time Stacey invited me up to ride the teacher bike!! That was amazing!! I also used to be able to call or text Julie with my class selections for the week!!! Can you believe that?!
  Posted September 19, 11

• SC Originals: Tara Rosegarten

  Love, love, love SC Original TARA ROSEGARTEN's description of SoulCycle. Reading more like a poem than a q + a, Tara's writing reflects the kind of rider she is: strong and soulful. Thank you for everything you have given to Soul throughout the years... See you at 77th!
  

   

  

  Tara riding in Sue's last class at W. 72nd! 
  

   

  Where do I begin to describe what Soul Cycle has meant to me? I'm an original member. Let's just say when it was an idea in its infancy a friend of mine approached me to say that she was opening a freestanding spin studio. As a spinner for years I thought it was a great concept. But SoulCycle is much more than just a spin studio. It's a place where magic happens. It is a space where bad moods are lifted. It is a space to leave all of your "muck" and leave feeling wonderful. It is a community where people help each other network, socialize, celebrate life events and support and love one another. I feel blessed to have such a space in my life that makes me feel so physically strong and centered. Julie and Elizabeth have created something really special and I feel grateful to have been a loyal member since their inception. The energy of the room is transcendent. The dedication and focus of the instructors is nothing shy of impressive. It is a small island of calm in a turbulent Manhattan sea.

  
  Tara Rosegarten

  Posted September 19, 11

• SC Originals: MELANIE GRIFFITH

  It seems only appropriate to wrap-up the SC Originals series with this post from MELANIE GRIFFITH. Melanie's unbridled passion for Soul inspired her to make the leap from rider to instructor (the first one!) and we are SO thankful she did. On a daily basis, she blesses her riders and the Soul staff with her positive attitude and calming energy. And, as anyone whose taken her class knows, her outlook while battling cancer has been nothing short of awe-inspiring. We love you Mel. We love everything you brought to W. 72nd and everything you contine to bring to Soul! 
  
  
  
  
   
  How long have you been riding at SoulCycle? 
  I have been riding at SoulCycle since the very beginning ... the summer of 2006. In so many ways the path of my life was forever changed from that day when I walked into the rear lobby and said hello to Julie Rice. That tiny space back there was where everything happened. I walked in and said hello and knew I was where I needed to be.
  
  
  How did you stumble upon the rear lobby? 
  A mutual friend of Julie's and mine told me about SoulCycle. I was living in the neighborhood. Mother of three little ones who at the time were 7, 5 and 3 years old. I had stopped practicing as a lawyer when my daughter was born in 1999. For years I had filled my days as a full-time mom, uber school volunteer, occasional practitioner of yoga and pilates. I had a personal trainer here and there. I never thought of myself as particularly good at cardio. But I loved to dance. I was curious about the name - SoulCycle - and the possibility of that little dark room.
   
  
  
  
  What brought you back a second time? 
  I was hooked from the first song of the first class. Something about the music and the candles and closing my eyes and just letting myself feel. Whatever it was I was feeling. I was somewhat unclear about what the next steps would be for me in my life. My kids were only getting older and more independent. How did I see myself apart from my varied roles as wife and mother and volunteer? I didn't particularly take the time to ask myself those questions. I just filled my days and did my best with my kids and my life. And then I found SoulCycle. And pretty quickly started really riding. Consistently. Getting stronger. Breathing easier.
   
  And just as I was starting to find my groove again - Stacey showed up from L.A.  I remember riding in a class with her. She was riding as well - checking it out before she taught her first class at 72nd Street.  And then once I started taking her classes, my level of addiction multiplied. The fun had only just begun. The first Westside front row. Really the the whole room. It was magical. We were not just trying to look great. That was the bonus. We were trying to SoulCycle. Put our dreams on the handlebars. Support and encourage each other. Then Stacey would put me on the platform. My face would hurt from smiling. So much love in the room. So much joy. And for years i had countless amazing inspiring fun-filled rides with so many instructors. At that first little studio in the rear lobby, I had found a place to find my rhythm, my flare, my breath, my soul. I had found a place to help build a community. To celebrate strength. Move freely and dream big. I had found a way to dance every day. And mean it!
   
  
   
  How has the studio changed since you started? What has stayed the same? 
  There was something so intimate and organic about those early days. Watching an idea become a reality. Living it real time as it was emerging. Profound friendships were formed with our own personal connection to SoulCycle as the spark and the foundation. The lunches and breakfasts we would have after class. Trying juice fasts together. Shifting coffee spots to meet at after class. Testing the Bands as a possible new class. Taking before and after pictures. Dreaming big as a room. Julie signing me up for classes early on. Getting my friends to believe me that they would love it too. Watching them become integral parts of the Soul community. It seemed like everyone knew everyone. 
   
  As SoulCycle expands, the spaces and the faces increase. More people can walk into more rooms with more amazing inspiring instructors and find rhythm or peace or strength or fitness or inspiration . . . or a dark room to just feel. But the power and possibility of those rooms and those who fill them remains the same. If we let the room be more than a place to get sweaty and get fit. If we are accountable to the mantra - mind, body, cardio - we can let SoulCycle be a metaphor for life. Be a way of life. Find your rhythm in one of those rooms, find it anywhere. Choose to actually climb your hill and work for each step - and it is just that much easier to take the hard steps when they come in life. Move as a community. Celebrate as a community. I shine if you shine. The potential is what is the same. The possibility of the dark room that is SoulCycle. I used to believe it. Now i know it.
   
  
   
  What's a UWS memory that stands out for you? 
  In so many ways I became the woman I am today in a dark room at SoulCycle. I changed my body. I changed my career. I made life long friendships. I learned what I believe in. I learned how to trust my gut. I faced my fears. When I turned 40 in 2009, I had a birthday spin at the 72nd street studio. And somehow I decided to teach my own class. I invited my teachers and friends and fellow riders. And they came. And I taught the class. And we celebrated - what they had taught me. What we had experienced together in that room. My birthday. And I faced my fears about talking on the mic. Making a playlist. Just like my first day as a rider in 2006, I was hooked from the first song. Julie put the thought in my head that day - maybe I wanted to become an instructor at SoulCycle. It was the next step in my journey. It has led me to where I am today. 
   
  I love my job. Am proud to say that I SoulCycle. It has become my way of life. I was accountable to the possibility of what it could be when i started riding. I am accountable to what i know it can be in my role as an instructor. I have spent a summer undergoing chemotherapy. Walking the walk I learned in that rear lobby. My cardio fitness never better. My gut strong. I spent the summer continuing to teach, adapt, find my rhythm, climb my hill one steep step at a time, trust my gut . . . dance when I can. I am profoundly grateful to the riders, the instructors, the entire community of SoulCycle. I have beautiful memories of how SoulCycle began. I am honored to be a part of what SoulCycle has become. I look forward to the next steps. I will miss the rear lobby.
  
  
  Posted September 19, 11

• SC Originals: PAMELA MURPHY

  SC Original PAMELA MURPHY has to be one of the most kind and generous Souls we know. A SoulCycler from the very beginning Pam befriended fellow riders, instructors and Soul Staff immediately. And you'd be hard-pressed to find a Bridgehampton front desker who hasn't made their way to "Murphy Beach!" Thank you for making the trek uptown for all those years... W 72nd wouldn't have been the same without you!
  

   

  

   

  How long have you been riding at SoulCycle?
  

  Since June 2006. 

   

  How did you stumble upon the rear lobby?

  I was in the Hamptons that summer and I kept hearing about this great spinning place on Butter Lane. I had only spun once before  — years ago — and was looking for a new exercise regime so I decided to check it out. My first class in the barn was with Stacey and it took about 5 minutes for me to know that I was hooked. Once Labor Day came, I started to make the trek from my apartment in TriBeCa up to 72nd street daily.
  
   
  
  
  What brought you back a second time?
  
  
  The year SoulCycle opened was the year I ended chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer. I had spent a few years questioning my body, questioning my strength and, frankly, questioning almost everything. That room and those classes gave me back a part of myself that I had been missing. In that room I learned to forgive and to be grateful, I learned that I was as strong - maybe even stronger - than I had ever been, and through each class - each pedal stroke, really, I learned that I could conquer almost anything. "Fight for it" has become a mantra I've taken out of that room and applied to my life each and every day. Plus, there's no better cure for a hangover.
  
   
  
  
  How has the studio changed since you started? What has stayed the same? 
  
  
  I haven't spent as much time in the rear lobby since the TriBeCa studio opened, but when I am there, I am amazed at how little it has changed. Years and so many riders later, and there's still that same sense of community and camaraderie that was so important for me at the beginning. I feel a nostalgia there that's going to be hard to let go of.
  
   
  
  
  What's a UWS memory that stands out for you?
  
  
  There are so many it's hard to pick one. I think the most important things that have come out of that rear lobby for me are the friendships I've made and the community I've been so lucky to be part of. There's a feeling in that room that we are all part of something so special. And to think I was just looking for a new exercise program ...
  Posted September 18, 11

• SC Originals: Gabrielle Palay

  It seems appropriate to follow up Pamela Murphy's post with a q+a from SC Original GABRIELLE PALAY! Thank you Gabrielle for your calm energy and wicked sense of humor. Can't wait to ride with you 5 blocks away! 

  
  

  

  Gabrielle and SC Original Pam Murphy on the beach together as kids! 

  How long have you been riding at SoulCycle? 
  June 2007
  
  
  How did you stumble upon the rear lobby?
  My best friend, Pamela Murphy, took me to my first class in Bridgehampton. Once I was hooked, I was so happy to find out the one and only city studio was only three blocks away from me.
  
  
  What brought you back a second time?
  Stacey's energy!
  
  
  How has the studio changed since you started? What has stayed the same?
  
  72nd street has really stayed the same for me.  Of course some of the people have changed...and sign-ups have definitely changed! 
  
  
  What's a UWS memory that stands out for you? 
  
  I don't have one specific memory in mind, but the camaraderie with everyone (both in front and behind the desk) has always been a big part of the total SC experience. And of course, the very no-frills room itself will always be a big one. I will miss it! 
  Posted September 18, 11

• SC Originals: DEB CLARK

  If Soul ever made a Look Book, it would prominently feature Soul Original DEBORAH CLARK. With her big curly hair and statement outfits, Deborah doesn't go anywhere without making a splash. Can't wait to have your energy in the new studio! 

   

  

  
  How long have you been riding at Soul? 
  I've been coming to Stacey's classes since she came out to the Hamptons :):):)
  

  What made you come back a second time? 
  What brought me back was the CHALLENGE and the P.E.A.C.E. OF MIND and SOUL...
  

  What has changed about Soul? What has stayed the same? 
  What has stayed the same is the ENERGY and what has changed is the amount of PEEPS which is ALL GOOD ;)
  

  What's a UWS memory that stands out for you? 
  When my husband was stuck in Haiti and we didn't know WHEN or HOW he was going to get home... I went to 72nd St and Stace had me riding my A#@ off for him and all the other brave docs out there doing service for the people of Haiti.
  
  Lots of love and SOUL,
  DC

  Posted September 18, 11

• SC Originals: SILDA PALERM

  SC Original SILDA PALERM was one of the first to discover what so many of us have since found at Soul -- the ability to find  joy in fitness. As she describes it, "We ride hard and we have a good time doing it."  Looking forward to continuing the good times... thank you, Silda! 

   

  

  Silda and her daughter at the SC Ride for Haiti! 

   

  How long have you been riding at SoulCycle? 
  

  My first ride was on a Friday in November after the presidential election in 2008. 
  

   

  How did you stumble upon the rear lobby?

  A friend, Orin Snyder, recommended it.
  

   

  What brought you back a second time?

  The sense of achievement of having survived my first ride.

   

  How has the studio changed since you started? What has stayed the same? 
  

  Different teachers and new people come, but the energy and the sense of purpose remains the same. Look, there is no bull. We come to ride hard and we have a good time doing it. 
  

   

  What's a UWS memory that stands out for you? 
  

  I came to SoulCycle needing to lose some weight. Diabetes runs in my family and I was at a point where i had to get control over my weight.  Now, 15 pounds lighter and 2 sizes smaller, I feel great about myself (hey I look hot!). And most importantly I am strong and healthy!

  Posted September 17, 11

• SC Originals: JODI DIVAK

  We often call what happens in our little room "life practice" - the way you face a challenge on the bike reflects how you'll approach a challenge outside of class. No one understands this better than SC Original JODI DIVAK who says that SoulCycle has helped her take on new obstacles. And based on the way she rides, we're gonna bet she faces them head on!

  
  

  

   

  How long have you been riding at SoulCycle? 

  I have been riding since the summer of 2006.

  
  

  How did you stumble upon the rear lobby?

  A friend dragged me there. I hadn't exercised much after my kids were born and went reluctantly. I hadn't lost all the baby weight and, in fact, had gained some more! I didn't think I would be able to finish the class!  

  
  

  What brought you back a second time?

  I was hooked from the first song! The music, the energy, the feeling of euphoria afterwards. I wanted more and haven't looked back!

  
  

  How has the studio changed since you started? What has stayed the same? 
  It has gotten a lot more popular! I used to walk in without ever signing up! I remember the company talking up Stacey and Laurie Cole encouraging riders to try them! What hasn't changed is the feeling that I can conquer the world after taking a class. No matter how tired I am when I drag myself there,  I always leave there feeling like a better person!
   
  What's a UWS memory that stands out for you? 
  So many memories! I have made so many new friends with this amazing community of riders.  But riding the instructor bike for the first time really stands out because I was actually shaking from fear when I went up there. But Sue had confidence I could do it and everyone was so supportive and I fed off their energy and  had the best time! In fact, I met my best spin buddy, Alexa Model, during that ride! Experiences like that have helped me to not shy away from new challenges!  
   
  Thanks to SoulCycle, I have taken charge of my body and my health. During one of Laurie Cole's classes, she said that only we can control the food choices we make and before we ate something we should decide if we really wanted to put that in our body. It was like someone had dumped a bucket of water on my head. I changed the way I ate and started spinning more regularly and I lost 30 pounds over 6 months and have kept every pound off for more than 18 months now! I have more confidence than ever and feel really good about myself. 
  Posted September 16, 11

• SC Originals: STEVE DANTUS

  One of our first male addicts, SC Original STEVE DANTUS has some wonderful anecdotes about his first weeks at Soul. Steve compares W 72nd closing to finishing a good book. And we can't wait to write you into the sequel. Thank you, Steve! 

   

  
  

   

  How long have you been riding at SoulCycle? 
  I have been riding at SoulCycle since it was about a week old.
   
  How did you stumble upon the rear lobby?
  While I had the address, it wast easy!! I walked back and forth checking and rechecking the address, looking for a "gym." I finally ventured back to the rear lobby-- a rear lobby?-- but once I heard the music I knew I was in the right spot. 
   
  What brought you back a second time?
  A great teacher, great music  a great workout, and a great feeling walking out the door. It was different then other spinning classes - much better. After that, while living in the city I was there almost every night
  
  
  How has the studio changed since you started? What has stayed the same? 
  The studio hasn't changed much.  Different faces, same great music and workout.  The co-spinners are much better than in the beginning when we were all learning together... or maybe i am just getting older!!! 
  
  

  What's a UWS memory that stands out for you? 

  I am not sure why this stands out, but I remember a Stacey 6:30pm weekday class that was about 1/2 full... which was great back then. She looked up with a big smile and said, "If everyone just brought one friend the class would be full!"  Or maybe a Laurie class early morning where I was the only rider... that was tough workout! Wow have things changed! While I am very happy for the success SoulCycle has enjoyed I sure wish it were that easy to get a bike now!!!

  Congratulations SoulCycle on all you have achieved, and good luck in the new studio. But closing the old one is sort of like ending a great book--- at some point even the best  book has to end, but i wish it would just keep going....

  That said, I suspect the sequel will not disappoint.

  Posted September 16, 11

• SC Originals: DEBBIE SABLE

  Another rider who has literally been with us since day one, SC Original DEBBIE SABLE truly helped start the Soul revolution. And the addiction runs in the family. With her daughter Elianna now rocking the instructor bike, it looks like the Sables will be riding at 77th for a long time to come!! 

   

  

   

  Hi, my name is Debbie Sable and SoulCycle has been in my life since the day its doors opened. I was a member of the Reebok Club and when I switched over to Soul I never looked back. Of course there have been many changes in the last five years, the main one being that in those first few months there were three of us in the class! But I can tell you that the core and the soul of what SoulCycle is has not changed. My younger daughter Elianna started coming with me in those early days and not only did she come to love spinning, she decided that she wanted to be part of the SoulCycle family and became a spinning instructor. So maybe in those early days when Julie Rice would greet us as we came in and we knew everyone in the studio, it felt like one small happy family. Now all that's chaged is that we're one big happy family. I hope this has helped in giving a little insight to the very beginning of my time at SoulCycle.

  Thanks so much.

  Debbie

  Posted September 16, 11

• SC Originals: LAUREN CECERE

  If W 72nd named a poster child, it would have to be SC Original LAUREN CECERE. In her years of managing the west side studio, Lauren was sympathetic to the needs of riders, owners, vendors, and staffers and was able to breeze through the most intense of turnovers with a smile on her face. The first time you come to Soul, Lauren will set you up, make sure you're comfortable and be sure to ask about your ride when you're done. The second time you walk into the Rear Lobby she'll remember your name, the name of your grandmother and the name of your pet guinea pig. And you may wonder, "Is this an act?" But it is NOT... Lauren is just genuinely happy to see you! She has helped us to define what makes good customer service and Soul would not be the same without her! 

   

  

   

  How long have you been riding at SoulCycle?

  I started riding at SoulCycle when I started working for SoulCycle. September 22nd 2008. Wow. 

  
  

  
  

  How did you stumble upon the rear lobby?

  My dead-end job. I was a personal assistant for Lauren Hutton's personal assistant and I needed out. Dropping off dry cleaning was not my thing - but for some reason spraying shoes totally was! The moment I met with Julie and Elizabeth I knew that I needed to work for SoulCycle.
   
  What brought you back a second time?
  When they decided to hire me ... SEVEN MONTHS LATER! I interviewed with Julie and Elizabeth in February of 2008 and didn't get the job right away. I was so bummed.  When I received a call from them that September, I couldn't have been been happier. 
   
   
  
   
   

  How has the studio changed since you started? What has stayed the same? 
  
  I am so happy that with all of the growth, not much has changed. It is still a wonderful place to spend 45+ hours of my week. I can genuinely say that there has not been one day in the past three years that I did not enjoy my job. I love all of the people that walk in and out of the studio from instructors to riders and even our vendors! One thing that is soon to change that I know we will never get back is answering Sue's trivia through the windows, by holding up a piece of paper with the (sometimes correct) answer on it.
  
  
  Julie and Elizabeth, thank you for staying the same. Thank you for always having an open door. Thank you for your support. And thank you for all of your hand-me-down clothes!
  
  

  What's a UWS memory that stands out for you? 

  Spending my summer in USQ, I have missed out on Ellen Grayson's crazy antics, listening to Lisanne Godnick sing along with every song and Scott Elias hooting and hollering. 

   

   

  
  
  
   
  Other Memories ...
  - Testing out bikes with Kaili while she would wear a headset in her pre-instructor days.
  
   - When I asked Amy Peck what kind of music she was into, without any hesitation she answered, "gangster rap."
  - Working with Phoebe behind the front desk.

  - Doing figure eights with Sue. Ouch.

  - Happy Birthday cupcakes.

  - Lori Grossman. Love.

  - Working in the dark.

  - The wonderful rear lobby smell that I never knew existed until I switched studios and then came back. 

   

  And so many more ...
  Posted September 16, 11

• SC Originals: MELISSA SPOHLER

  If anyone can call themselves a true SC original, it's MELISSA SPOHLER... she rode in SoulCycle's very first class! And since then Melissa has given back to Soul in countless ways: from rocking it out with that curly head of hair to designing our Soul Mantra necklaces. She also has a Soul memory you won't want to miss!

   

  

  Melissa with Soul Original Laurie Scollar! 

   

  I was at SoulCycle the first class that was taught - I think there were five of us. Julie Rice signed me in and we decided on my password. I have been committed to fitness and working out in a group setting for almost 20yrs (scary!). I knew the teachers that were the originals and I wanted to support their efforts. After the first class I knew I found a way to work out efficiently and effectively. What I didn't realize was that I would make so many friends while doing this! 

   

  

  Melissa's Soul Mantra necklaces! 

   

  A west side memory of mine was when my hair caught on fire! The sign-in part of the studio is so small. There were many people waiting for the next class to start and my hair dipped in to one of the scented candles on the front desk. Luckily, Stefanie Kramer had her smart water bottle in her hand and sprayed me with it ! I remember feeling so embarrassed by the commotion the burning hair caused! Thankfully, all was ok, I didn't miss class and went and got my haircut that afternoon.

  Posted September 15, 11

• SC Originals: BERNA BARSHAY

  Soul Sanctuary. Spinagogue. Therapy. These are all words that SC Original BERNA BARSHAY uses in her pitch-perfect description of the Soul experience. This girl gets it. Thank you, Berna. Can't wait to let the good times roll at 77th! 

   

   

  

  Berna sporting some vintage SC duds on my way home from Turks and Caicos.

  
  

  How long have you been riding at SoulCycle?
  
  I took my first class in 2007 but full-on obsession took hold in early 2008.  
  
  

  How did you stumble upon the rear lobby?
  My dear friend Suna Said dragged me to my first class.  She was already among the Soul-converted!
  
  

  What brought you back a second time?
  I have always loved music and the music was so great, the class felt more like a dance party you could enjoy than a workout that you had to "get through."  I loved hearing such a great mix of songs I knew and loved, and songs that were new to me that I would come to love. Over time, I started losing weight and feeling more energetic than I had felt in years. I was even sleeping more soundly. Soon after my spin obsession took root, life handed me a series of personal and professional challenges... but SoulCycle was my sanctuary - a place where I could let go of the stress, re-connect with my body and my emotions, and recharge so I could overcome whatever bumps in the road I encountered. I also started feeling a sense of community - I felt connected to the other riders the same way you might connect with your classmates at school.  SoulCycle became a place to go with old friends as well as to make new ones. And I felt nurtured and encouraged by our fearless leaders - the amazing SoulCycle instructors - initially, Laurie Cole and Sue Molnar, and more recently, Janet Fitzgerald and Clare Walsh.  SoulCycle became more than a workout - it become Spinagogue!
  
  

  How has the studio changed since you started? What has stayed the same? 
  Well... it certainly used to be easier to get a bike! I don't think I need to tell anyone on this blog about 11:59 AM Monday anxiety! But the upside is being forced to try new instructors and the joy in finding a new class you really like! There may be more press coverage and more competition to get into class, but the energy and spirit remain unchanged. Great music + great workout + great community = better than therapy!
   
   
  

  Berna's 40th birthday after Janet's class with Alexa Model, Lauren Cecere, Lisa Leshne, Julie Rice, and Suna Said.
  
  

  What's a UWS memory that stands out for you?

  So many great memories - it's hard to pick just one.  I remember a particularly sweaty but inspired 90 minute East Coast v. West Coast Rap Ride with Kym and Laurie. I have loved the special single artist spins - Laurie's Led Zeppelin, the Michael Jackson Tribute, and more recently, Sue's Pearl Jam ride.  I have also particularly enjoyed marking landmark events with a good ride. Back in February 2009, several of Suna's bridesmaids rode together with her in Laurie's class the morning of her wedding rehearsal and dinner. It was a great way to start the day. In October 2009, Sue played the MOST AMAZING personal customized playlist of my favorite tunes to celebrate my birthday.

   

  The next year I ushered in my 40th birthday with several good friends at Janet's Saturday 9:30 AM class. I can't think of a better way to have started the next decade of my life - in the presence of good friends, great music, and a warm community - feeling stronger and more fit at 40 than I did at 30 -  thanks to SoulCycle!
  Posted September 15, 11

• SC Originals: SCOTT ELIAS

  If you've taken class with SCOTT ELIAS, you know it. You know it because about halfway through class you heard a bloodcurdling battlecry from the back of the room. At first it might scare you, but these yells are so full of joy and motivation that the people who ride with Scott have come to delight in them.  Love Scott, love the entire Elias clan, love this post!!!
  

   

  

   

  I guess you could say, I was as much a witness to history as I was transformed by it.

  As someone north of 50, I have to admit, I’ve never liked exercising. Frankly, I was pretty sure no one did. Exercise was for the vain, the insecure or the bored.  Sure I’d been around gyms, pools, courts and all manner of green. They just weren’t for me.

  Then my wife of 23 years and a friend from LA, concerned by my post-3 children chunky-ness, suggested I try ‘spin’.

  “What?”

  “You know, spinning. Stationary cycling.”

  I thought to myself, “Exercise? Been there done that.”

  Entering the double glass doors, I wandered the innocuous lobby looking for the front door. Already open, I staggered down a narrow hallway, choked with sweat-logged athletes. Everyone was lithe, nimble and painfully thin. Then, there was me, a non-believer. I worried, would everyone notice I wasn’t fit or ready? Would I be found out?

  OMG! “This is it? Spinning? What where they thinking?”

  As a kid, I loved my bike. It was my first whiff of independence, mobility and well, maturity. So, I suited up and got help adjusting the bike. I stammered a bit looking for the toe clips. The lights dimmed, then a blistering snap of music followed by the instructor’s sharp whip tongue that shot me through a 45-minute stream of high-octane consciousness.

  Wow! I’d never ridden a bike before with my eyes closed. What just happened to me? So that’s Hyperspace. Then I came back to the everyday world-my troubles, my impossible schedule, my kids, my bills, my arguments, aches and limitations.

  But heck, that class, that music, that teacher. Hell, that was amazing! But oh my-- that hallway, that rainforest humidity and smell of decomposing who knows what. So that’s how a professional locker room feels, smells and functions.

  There were so many reasons to stop. It was too much of a scene. I didn’t know anyone. Nor did I want to go with anyone who knew me, in case I couldn’t make it through. I wasn’t an athlete. I never liked exercise and I wasn’t going to start now.

  Despite the pain, I persevered. Through many classes the mind dripping, heart stomping music alternately carried and propelled me, even as the gifted teachers got into my head and unbeknownst to me, went deeper still. 

  My kids and wife appealed to my vanity with taunts of “You’re looking so fine.”

  And so, I kept at it. Time and again, I heard that sweet-scented, heavenly hook, “Change your body. Change your life.” Until it finally threaded it’s way through my dreams and back into day job. I don’t know when or why it happened; but, something definitely happened.

   

  

  The whole Elias crew! All five of them ride and Maya is an instructor! 

   

  Today, I’m a new person. You might even call me, born-again. Much of that youthful fury, fun and daring is back again and so is the roar that in 5th grade earned me the moniker, the Tiger.

  Last summer, as we mounted the Acropolis in 105 degree heat, we were sure to give thanks to the heroines and heroes of SoulCycle. In hushed tones, we daily whispered the names of those near goddesses and gods - Laurie, Janet, Stacey, Sue, Claire and now the tradition continues with Roarke, LB, Emily, Jolie, Danny, Melanie, Ayana, Louise and others.

  The SoulCycle instructors, their indefatigable energy, their well of wisdom, their sonic wizardry, their challenging yet supportive ways, are where it all began for me. Yet, what kept me coming to life at SoulCycle was lot’s more; the wonderfully generous, helpful, intuitive, smart, multi-talented and ever resilient front desk. I could go on and on about them. They are Santa’s Soulful helpers; the silent heroes, the wondrous spirits who smooth more rough spots than I care to imagine or most might ever notice. Somehow, they manage to deal with us ever-demanding clients with dignity and miracles befitting those recommended for sainthood. How, I love those guys. Then there’s the community of inspired and inspiring fellow spinners, people whose heart is on the bike and who get me to ask the same of myself.

  SoulCycle is an empowered and empowering community of communities. As a father of three daughters and husband to one extraordinary woman, I am forever grateful that SoulCycle was birthed and led by two strong, brilliant and remarkably talented women. The impossible feats of these women are legion; yet many of SoulCycle’s accomplishments are fueled by a team of uniquely skilled, impassioned and abundant spirits who daily lend their wisdom to make SoulCycle all that is…our ‘other home’ and our ‘other family’.

  Now, my world and that of our family (all five of us spin), is divided into Before and After SoulCycle was born. It’s that simple- b.SC or a.SC.

  Today, I’m excited by what lies ahead and sad as I reminisce about the good old days; when I hated, ALL that I now love. Still, I don’t think of 'Spin' as exercise. It’s way better. For the first time in my life, my body, mind and heart are sewn together as one.

  History always has its witnesses and its participants, who like all of us, have been forever changed by it. And so, I remain forever thankful for the Cycle of Souls that continue to spin in my life, in my community and in this world.
  
  

  Many thanks and much love to all of you. 
  

  Scott Elias

  Posted September 15, 11

• SC Originals: Angela DiGaetano

  If you've ridden with Stacey Griffith, you may have heard her reference the Mommy Ninjas -- normal moms who have secret lives as butt-kicking powerhouses (i.e. SoulCyclists). SC Original ANGELA DIGAETANO was certainly one of our first Mommy Ninjas and never ceases to amaze us with her dedication to riding. Thank you, Angela!
  

   

  
  

  
  

  How long have you been riding at SoulCycle? 

  Sept/October of 2006
  
  
  How did you stumble upon the rear lobby?
  There was a sign, it was close to my apartment and I had a baby and little help. thought it would be a good way to work out FAST and nearby. plus, when i stopped in Julie Rice was at the counter and we quickly realized our kids were one month apart and we could do play dates! i also never wanted to step foot in a 'gym' again. they gross me out.
  
  
  What brought you back a second time?
  Stacey Griffith. Drank the Kool Aid on day one. She blew me away and reminded me that even though I was now a new mom, I was STILL an athlete. Something I have always prided myself on. Plus, my muffin top dwindled in like...one ride.
  
  
  How has the studio changed since you started? What has stayed the same? 
  Hm. Well, much has remained, other than there used to be a few body's rubbing up against you and now there are MANY! 
  
  
  What's a UWS memory that stands out for you? 
  Definitely all of the Tuesday/Thursday 930AM classes with Stacey and the original crew. There were so many of us; Melanie, Susan, Stacey, Debbie of course, and DB that took those classes for so many years. SANS Super Soul! haha. And as far as singled out classes, I' have to say Sue's Tribute ride (for FREE!) on the day Michael Jackson died (complete with a silver glove, a SEQUIN TUBE TOPand white bobbie socks) was amazing. One of Melanie's first classes before she lost her hair, and just this weekend Stacey G. taught a ride on 9-11 that brought me to bawl, but somehow let me leave feeling like everything was going to be ok. OH, and the ride I did 3 weeks after I gave birth to my second son. Addicted.
  
  

  THANK YOU! Congrats to all, and especially Julie and Elizabeth.

  Posted September 15, 11

• SC Originals: LAURIE SCOLLAR

  Our favorite Soul sucess stories are when riders go from being completely resistant to completely obsessed. And SC Original LAURIE SCOLLAR definitely fits the bill. A beautiful rider inside and out - we can't wait to ride with you five blocks north!

   

  

  Laurie with SC Originals (turned instructors) Lori and Melanie!
  

   

  I started spinning a year after SoulCycle opened in April '07. Debbie Bard kept telling me about this amazing workout but I just couldn't picture myself "rockin it out" on a stationary bike. I was resistant but I finally checked it out and was hooked on my first ride. I spun almost everyday for the first few years and was definitely one of the first people who were doing double classes. I couldn't get enough. Not only did I lose 25 lbs that first year, but I felt an amazing difference physically and mentally. I made amazing friends in that room and still look forward to seeing the regulars who spin everyday.

   

  It truly has become an obsession, one that I look forward to each time I walk through the SC doors. The 72nd St. studio is exactly the same as it was when they first opened, except that I've seen some of my friends -- Lori A, Melanie G. -- transform into amazing instructors. Laurie, Stacey, Sue and Janet's classes each have their own special vibe and I love every one. I will truly miss the rear lobby but look forward to seeing everyone on a bike in the new studio!
  

  Posted September 14, 11

• SC Originals: ELLEN GRAYSON

  SC Original ELLEN GRAYSON has got to be one of the biggest characters to walk through the doors of the Rear Lobby. She has been known to stand on top of the sign-in desk, to show off one of her hundred pairs of sneakers, and to decorate her locker with stickers galore. But Ellen also has one of the biggest hearts. From helping create our Teen Spin program, to decorating instructor podiums on holidays, to creating custom "blinged out" shirts for the front desk. What would SoulCycle West be without Ellen Grayson? We hope we never have to find out!
  

   

  

  Ellen rocking a Soul tank at surf camp in Hendaye, France!

   

  How long have you been riding at SoulCycle? 

  June 2007 … WOW!

   

  
  

  What made you stumble upon the rear lobby?

   

  A friend heard about SC and suggested I give it a shot. I was so nervous to try it but SO HAPPY I pushed myself to walk through the door!! I had called ahead to say it was my first time coming in and Julie was there waiting to help me set up when I arrived. It all came at a time when I was ready for change and needed to find something to pull me back to a healthy lifestyle.

  
  

  Class was super challenging and I was barely able to make it through my first few rides, but I kept coming back for more and stayed the course! It's incredible how with the proper instruction and music, spinning continuously pushes you to find your edge. It never gets boring or routine and you just continue to develop in your practice.

  
  

   

  What brought you back a second time?

  
  

  Once the endorphin high kicks in from your first ride your totally hooked! It takes a while to learn how to ride and find the rhythm or to push your resistance (took me months!). I was just talking to a fellow rider laughing about how we all go in , ride our hardest, end drenched in sweat, muscles melting, barely any breathe left and leave with the feeling you that can't wait til your next ride! How good is that??? 

  
  

   

  What has changed the most about SoulCycle since you started? What has stayed the same?

  
  

  The studio environs felt "smaller" in the earlier years since SC was a younger company.  Honestly, the community, even as it expands, still feels intimate. Lots of stuff has remained the same including how the staff truly wants to make your experience as awesome as possible. They go out of their way to help however they can; And they do it with their hearts.

  
  

  It's been fun to see how the internal community has developed and evolved. Friends, fellow riders and staff have been inspired by their experiences to become instructors and some have moved to corporate roles. Some have risen to the ranks of “Master Instructors” and I’m so proud of them all. It’s a beautiful progression and organically self perpetuating.

   

  
  

  

  Ellen's personalized shoes! 

   

  
  

  What's an UWS memory that stands out for you?

  
  

  Four years riding 5-7x a week...sooooo many memories, how  to choose!!!??? This year, my birthday rides were particularly special. I brought sunglasses & bandanas for the classes and Janet made me a killer b-day playlist and put me on the instructor bike. Amy pimped out a sick cake with Jay-Z lyrics on it! I remember looking out across the studio feeling completely overwhelmed by the joy and love in the room (amid a sea of bandanas and sunglasses) and appreciating the genuine communal respect we have for one another in those classes.

  
  

  The next day Stacey and Deb surprised me with a playlist especially for my b-day and I just kept thinking how blessed we all are to be here together sharing this experience. Its sort of a “double gratitude”:  Thankful to be there, (think of all the places in the world you could be) and thankful that somehow, the work we do in that lil room, helps us recognize that specific vibration. It sounds ridiculous but when you're a part of it, you totes get it. 

  
  

  There are so many good times to remember: Theme rides, Halloween dress up rides (I never miss those!!), Sue’s fourth of July costumes, bringing my weekly teen class to SC for the past 4 years, (and watching them love it), Melanie's and Lori A's first instructor rides, decorating the studio with Louise and Lauren for special events, fundraisers, watching Clare’s incredible rise to rockstar status, walking out of the studio saying ”drop that double” aloud, multiple b-day parties and days when you bring a friend for their first time and just know they are going to soon be part of the SC fam.

  
  

  One of the most integral pieces of the journey that has personally been a literal, life-changing experience has been becoming a student of Janet’s ‘Active Meditation’. Lexical space cant even describe it. It is completely unique and takes you to higher ground; So not only do you leave with your ass handed to you, but you feel elevated with a sense of calm. It is indescribably special.

  
  

  I’ll miss our rear lobby sanctuary but the expansion is exciting! And of course I’ll still be secretly decorating the podiums for the holidays. Hmmm… Halloween’s just round the corner! Hey…can we get a few auspicious bamboo plants for the new studio to remind us of the old? (BUT SERIOUSLY folks... Can someone please call Juice Generation and help them get an outpost cart with cocoH20 and kale salad for our new corner?) 
  Posted September 14, 11

• SC Originals: Stephanie Hirsch

  It's amazing how many of our original riders ended up having a profound effect on the company. You know may STEPHANIE HIRSCH as the genius designer behind our the SoulCycle line... or you may simply know her as the fun-loving rider who's rocking it out on the next bike.

   
  
   
   
  How long have you been riding at SoulCycle? 
  Member since 2006
   
  How did you stumble upon the rear lobby?
  Tried it in Bridgehampton during the summer and needed to feed my addiction when I got back to the city. 
   
  What brought you back a second time?
  Pure and unadulterated soul. 
   
   
  
  Stephanie's unitard from the first of two SoulCycle lines. 
  
  
  How has the studio changed since you started? What has stayed the same?

  What has changed is that it was once just a cult now it is a revolution. What has stayed the same is the happiness and joy it brings me.  

  
  
  What's a UWS memory that stands out for you? 
  
  I cannot break it down to just one UWS memory... there are so many breakthroughs I had there. But what stands out overall is I was able to make a choice to change my attitude about the many misconceptions I had about life. I was able to finally put peace and positivity in the forefront of my life!
  Posted September 14, 11

• SC Originals: JULIE DERMER

  JULIE DERMER is the latest SC Original to make the leap from rider to instructor! There must be something in the W 72nd St air because that Rear Lobby has churned out some pretty fabulous teachers. Can't wait to see Julie join the ranks up on the W 77th instructor bike! 

   

  
  

   

  How long have you been riding at SoulCycle?
  

  Since 2007.  Obsessed since 2009.

  
  
  How did you stumble upon the rear lobby?
  
   
  I was talking with Linda, the owner of the clothing store CPW on Amsterdam Ave. We were discussing our mutual love of yoga... then she handed me a Soul Cycle postcard and told me I MUST try SC. She described it as having a yogi, spiritual vibe along with a killer workout.  At the time I was trying on jeans so waistline was also a  big part of the convo... the rest is history and I now I proudly wear skinny jeans!!. 
  
  
   
  What brought you back a second time?
   
  I went back a second time because I knew that although it was so hard, and I couldn't EVER imagine doing a tap back or sprinting out of the saddle, I had DONE it and it felt good.  Going back felt like a different type of challenge -- I kind of knew what to expect and could start to focus a little more on the workout and the benefits. It has continued that way for me right until now, as I venture into teaching at Soul. Each time I spin I know I will discover something new and hope my riders will too.
   
   
  How has the studio changed since you started? What has stayed the same?
  
  
  The way the studio changed most of all in that it became busier.  A good busy!!  Energy at all times through that narrow hallway, even during blizzards!!  Everyone needing their fix. And a real community developed for me - facebook friends, school friends, the UWS felt a little smaller because of SC. What stayed the same is the level of professionalism from all the SC employess and their big smiles! The commitment that everyone working at SC has to the riders' experience from start to finish. That has always been consistent,  from signing-in to stretching on the bike. 
   
   
  What's a UWS memory that stands out for you? 
  
  
  Two memories stand out in particular - one being my 40th bday earlier this year. Riding Sue's bike to all my song requests with a room filled with many friends and smiling faces and Sue's energy -- it was a total thrill!  Second was during my 8-week instructor training program after completing our arm series lesson... Janet surprised me in her 8:30 class  - "Dermer, can you do the arms today? Mic up and turn it on when I tell you." I hopped on the instructor bike awaiting my big moment - and I DID IT!! The thrill came from leading the group, but more importantly from what the best instructors know how to do so well... to believe in you in a way that allows you to do more than you ever think you can!!
  Thank you Janet for that 8:30 rear lobby memory.
  
  
  xoxoxoxoxo
  Julie 
  Posted September 14, 11