In my years at Soul, there are so many moments that stand out for me. There was the ride on my 40th birthday when Julie told me I should audition to be a teacher; there was finding my voice as an instructor and inspiring people to push themselves harder than they ever thought they could; SoulCycle is where I rode through cancer and discovered how I wanted to live my life. There are so many truths revealed in the candlelit room, but when I think of truly spirital sweats two rides stand out above the rest. 

I had a profound spiritual connection to the first verse of the first song in my first ride. There were four people in the class and the W 72nd studio was brand new. The song was "Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol and I remember closing my eyes. The music surrounded me and grabbed at my heart. There were tears of connection. I was outside of what was comfortable but I knew I was where I was supposed to be. We were all present collectively, each of us finding our individual truths. I felt connected and inspired immediately, palpably, from the first moment of the first ride. 

Then there was the class I taught when I decided I was going to shave my head.  Earlier that day, I posed for a More Magazine shoot. I had started the chemo and had been hoping my hair wouldn't fall out before the photo shoot.  It was that very day when i first noticed bits of hair starting to come out. So right before class, I decided to shave my head that night. The strength and support in that room room was unbelievable. For me what was so profound was the idea that we can choose to define ourselves in class and in life. I found clarity in  teaching  because there are so many opportunities during a ride to decide who you want to be and then to be it, immediately. There are unexpected challenges that make you push harder, but you define yourself by choosing how you're going to react. There was calm and strength that came with that truth and that was a turning point for me. I didn't just believe that I was going to be okay, I knew it. 

Gospel of Sweat, a night of inspiration and intellectual discussion around how fitness contributes to the spirtual wealth of our culture, will take place on September 7th at the Riverside Church in NYC. You can RSVP to rsvp@aocnetwork.com and receive any updates on the Facebook event page. You can see Melanie Griffith speak on Friday, September 7th and follow on Twitter (@iamnowmellyg)! Questions or comments? Email blog@soul-cycle.com!