A Week Full Of Soul, And Cycling

"You live in Scarsdale and you've never been to SoulCycle?!?" my friend Alex said to me last April. "Nope," I replied. "What is it?"

"A spiritual experience," she replied.

Never in my 21 years have I been to a spin class, but after attending several SoulCycle classes at 7 Popham Road, I am now a true believer. Actually strike that, SoulCycle doesn't do spin. They do 'cycling' – spin is a registered trademark. Not registered by them.

SoulCycle is a full-body indoor cycling workout. Co-founded by two women, Elizabeth Cutler and Julie Rice, SoulCycle opened its first location on the Upper West Side of New York City in April of 2006.

The workout combines intense cycling cardio with inspirational coaching and incredible music. Not only do you burn calories in the 45 minute workout, you also work on toning your body through push ups, crunches and hand weights, all the while riding on a bike.

Reservations are made online starting on Mondays. The studio is conveniently located across from Citibabes for moms, and next door to the train station for those who need to head off to work afterwards.

If you're wondering how heading off to work after your workout is possible, like I was, there are two shower/changing rooms available.

I decided to test the theory of SoulCycle – was it all it seems to promise? – and see if combining the workout with eating better for a week made me feel healthier.

It did. By the end of the week I had learned how to control my breathing, work harder than I ever could have at the gym and wake up before 9 a.m.

My instructor was Ayana.

A lot of people say that Soul Cycle is a holy experience, outer worldly, a high that will allow you to float through the day, I just think they've never felt nausea, and slight deafness before. Upon walking out of the studio I felt like I was in a daze, but a good one.

I for one, do not like working out, nor do I like going to the gym but I do on occasion go when I feel like I need to tone up a bit or if I have left over guilt from mid-term week of 2 a.m. McDonalds runs.

What makes Soul Cycle great is the atmosphere. The music is loud, the instructors are energetic and attentive, and even have head-mics on, all motivational-speaker style. Ayana was even singing at one point. If you love more recent "hit" music, she plays a lot of it.

Daniel was the instructor my second day, and things started to feel easier because I knew what to expect and my body was more prepared.

The time flew right by, and I learned how to control my breathing (and how not to drink all my water within the first 10 minutes.)

I even brought a second bottle after the first class left me desperate for a single drop at the bottom of my water bottle. I felt like my brain was listening to the instructions, but my imagination was veering away from everything.

The entire workout process was easier and my only fear was that my locked-in shoes might snap off and I would fly into other members, creating some sort of awful and embarrassing domino effect. Yes, these are the things I worry about.

Day 3 was my best day.

Christine D'Ercole was my instructor and, like the other instructors she was wonderful. Her dedication and motivation to SoulCycle is what makes me believe that it's so much more than just a spin class, it's a lifestyle and an individual experience. She knows what she's talking about.

She immediately checked to make sure everyone's seats were raised high enough, and handle-bars at the correct level. I also happened to have the opportunity to interview Christine.

"My entire teaching strategy comes from my experience racing. I'm a competitive cyclist, and I've been outdoor cycling for 20 years now and I know what it is to get  to that finish line, and to get there first." she said.

Her comments in class talked about stepping out of your comfort zone and staying positive, eliminating any negative train of thought.

"Something I discovered while racing, whenever the chatter in my head was fearful or negative, thinking about how 'my legs hurt', or 'I don't think I can break away', I didn't.  I'll never forget that there was a moment when I thought 'I can I can I can', 'I'm doing this it's mine', I can't tell you how much that shift changed the outcome of the situation last year when I won at [a racing] championship, all my [positive] self talk helped." Christine works specifically to get the rider emotionally connected to something, to make it that much easier to cross the finish line.

"I work very specifically to get you emotionally connected. I ask people what they want and to put it on the finish line."

Her theory is that, when you become emotionally connected to a goal, you find out that you're stronger than you ever thought you were.

The music plays an enormous part in the SoulCycle experience.

"It's got to move me. If it moves me, and if I'm truly inspired by it I believe other people will be too. I only want to play music upon hearing things that stop me in my tracks." The music is a huge deal. "It's not just a beat. Everything I use has a purpose." she said.

While $32 a class may seem steep, but to my thinking, it is part of the commitment. If you sign up for a SoulCycle class, you're going to go, and you're going to work and you're going to work hard.

You're in the company of others working hard, and you have instructors helping you along the way. The idea is that you are not going to want to go home and eat junk food. Or, I didn't. After all, you've just spent money, time and effort in that workout. I cannot stress how great an experience this has been.

The first class is free (in Scarsdale), but, I warn you, you may find it highly addictive. 

I encourage everyone to try it so you can understand what it feels like to pass what you thought were your limits.

Everyone can always use a little extra soul in his or her life.