The SoulCycle Experience
SoulCycle is a world-renowned spin studio with locations all over North America. It is a variation of a normal spin class that puts a very strong emphasis on music, immersion, and communal energy inside the class. Although the classes are not overly high tech, the experience is highly immersive and unrivalled by many others. People that go regularly become very dedicated and the brand has been known to have a cult like following.
SoulCycle uses narrative to make their classes engaging and make you feel like you aren’t just sitting in a room peddling on a bike going no where. Throughout the class you are climbing a metaphorical mountain, being guided by the instructor of the class. There are hills you need to climb along the mountain which involve you putting the intensity on the bike up, peddling very hard and slow. There are sprints which are supposed to be like a flat part of the climb where you do low intensity as fast as possible. When you make it to the top of this mountain the instructors will give a sort of motivational speech, this gets people pumped up for the decent down the mountain.
The way SoulCycle classes are structured make them very engaging. All the music is synced with what is happening in the class to a tee and as you are riding you find a balance of how you are moving to the beat of the music. Due to all the positive and motivating statements being made by instructors you always try to push yourself harder and harder. In the class there is an odd sense of connection to those around you that is difficult to explain.
I would consider SoulCycle to be a highly interactive experience because you are fully involved in the class, moving your body and riding the bicycle. People in the class are encouraged to cheer, clap, scream, and spin their towels above their heads. Your body syncing with the music makes you feel one with the bike and class. At the end of each class 4 people the instructor feels work the hardest get to blow the candles out that were lighting the studio.
While you are in a SoulCycle class your are fully immersed in it. During the class I find it impossible to think about anything else other than riding the bike and listening to the music. These classes could be considered a form of escapism in a way. I feel like this adds to the popularity of the classes. We all live complicated lives and when you are in a class it lets you forget about everything temporarily and focus on exercising. SoulCycle has a very loyal fan base and has been referred to as being like a cult in the media. People can get so immersed in these classes that they ignore warnings from their bodies continuing to push and push themselves to the point of injury.
A regular SoulCycle class does not have too much emphasis on technology. Studios are mostly candle lit and you are absolutely not allowed to bring your phone into the studio. The main use of media is the music being played by the instructor and the main use of technology is the stationary bike you are riding. SoulCycle also offers themed rides a few times a week which are a bit different than a regular ride. Often people are able to vote on what will happen in these rides via Instagram polls or by giving suggestions. For these rides there is often use of strobe or black lights in the studio which adds to the experience.
Although SoulCycle is pretty low tech compared to some other projects and experiences we have studied, its immersion and ability to push people past their limits is unrivalled. SoulCycle is relevant to new media because it makes use of multiple narrative tools to create a fully immersive experience. It’s dedicated fan base and community it builds is something unheard of for a fitness class.
