Sweating It Out in Style: SoulCycle on a Budget!

When Covid hit in early 2020, everything shut down, and people had to find alternative ways of working out. My go-to exercise routine has always been spin and barre classes. Spin studios were struggling to stay afloat, but SWERVE Fitness had the genius idea of renting out all of their bikes to customers, and I was one of the first people to sign up. I used that bike every single day, riding along to a class either via the Peloton App streamed to my tv, or through an Instagram Story Live workout from my favorite instructors. As I got more and more into cycling, I missed the days of in-person spin classes. The SECOND that SoulCycle (SC) opened back up for in person riding, I got back into the studio.

What is my obsession with SoulCycle you may ask? It’s hard to explain. It’s a feeling. It’s a vibe. It’s the people. It’s the lights. It’s a community! And frankly, it’s just fun! The 45 minutes are just for ME. It’s my time to turn off the world, sweat out the stress, and go on, well, a ride!

The Music
SoulCycle has something for EVERYONE. There are so many fun and unique themed rides. My favorite musical of all time is RENT, and years ago, I took a RENT-themed ride, which was the most fun I have ever had in that studio. The instructor dressed up as one of the characters and was performing on the bike and dancing throughout the studio the whole time! Every class is different when it comes to the playlists as every instructor has their own style. Some playlists are current bops, and some are themed with one genre of music, a specific artist or group, and even Broadway show rides! My favorite classes in recent history were the Grease vs. Mamma Mia ride, Celine Dion vs. Cher, and Hip-Hop Wednesdays. And there are non-themed rides as well, with a variety of different music!

The Instructors
SoulCycle instructors are some of the best fitness professionals in the industry. It’s obvious how much these instructors love their jobs, and their riders. I’ve connected with many instructors throughout my (almost) 10 years of riding, and want to share my favorites with you all! It’s really important to try as many instructors as you can, to find the best ones for you. The instructor can really make it or break it for the ride!

Here are my favs:

1. Elena was an instructor at Cyc Fitness and I rode with her for many years before that studio shut down post-Covid. As soon as I saw that she started teaching at SoulCycle, I was thrilled! She recently moved out of NYC, but I love riding with her when she comes to visit.
2. Melanie is one of my favorite instructors in NYC – “Mama Mel” as she’s known to the SoulCycle community! Her energy is unmatched. I always walk out of Melanie’s classes feeling inspired. I took her class on my birthday this summer and she made it so special for me. She started the class with “Hey Jude” (a nod to JAS), shouted me out multiple times, and let me blow out one of the special studio candles at the end of class. And then in the studio lobby, we took a photo together on the special SC polaroid camera. 
3. One of my new favorite instructors is Sky! She is a brand new instructor from this past Spring’s newest class (Group 40), and she has incredible energy (and fabulous eyelashes). I took her Friends and Family ride while she was going through training, and was hooked.
4. Roxy has some of the best playlists I’ve ever ridden to at SoulCycle. The Sean Paul themed class I took this past spring was straight #tbt to my college days (does anyone remember Cherry Pants?). She plays a variety of music, but shines on her EDM and dance tunes. And when I hit my 150th ride earlier this summer, she made the class so fun for me! The team wrote me a card congratulating me on this huge accomplishment, and she shouted it out many times during class. It may seem silly, but these little things really make riders feel special and accomplished. 150 rides??

First time riders
There are a variety of promotions if you have never taken SoulCycle before!

As of the publish date of this article*, these are the current new rider deals:

• BOGO (Buy one, get one) summer promo: $25 Offer
• Starter Unlimited for 14 days ∞ Classes: $99
• Starter pack – 3 Classes – $75

*offers subject to change

Birthday Ride

Did you know that you ride for FREE on your birthday! Walk into your favorite studio and tell them you want to redeem your birthday ride! They may even surprise you with a polaroid at the end! In June 2019, they surprised me with a cake pop. This year, I decided to treat myself to their adorable new cherry print hat, and they gave me a 20% off birthday discount! 

FREE Community Rides
Every spring, the newest crop of SoulCycle instructors join the roster. This is the best time of the year. At the end of their training, they host a week of community rides (and friends and family rides, too). These are… free. YES. You heard me right – FREE! That’s a $40* value (*NYC pricing)! This is a great way to meet and ride with the newest instructors, while getting the BEST deal on the market! There are also other community rides throughout the year for other occasions, so always keep your eyes on the schedule!

Other Limited Time Promotions
SoulCycle promos vary from time to time, so, how do you find out about them? Pay attention in the studio, on social media,their website, or via email. Past promotions have been $25 for new instructors, BOGO deals at a specific day, time, etc.! 

TIP – call your local studio to see if they have any deals! Different studios put out their own promotions, so always keep your eyes open!

Refer a Friend Promo
Refer friends to take their first class, and receive some great perks! They rotate, so check the current terms for what the current deal is. Here is my personalized referral link – ride today!

The Cost
The most cost effective way to get the best bang for your buck is to buy SoulCycle classes in bulk. Class pricing ranges depending on the location – this article reflects NYC pricing* where a single class is $40, but, I wouldn’t write a full on article about my favorite fitness program without obviously sharing the best way to ride, on a budget!

The more classes you buy at once, the more you save!

Class Packs – NYC*

• 1 Class: $40
• 3 Classes: $114 ($38 each)
• 5 Classes: $188 ($37.60 each)
• 10 Classes: $370 ($37 each)
• 20 Classes: $700 ($35 each)
• 30 Classes: $990 ($33 each) 

Soul Renew Recurring Memberships – NYC*

• 4 Classes: $134 ($33.50 each)
• 8 Classes: $259 ($32.37 each)
• 12 Classes: $374 ($31.16 each)
• 16 Classes: $481 ($30.06 each)

In markets outside of NYC, classes start at $26.

Student Pricing
Student pricing is open to students at Title IV accredited institutions in the US. Register and learn more here. Classes start at $28* (*NYC pricing) and are less expensive the more you buy.

ClassPass
ClassPass is a great way to book SoulCycle classes, on a budget! I am currently on the 43 credits a month plan, which is $89.00 a month, and evens out to $2.07 per credit. On ClassPass, SoulCycle classes start at 13 credits, so if you’re on the same plan as me, that works itself out to $26.91 for a 13 credit SoulCycle class! There are additional plans on ClassPass that are different prices and credits, so check out which plan works best for you! I will be putting out an article with more ClassPass information at a later date, but for now, check out a trial offer of ClassPass, here!

Bilt Rewards
Bilt Rewards is a great rewards loyalty program that allows members to earn points for everyday purchases and rent payments. Points can be used for a variety of options… including free SoulCycle classes! Bilt members also have a chance to ride for free on the 1st of every month. Bikes get booked up quick, so you gotta be fast! There is much more to the Bilt Rewards program, and I will be writing an article about all the rewards at a later time.

What you Should Bring to Class
If you are an avid rider, or think you will become one, I recommend you buy your own cycling shoes. This way, you won’t have to pay the $4 shoe rental fee each time you ride. I bought mine on Amazon and I LOVE them (obviously, they have hot pink accents), while JAS bought a pair on eBay! It’s well worth the purchase. But note that for your first class, your rental shoes are free! And another tip – rental shoes are also free at the West 77th Street studio in NYC. Also, bring your own bottle of water to save money, as SoulCycle has free water refilling stations. They charge $5.50 for their Boxed Water™.

What Not to do
DO NOT bring your phone into the studio. And make sure if you have an Apple watch, set it to theater mode. The room is dark, so any light from your personal devices will throw off the vibes, and the teacher may ask you to turn it off – embarrassing!

Join the Soul Fam, and I hope to see you in a class soon.

XOXO

Ilana