I've known it to happen but it had never happened to me. Until this particular class. Where I was reprimanded for being out of sync in my spin class. Let me back-track.
Janet Fitzgerald is one of Soul Cycle's most popular instructors and has a devoted following on both coasts. Her classes are booked solid so when I stumbled upon a lone front row bike in one of her classes I jumped on the chance. In hindsight I should have done my homework where I would have learned that Janet does not like first-timers to her class to sit in the front row. Regardless, I was too pumped to think twice about it.
When I got to the Tribeca studio and started bike set-up Janet came up to me and warmly introduced herself. She then introduced me to my fellow riders to my right and left. Nice gesture! After that she asked if I was going to be okay up front with the rhythm. "Sure thing, I have been spinning for years!" I replied, thinking how sweet she was for coming up and introducing herself. Later, I realized that I was probably the only one in the front row whom she did not recognize, and so my 'newbie to Janet's class' status was plastered all over my face!
I'm all about rhythm and I respect that if synchrony is not your forte then you shouldn't be sitting up front. In this class the pace was very fast, faster than what I was used. So yes, I was soon out of sync. Everyone's right foot had to hit the pedal at the exact moment. No exceptions. A few minutes into class and I was called out for being out of sync. My left foot was pedaling when my right foot should have. Crap. I managed to sync up but it happened again. And I was called out again. Oh dear. In my defense, I was syncing up with the person sitting next to me, not realizing he was going on his own beat. But alas, being the newbie, the focus was on me.
Nevertheless, the class was fun. Really tough. Janet is disciplined and so it makes you want to focus all your energy on the ride. The music was cool, and different from the more recent Soul classes I have taken - there was some Alanis, some heavy metal, not a lot of remixed dance tunes. There was a good amount of the upper body choreography that is typical of a Soul class. And as I mentioned above, the pace, for the majority of the class was very fast.
After class Janet told me that I needed a little bit more practice to ride up in the front. She said it with a big smile and twinkle in her eye, and it made me chuckle. A part of me was thinking, "It's JUST exercise!" But the other part of me got it. Janet's front row is the equivalent of an advanced Soul Cycle class. You have to work your way to it. It's her class and those are her rules and I respect that. Janet, I'll be back, and next time I promise I'll be in sync!
Question: Do you ever notice if the front-row riders are out of sync in a spin class? Does it affect your energy levels when the people around you in an exercise class are taking it easy?
Janet Fitzgerald is one of Soul Cycle's most popular instructors and has a devoted following on both coasts. Her classes are booked solid so when I stumbled upon a lone front row bike in one of her classes I jumped on the chance. In hindsight I should have done my homework where I would have learned that Janet does not like first-timers to her class to sit in the front row. Regardless, I was too pumped to think twice about it.
When I got to the Tribeca studio and started bike set-up Janet came up to me and warmly introduced herself. She then introduced me to my fellow riders to my right and left. Nice gesture! After that she asked if I was going to be okay up front with the rhythm. "Sure thing, I have been spinning for years!" I replied, thinking how sweet she was for coming up and introducing herself. Later, I realized that I was probably the only one in the front row whom she did not recognize, and so my 'newbie to Janet's class' status was plastered all over my face!
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| Janet Fitzgerald Source |
I'm all about rhythm and I respect that if synchrony is not your forte then you shouldn't be sitting up front. In this class the pace was very fast, faster than what I was used. So yes, I was soon out of sync. Everyone's right foot had to hit the pedal at the exact moment. No exceptions. A few minutes into class and I was called out for being out of sync. My left foot was pedaling when my right foot should have. Crap. I managed to sync up but it happened again. And I was called out again. Oh dear. In my defense, I was syncing up with the person sitting next to me, not realizing he was going on his own beat. But alas, being the newbie, the focus was on me.
Nevertheless, the class was fun. Really tough. Janet is disciplined and so it makes you want to focus all your energy on the ride. The music was cool, and different from the more recent Soul classes I have taken - there was some Alanis, some heavy metal, not a lot of remixed dance tunes. There was a good amount of the upper body choreography that is typical of a Soul class. And as I mentioned above, the pace, for the majority of the class was very fast.
After class Janet told me that I needed a little bit more practice to ride up in the front. She said it with a big smile and twinkle in her eye, and it made me chuckle. A part of me was thinking, "It's JUST exercise!" But the other part of me got it. Janet's front row is the equivalent of an advanced Soul Cycle class. You have to work your way to it. It's her class and those are her rules and I respect that. Janet, I'll be back, and next time I promise I'll be in sync!
Question: Do you ever notice if the front-row riders are out of sync in a spin class? Does it affect your energy levels when the people around you in an exercise class are taking it easy?
Logging you in...
fatbottomslim 16p · 670 weeks ago
Erica Sara · 670 weeks ago
And to answer your question, I'm new to spin and am often out of sync. But I work my ass off and have had my instructors offer me advice and commend me for how hard I'm working, just as they commend the others around me for working their hardest. If someone is disrupted by your spin cadence, they should probably be focusing on their own workout a bit more.
Beverly · 670 weeks ago
Ryan · 670 weeks ago
MATB, to answer your question, Yes, I do notice when the front row is out of sync and it does negatively impact the energy of the class. I think it is great for riders of all skill levels to ride at SoulCycle, but it does take practice as the exercise is not exactly intuitive (at first). That said, and I wasn't always a front row rider, if you work hard and continue to show up for class, you will get it. But until then, I think it is fair to ask new riders (or those lacking rhythm) to sit somewhere other than front and center as the rest of the class usually looks to the front row to get on the same beat/choreography.
As for the comments, please don't miss the point (or the part about Janet waiting until after the class to mention this to you). The instructors are very encouraging, especially Janet -- I for one probably know this more than most people -- and want everyone to love Soul and become solid riders. But that takes time and jumping to the front row will not fast track anyone. When I started, I was a third row rider and watched carefully how gracefully the other riders looked. Only after a few months did I work up the courage to sit in the front and I got called out all the time, but the criticism helped me. It made me aware of what I was doing wrong and what I needed to do to improve my ride. If you love spinning and love SoulCycle, you will take this criticism as constructive. And, when you sit in the front row, you're kind of inviting it if you're off beat or if your form is off -- I still get called out probably once a class for not relaxing my shoulders enough or not having my hips far enough back or for not having enough resistance on the bike. It's all good! I know all of the instructors well enough to know that they are "calling me out" to help me improve my ride because they know how much I love it!
Also, not sure if you have witnessed it yet, but if you have ever looked up into the mirror mid-ride and have seen everyone on the same beat, completely synchronized, it is stunning... Like watching synchronized swimming. The energy and positive feeling that comes from watching each individual working hard and contributing to the collective movement is truly amazing and completely immeasurable. It just isn't the same energy level when everyone in the front row is going different directions and on different beats.
Please don't be discouraged or turned off. I promise you that if you invite a little bit of the constructive criticism in, it will make you a better and stronger rider!
Have a great day and continue to ride hard. See you on the bike :)
momatthebarre 71p · 670 weeks ago
I did want to clarify that I did not just jump into the front-row. I have spun for many years and have sat front-row center many times, also in other Soul classes, like Danny's and Charlee's, and have never had a sync issue. That was why I didn't think it would have been such a problem to sit where I sat.
I will agree with you that seeing the synchronized pack in the mirror is a pretty amazing sight!
Finally, I did not mean any disrespect to Janet, and I tried to ensure that this post not to be misinterpreted that way. I found her to be incredibly warm, and watching her pre- and post- class it was clear that she cares greatly about her riders.
I may not whole-heartedly agree with riders being relegated to rows based on experience, but I respect that that is the philosophy at SC. It's what SC riders expect, for the reasons you described, and is why SC instructors try to maintain that environment.
Thanks again for your comment!
Jess · 670 weeks ago
I really want to say more, but I'll stop with this.
NYCspinner · 670 weeks ago
Soul does take spinning seriously. If you want to use cellphones, talk and take bathroom breaks during class.. there are definitely other studios/gyms for that. If you want the best and most effective physical and mental workout in 45 minutes, stick it out and the front row at soulcycle is definitely a goal to aspire to.
I agree that having someone off rhythm on either side of you is very distracting. I guess then again I'm just used to that amazing feeling that Ryan described when everyone IS all synched up on the same foot on the same beat for an entire class. It's exhilarating! Just my thoughts ;)
Alex · 670 weeks ago
Personally, I feel like the instructors worked really hard to put together a playlist and structure a ride that's challenging. If I wanted to do my own thing and not be pushed to keep up, I could save my $32 and ride a spin bike at my gym.
ALP · 670 weeks ago
sammi8168 1p · 670 weeks ago
If you (and by you, I mean anyone) were a "newbie" in a dance class, would you take a position in the front of the class or learn the steps and inch your way from the back to the front? I've done that before (by accident) and let's just say, it wasn't pretty.
See you in class!
emily · 670 weeks ago
ryan, if you want to know what's happening in the class, look to the instructor, not the handful of people who happened to log into a website at the correct time to reserve those bikes. do you think that a person wanting exercise should not be allowed this privilege of the front row because they're newer to soul cycle? because i think the point of group fitness is just that - fitness. not elitism.
My Inner Chick · 670 weeks ago
I'd be COMPLETELY intimidated by this class.
You may find me in the VERY back row.
Xxx
Lynn · 670 weeks ago
For those of you who think people shouldn't ride in the front row unless they are "in sync" - seriously. Come on . it's an exercise class. You should pay attention to what you are doing and let everyone exercise at their own level.
For the instructor - how dare you tell someone that they are not ready to sit in the first row! Pushing me harder is one thing. But calling me out because I am not riding on the same foot as the people next to me - - taking it a bit too far.
THIS is why I spin elsewhere now.
fionarwbl 18p · 670 weeks ago
eric · 670 weeks ago
Old88dog · 670 weeks ago
NYCuban · 670 weeks ago
I've been riding in Janet's for about 2 years now, and I appreciate the discipline of the "front row". Wouldn't have it another way.
Lauren · 669 weeks ago
Jess · 669 weeks ago
I'm torn on what I feel about Janet's front row policy. I think that recognition is awesome, but I think that riding in the front row as an imperfect rider has helped me to grow so much, both with my rhythm and technique, as well as internally.
Dori · 663 weeks ago
I was reviewing SoulCycle for NBC New York last year, and the PR people at SoulCycle set me up in a class and selected my bike for me. They set me up with a front row bike, surely because they figured it would be best for the review.
I wish I knew to tell them not to do that. The instructor (not the one you had) would repeatedly walk up to my bike and bang on it. She yelled at me in front of the class for being out of sync. I told her I was actually spinning a little slower on purpose because I had an injury (at the time my hip was not 100% yet and I didn't want to screw anything up before I started marathon training); in most cases, an instructor would never want to mess with that. But this one did.
She told me my injury was not an excuse, and I had to cycle faster. Keep in mind this was DURING class, in front of everyone. I told her I couldn't. She told me I shouldn't have chosen a front row seat. I told her I didn't. I did not tell her I was there to review her, though in retrospect I wish I did.
She continued banging on my bike and embarrassing me in front of the class. I cried as I spun, thankful no one could see my tears through all the sweat.
I take group fitness classes all the time and I have NEVER felt so singled out and humiliated in a class before. I happen to LOVE FlyWheel, where the instructors know how to motivate without alienating. I also find it a far better, safer and more fun indoor cycling experience.
I get what SoulCycle is trying to do, but I won't go back there. No workout is worth that.
momatthebarre 71p · 663 weeks ago
Dori · 663 weeks ago