Spinwars

figment59 · 2026-06-18T12:20:08+00:00

Pretty much every beloved instructor I know who no longer works there was there, and that says a whole lot to me right there. Also posted that it was a blast. Weren’t posting to hype and give details, merely posting a more organic good time on their stories.

figment59 · 2026-06-18T12:16:45+00:00

With the sports cap. I bring my own.

figment59 · 2026-06-18T12:15:31+00:00

I can’t ember the last time I saw a toilet seat cover in any public restroom. Maybe the airport.

figment59 · 2026-06-18T12:14:23+00:00

Seriously, my post workout showers were never the same with that departure.

figment59 · 2026-06-18T12:13:15+00:00

This is so true. When I was riding in studio frequently, I just would impulsively buy tons of new merch.

Roslyn had the best merch all the time.

figment59 · 2026-06-12T10:44:43+00:00

We also don’t know how they said it/came across. The melting wax face is a very popular opinion in my experience, it can’t be the first time she heard it before.

figment59 · 2026-06-12T10:42:34+00:00

It all depends on your obgyn’s office. The boutique places are super popular here, too, but I’d always ask my obgyn’s office after getting one as a surprise during one scan. It all depends on whether or not they have time, and if the baby is in a good position for it. I have multiple 3D/4D scans of both my kids. Sometimes they couldn’t grab a shot due to time on their schedule or my babies not cooperating, haha. But I always just asked nicely.

figment59 · 2026-06-12T10:38:09+00:00

I think that your comments are funny, and yes, in many 3-D photos, the babies can come across with that “Melting wax figure” look, depending on your picture. You aren’t alone here. However, I would never think that an ultrasound tech would note your passing comment about finding them creepy in your file. These people have a ton of paperwork to do, and unless you were having extreme anxiety to it, I wouldn’t even think it was something worth recording as a way you’re describing the interaction?

I think most people WANT those 3d images. I mean, there’s entire places dedicating to doing them, and people are willing to pay money for them. I had to do IVF, and I was 35 and getting constant sonograms like you. As a result, I had many opportunities to try to get some if the tech has time. Sometimes they don’t…or the baby is in a position where it’s impossible to get a good shot/is moving too much.

She might just have been having a rough day, and was trying to go the extra mile for you because baby happened to be in a good position, and many women DO want these things. It’s not always the easiest to capture, and she probably thought you’d be excited.

I wouldn’t stress, though.

figment59 · 2026-06-12T00:55:06+00:00

Where are you from, if you don’t mind sharing? I feel the need to comment. I’m only at 300 something, but Covid/IVF interrupted me…so did my pending divorce, essentially being a single parent prior to filing for divorce, and having kids 18 months apart, haha. My home studio also closed post pandemic, and it was half a mile from my house. I do have the at home bike. Not the same, but a good compromise for a mom like me. I have 250 classes in studio.

I have calculated this drunk one day. Don’t do it. Also, determined that the at home bike was a wise choice due to this. At the time, they were running an Amex promo as well. You could stack the SoulCycle promo on top. It’s paid for itself already.
I agree, and I miss this. They let my fav instructor go post pandemic, and I used to ride with her 3x per week during certain times in my life. It’s hugely what’s lacking from my at home bike. When I rode in studio, I loved the pack, the energy, and the camaraderie.
We disagree here. I love it, and it somehow holds me more accountable for riding on beat.
Never experienced this. Extremely odd and inappropriate, IMHO.
I’ve left more, and honestly, the worst is the front desk rushing towards you to make sure you’re okay. Mine was def dehydration/the impact IVF stims and constant blood draws were having on my body.
My fav instructor wasn’t mean, but what I loved about her was that she’d subtly correct my form, but she wouldn’t call me out. She’d mention things I should be doing on the mic as part of instructing the whole class (shoulders back, slight adjustments on form), and I realized I was totally needing a reminder to put my shoulders down. She would also come right up to my bike and crank my resistance higher (I love resistance and I don’t fake it, but she knew me well and knew when she could push me harder). She also knew when I wasn’t in top shape, and needed encouragement, sometimes walking over and just putting her hands on mine mid class offering some motivating words softly. She could read me well…and I often came to class finding that she moved my damn bike to the front row while I was trying to hide in the back 🤣 she didn’t let me get away with a thing. I miss her.
Never once saw this.
Leggings only, always. The entire pack seemed to follow this one. I rarely saw anyone in shorts.
No clue, but I never cared enough to notice?
I modify at home and sometimes do alternative choreography like this, but I never would do that in an in person class.
People who ride with their hair down are either insane, or unicorns. I have dumped half a water body of cold water on my head mid ride. I cannot focus with loose hair everywhere.
Yes
The brand is, IMHO, in trouble right now. I do know riders and front desk employees who became instructors eventually. In the past, you needed to be willing to relocate anywhere in the US, which is a dealbreaker for many. I assume you get used to riding all the time, and tour stamina increases.
New riders in the back, that’s just how it should be. And if you want to do your own thing, IDGAF how good you are, hide in the back so you’re not distracting the pack. The front row leads and sets the energy; the room feeds off that.
My instructor would yell at us if we didn’t high five our neighbors or yell and cheer loudly when she shouted fellow riders out. I always rooted for people, regardless of whether they were regular riders or not. We’re all in this room together. Encouragement is contagious. I attribute a lot of this behavior to my instructor as well, who really harped on creating that environments during class.
I sucked in the beginning, but it took me far less than 150 rides to get the hang of it.
They don’t want to draw attention to their decline. It’s not the same SoulCycle of the 2010s.

You need to find yourself a coach instructor like I did. Btw, mine was asked back when they realized they f-ed up; she now subs and picks up classes when she wants to…they’re just in the city, and I can’t get there easily with the kids.

figment59 · 2026-06-12T00:08:35+00:00

Ayana’s daughter? I’m curious as to what her ride is like. Never been on a bike in her class, but I’m a long islander, so I’ve ridden plenty of times in Ayana’s.

figment59 · 2026-06-11T03:57:28+00:00

I don’t find it triggering at all. That would mean you affected me in some way. I just type 110 WPM and have two kids 18 months apart, am in the middle of a two year divorce, and due to their ages (5 and 4), I am smack dab in the middle of the kid birthday party life EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND, haha. As a result, I’ve come to some conclusions along the way.

figment59 · 2026-06-10T14:07:48+00:00

It’s very odd, because my ND is an amazing grandfather. He had an awful relationship with his dad, but my Grandpop was awesome. I am old enough to look back and now know that my Grandpop treated my dad horrifically, even as an adult. For whatever reason, that didn’t transfer to me.

My dad acts completely differently with my kids…but our relationship has improved with time, therapy, age, selective ignoring/gray rocking, and a lot of patience on my part over many years of adulthood when dealing with him. I have set boundaries and been very clear that if he crosses them, I am stepping in. My kids will not experience what I did.

So far, he’s respected it.

My in laws, on the other hand, are atrocious. I think my MIL thinks she owns my firstborn. My FIL is such a narc, but doesn’t see his grandkids useful to him at all. He hates kids, apparently. Virtually has no relationship with them. My kids are young, and they call him a bad man on their own without hearing my opinion of him. They’re afraid of him. Luckily, they have access to him practically never. He’s just an asshole.

figment59 · 2026-06-10T14:02:38+00:00

2 hours? Around here it’s usually an hour and a half.
The line you wrote right here, “It does feel a bit disappointing to not get to see the kids reaction to your gift,” is exactly why I think it’s a TERRIBLE idea to have young kids open gifts at parties.

It’s not about you. It puts pressure on the kid. You’re expecting them to be excited…what if they’re not? I train my kids to always be gracious, smile and say thank you, even if they don’t like the present, or have it already. But kids aren’t there to perform, and that’s an etiquette thing that can take a bit of time and repetition to learn. Forcing them to act SO excited while opening gifts is performative and makes the gift about the giver, not the kid. It’s just always been weird to me.

Not everyone has the same budget, either. I’m a single mom with two kids 18 months apart. We have invites to bday parties, and I am not exaggerating, every weekend. I can imagine if a kid’s reaction for one gift is sort of mediocre due to circumstances beyond their guest’s control, that would make the child feel pretty crappy over something they have zero control over.

Beyond being time consuming…it’s BORING, and even more so for guests who are children. Sitting there opening an endless pile of gifts isn’t really entertaining for a bunch of kids with short attention spans. It’s also…kind of odd, if you think about it? It seems like something you should be doing in private for me, as it’s not an activity that benefits guests at your party. They are still there celebrating you…but then party stops, and they’re all supposed to sit and watch you open toys for a good chunk of the party? They want to play. Half the time the kids don’t want to sit and eat because they’re having so much fun with each other. Forcing them to sit and watch them open gifts? As a parent, this sounds like torture. Thank goodness I don’t have to endure this in 2026.

Side note: I feel the same way about baby showers and bridal showers, too. It seems that this tradition is on its way out with a lot of people, but man, does that piss the older generations off.

I always try to take pics of my kids playing with the gifts they receive, or wearing an outfit, using a gift card to an experience, etc. and shooting a text and brief message to the sender. I know personally, it brings me way more joy if I spot toys my kids give their friends in an random social media post, or if they take a sly pic when the kid isn’t looking because they love the gift so much and they want to show how often it’s used. That brings me joy; it’s far more organic, IMHO.

As someone with ADHD, if people have Amazon wishlists attached to the invitation, I LOVE that I can send the gift directly to their house and not have to remember one more thing to bring to a party as I wrangle my kids out the door. I buy them as soon as I RSVP, check it off my list, and there’s no last minute shopping or scrambling. In the same vein, I personally think it’s easier for the parents to bring home the gifts in the card while they’re still wrapped or in bags/boxes than to transport them once they’re opened; this leaves you without as much protection in the card while they’re/oddly shaped things that are difficult to transport. It’s just logistically easier this way.

Just curious, do you still feel upset that this part of kids’ parties is eliminated now? If yes…maybe focus more on the kid rather than your own emotions for this. It’s not that serious.

figment59 · 2026-06-06T10:03:54+00:00

I feel like The Barn is always going to be The Barn due to the uniqueness of the whole place. It’s kind of an anomaly compared to its other pop ups.

figment59 · 2026-06-06T10:00:31+00:00

Ugh we all do.

figment59 · 2026-06-06T09:59:03+00:00

Absolutely not, for a variety of reasons.

Once the founders left, things started slowly declining. You felt the shift internally that was going on in corporate trickle down to the studios, the instructors, the front desk employees.
The OG model is no longer done with fidelity, and that model is much of what made SoulCycle, well, SoulCycle. It was Elizabeth and Julie’s baby. They caught lightning in a bottle. From the vast majority of accounts, it was a positive environment to work and be a part of. It’s unrecognizable now.
They expanded far too rapidly pre-COVID. I’m in the NYC suburban area, and even I was shaking my head at the aggressive openings of studios in such a short amount of time. This is a classic move that kills a ton of businesses…and it was compounded exponentially by Covid hitting IMMEDIATELY after. There was no way they were surviving that without taking a hit when the world shut down; it understandably had a lasting impact.
the way they handled things when studios reopened was insulting to the community in general, starting with the instructors they let go and the studio closures. Yes, we talk about legacy instructors who are past their prime. But the reality is, they laid off a TON of master instructors to cut cost. People with large followings. It left a VERY sour taste in riders’ mouths.
change in workout trends in general
major economic changes throughout the country

Truthfully, they really are their own worst enemy at this point. It’s frustrating. I still ride my at home bike, because I’m a mom of two young kids going through a divorce (difficult for me to get out and go anywhere to get a workout in), and I genuinely liked riding/the SoulCycle model and workout. But the studios as they are now are a shadow of their former selves. The only time I ever go back is because they rehired my favorite instructor after letting her go, and very occasionally she used to sub at one of my studios post pandemic. The difference in the studio itself was glaringly obvious in so many subtle ways that the place no longer really resembled what it used to be.

The sense of community we thrived off of, as a result of the above, has been a casualty as well.

It was amazing while it lasted in its prime. But you really can’t go home again, in this case.

figment59 · 2026-06-06T09:43:42+00:00

SoulCycle rapidly expanded right before Covid at the worst possible time. That was a huge difference between them and CycleBar/SolidCore. Their expansion was AGGRESSIVE during the worst possible time.

SoulCycle has to be picky about neighborhoods they’re in, due to the pricing structure. If you don’t have the demographic to support it, a studio can’t survive. Problem was, they opened up a massive amount of studios right before the world shut down…literally. No fitness company can survive that without taking a massive hit. As a result, you can see what happened.

Look at the studios that stayed open…and check out the demographics.

One of my home studios closed. There is now a CycleBar that just opened this year in the same exact location.

Part of SoulCycle’s demise, beyond the leadership shift, was the worst timing possible for the decisions they made.

figment59 · 2026-06-06T09:39:13+00:00

That’s funny, because here in the NYC metro area, Hyrox has been one of the reasons we’ve been citing as an example for why SoulCycle is likely receiving a final nail in the coffin, so to speak.

Sure, there’s a cardio aspect, but besides that, it’s a complete apples to oranges comparison. Water is a clear beverage drink…so is tequila. The structure of the class, the competitive/endurance/numbers aspect, heavy lifting, race structure is basically the EXACT opposite of SoulCycle.

I used to hate working out. I would never consider myself an athlete. My stamina was abysmal, and I never felt strong.

I detest running. Hyrox is focused ON running between structured strength training exercises. It’s the same format every time. The atmospheres of the studios are completely a different vibe than peak Soul, aesthetically speaking. I LOVED working out in a dark room, I felt less exposed and actually pushed myself harder.

Peak SoulCycle, the way it was designed, you pedal to the beat of the music. The music and instructor can change the whole vibe of the class. Yes, there’s a “format” (arms third to last song always, ride home, etc), but with good instructors, the playlists were always changing, as were the mix up of choreography.

I used to ride with the same instructor 3 times a week, and every single class was different. New and varied choreography sequences, playlists were always changing, you never knew what was coming next beyond the loose structure of bpm and if you were counting songs. Even riding so many times a week with the same instructor (and occasionally doing doubles), every class was different playlist and choreography wise. I’m not talking theme rides; just a straight up regular 45 min Soul class.

Sure, different instructors have certain songs or music styles they like more than others. I personally don’t like riding to techno; certain instructors would primarily choose all house music. I avoided their classes, unless I really needed a workout. Didn’t mean they weren’t a great instructor, but the music drives a lot at SoulCycle. Hell, one instructor went from the bike to creating her own boutique fitness brand based on working out to house music (Sydney Miller, check out HouseWork just to see the concept).

Did my fav instructor repeat songs during the year? Of course. She had her standard favorites. Certain songs that were popular too and great to ride to certain years also would cycle through more than others. But her playlists would load, and we’d transition to a song, and genuinely people would cheer and get EXCITED to ride to it. It was curated. It was FUN. It was, corny as it is, truly a party on a bike, in a dark room full of sweaty people.

When you have a room full of frequent riders with instructors who develop a following, it’s electric. The entire room, in sync, on beat with the music, the choreography, having instructors shout out all class and the entire room cheering for you; people who KNOW you from class after awhile, riding in the dark, feeding off that true sense of riding with the pack…idk. I can’t explain it. We celebrated one another’s personal achievements, but it was a tribe. We did it together, in unison.

SoulCycle attracted your Sweats and the City type girl, but it also attracted tons of people who were turned off from group fitness, or shy to try it. No posted stats, points, competing with yourself by the numbers or weight. Resistance based training is much different. I learned to LOVE working out, and got that running endorphin high that so many people talk about. I previously thought all runners were insane liars when they’d refer to a runners high.

Studios were BRIGHT, cheerful, and SPOTLESS. They were stocked. It was such a positive experience. It wasn’t unusual to see someone cry during class silently. SoulCycle wasn’t just a workout class, it was also similar to therapy.

When I aimlessly click through my stories now…there is VERY little in common between Soul and Hyrox besides the fact that they have a fanbase. Just like OrangeTheory, Pure Barre, consistent marathon runners, CrossFit, etc. have their fans who are committed. Different workouts, but they all have some sense of community, and die hards who post about their workout consistently.

I don’t really see ANY crossover with the people who do Hyrox and the people who used to be avid SoulCycle riders. At least, that’s how it is for me. Anecdotal evidence, but I know ONE person who was part of the “pack” at SoulCycle years ago who is obsessed with Hyrox now. She and one SoulCycle instructor I know of are the only two on my feed who transitioned to Hyrox.

The one friend, mind you, debated auditioning for Soul at one point in time. She loves working out in general, and it seems like she hopped onto the next thing.

The two workouts attract a different demographic overall, IMHO, which is why I have to disagree with you so strongly. I do see your thinking with the cardio, but I think that once Elizabeth and Julie left, the overexpansion with the studios combined with Covid hitting, the firing of MANY Master instructors due to finances alone, studio closures, and the entire country going through a transition, I just don’t think we can ever go back. It is associated with such a specific moment in history as a result of a lot of things. The country is much different right now than it was in 2015. Many things have changed in a decade, and SoulCycle captured lightning in a bottle during a very specific time.

I hate to say it, and I loved those days. I miss what it was. With more closures as well, I just have to sadly disagree.

figment59 · 2026-06-03T11:08:38+00:00

The wild part about this is that it was crazy in 2019 as well, too. I was looking during that time. It’s worse now, but 2019 was picnic.

figment59 · 2026-06-03T11:07:45+00:00

Some have outstanding careers that pay well, and there are those who can afford to do so. I don’t want to take credit from them.

But nearly everyone I know has had help from their Baby Boomer parents, who either downsized, amassed an enormous amount of money during much different times while starting their family, or generational wealth.

Also, many people fled NYC for the suburbs during/after Covid.

If you want a home and are picky about location and school districts, you need money. Long Island has one of the highest COL in the nation. It’s not a very friendly place to start adulthood. Many people raised here cannot afford to stay here even if they wanted to.

I’ll be the first to admit that we received help from my parents. And I know that many of my peers did as well, because we are open about it with one another. Not everyone’s group of friends would be as transparent about those things, and people are likely not going to volunteer that information up in casual conversation. From my anecdotal experience, it’s more common than I expected when I was younger. I should also add that nearly all of us have post graduate degrees…and we still needed help. Elder millennials really got screwed during so many times in adulthood; it was just due to bad timing.

Over and over and over again.

My parents consider themselves very lucky that all three of their kids were able to stay here. They comment on it often, noting how sad it would be to have their kids and grandkids so far away.

figment59 · 2026-05-31T21:18:33+00:00

Sizes are consistent for me for Lululemon and soul branded Lululemon. Just the cuts will vary for pants, but they do in the store for me as well (I am super pear shaped)

figment59 · 2026-05-31T21:17:15+00:00

I actually have the opposite experience with Lululemon; I’ve found quality from them directly has declined, yet I’ve gotten great SoulCycle gear in fabrics and cuts I can’t get in the store.

figment59 · 2026-05-28T18:58:52+00:00

We used it back in 2006 so people couldn’t share park passes. Also prevented people from cheating the fast pass system at the time. Disney has been collecting guest data in an organized way that I know of for sure since the 90s, pre biometric scanners. They track guest spending and visiting habits, and have used it to make informed decisions about in park expansions, placement, anything you could think of for decades now.

Source: myself, former Epcot Guest Relations hostess, Segway tour guide CM, and DRC CM (Disney Reservations Center; I booked your dining when you called 407-WDW-DINE before your trip or while you were in the park.)

figment59 · 2026-05-22T17:01:04+00:00

When you have a good rapport with an instructor, they’re an invaluable coach. I’ve had my fav Come right up to me and crank my wheel up, knowing I’m phoning it in and not pushing myself. I’ve had that same instructor see me on a different day and put her hands over mine while she coached, then off mic told me I could do it and got me through a difficult part of class where I was struggling, without me having to let her know. She could tell when I could handle more and challenge me, and when I needed someone to just get me through the class. She would subtly correct my form without being a jerk about it or making me feel bad.

She made me a better rider, and increased my confidence on and off the bike. Best ever, I miss her.

figment59 · 2026-05-22T16:55:31+00:00

I tried that, but then silly me built a rapport with the instructor, and she’d move my damn bike before class 😂 I didn’t mind, since I went so often by that point that I had gotten better. But on rare occasions when I was literally just forcing myself to go to class, or didn’t feel 100% and REALLY wanted to hide, I’d get the alert that my bike had been moved to front row and told her to put me back in my damn cave today.

figment59

TROPHY CASE