I have been blessed in sweat and born anew by the lord savior Kesha’s high note in her song Praying while the young female priest in her sports bra and fashion tights gave a sermon of letting go of my stress the past week.

This isn’t a new church on South Street, but a new spin studio. Let me first say I have done spin classes before. I have drank the kool-aid a long time ago and just continued to go to my local gym’s classes. When someone informed me about free classes at the new Revel-Ride, I was game. I am 27 years old and I am trying new things as much as possible. I have never been to a Soul Cycle, or a FlyWheel. The fear of being annoyed was always in my head. I am not one that likes the “YOU CAN DO IT” attitude. I am usually the person in the back that has the resting face of “don’t talk to me so I can get this over with an eat ice cream in bed.”

I like working out. I do. Honest. Some classes and gyms just don’t work for me. Anyways, I walked up to South Street with a water bottle in hand. Obviously I arrived too early so I walked around the block. When I was done killing time I figured 15 minutes early wasn’t terrible. I stepped into a small waiting room full of Lululemon clothes, muscles, and Swell water bottles. “What did I get myself into,” I thought to myself. The woman at the counter was extremely nice and helped me check into my bike and showed me around. “Lockers are downstairs if you need them and here are your shoes,” she stated. 1. Didn’t know we needed special shoes. 2. I didn’t bring a lock.

I stepped down to a crisp, white non-gender specific lockerroom/getting ready area. The lockers had this system where you could make a code for the night. I was in awe. I could spend my time down there and just make up different codes and be happy.

Alas, I had to put on my magnetic shoes and hop on a bike. The small room with a huge mirror was scary. I found bike 21 right between two women who looked like pros and behind a guy and woman who look like all they eat is avocado toast.

“I need help. Is this right,” I asked a worker who was setting up the bikes for people. “Yup, you’re good to go! High Five for a good ride,” this man in a tank top said to me as he looked dead in my eyes. I thought, “ Oh, you aren’t leaving till I do a high five.” I did.

The class started. I was tired after the warm up and thought “THAT WAS JUST THE WARM UP?” We continued on though. The instructor with her headset kept everyone motivated. At one point she said to close our eyes, and I thought “Yeah, right.” The catching the rhythm was so hard for someone who can’t even clap on beat, but I kept going! The sweat was dripping from my head, arms, back, chest, and everywhere else. Luckily Revel-Ride provided towels. Next the instructor said, “Alright pick up the weights behind you.” I had one thought “WEIGHTS?!?!?” What is happening? I thought this was spin and there are weights involved? I was game no matter what. I could feel my body working harder than any other class I have taken. I kept going and going. Suddenly I could feel myself wanting to impress the instructor. Why? I don’t know her, but OMG what if she compliments me? My competitive nature started to take over as well. Not to compete with others, but myself (lame I know). I kept going and going and ging. Finally, Kesha’s song played and it was the cool down. When we all stretched and got ready to go the instructor asked if she could meet everyone. There was this individualized attention we all wanted and she was granting it to us. I was so honored. I wanted to take selfies, and boomerangs right away. I got my stuff and headed outside.

On my walk home, I pulled up the app, and signed up for a class for each day for the remaining time of my week. I am thinking how I can budget for more classes. Each class starting at $25 is a price to pay. I can’t believe I joined this fitness cult. My body felt like it worked out, but wasn’t dead. I felt powerful, and I could go again. Revel-Ride is a real deal. If you can get past being that person that is paying more for a gym membership, and want to just work out, Do it! But also please don’t pick the bike next to mine because I will feel extreme self-conscious.

The Spin Church

Revel-Ride.com