One of my biggest insecurities in life is when those around me know that I have no clue what I’m doing. I don’t care that I may not know how to chop an onion, but nothing makes me more flustered than having someone watch me struggle through that task.
Cue me post Thanksgiving dinner, over salted and tired, walking into not only my first spin class, but my first SoulCycle class. Everything about the business appealed to me. I was a sucker for good branding and a great Insta aesthetic – enough to have me shelling over $30 for a 45 minute class. I had been staying with a friend for Thanksgiving in Chicago, and I knew this was my chance to try boutique fitness.
As I walked in I already felt intimidated by the swollen calf muscles and girls that definitely could pass as models. I signed in just fine, but I found my first challenge attempting to unlock one of the lockers. Thank god for nice strangers and instructions on the inside. Getting onto my bike was just as hard but thankfully there were really nice helpers that got me all set up. The movie I Feel Pretty really nailed the vibe. I could have easily been Amy Schumer in that moment. I was just hoping that I would leave the class without hitting my head like she did.
The class began with music pumping hard and a peppy instructor shouting words of inspiration. But boy… I was not prepared for that level of exercise. The class rose off their bikes and did half workout, half dance marathon on the bikes. Despite every part of me wanting to get up and leave, I peddled my way through 45 minutes of EDM and body envy. Despite my insecurities of not knowing what to do and my lack of fitness, the class was very inclusive. In the last 10 minutes I realized that I was proud for showing up and I was on a sort of high. My 20 minutes on the treadmill had clearly not been cutting it at school, but I realized I wanted to get in shape more than ever.
I walked out of the studio with quite a few new songs on my playlist and a noticeable difference in how I felt. I was incredibly energized and ready to conquer the world that day. The adventure could be quite laughable with my struggles, but I can say now that I am absolutely hooked. So sign up for the 5k, the $30 spin class, or another intimidating challenge. Investing in yourself is worth it.
Images courtesy of thecrimson.com and fortune.com