Category: fitness

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Soulcycle Review: Pros + Cons and finding your SOUL

I have been wanting to check out a spin class for a while so when I was offered the opportunity to check out SoulCycle in Bellevue, I jumped on it!  I had NO idea what to expect because I’ve never been to a spin class before.  You know the saying, “It’s like riding a bike”?  Well a few years ago at a family vacation, I got on a bike (after God knows how many years) and LITERALLY had to re-learn how to ride.  Needless to say, I was NOT ready for the intense heart-pumping workout I had just signed up for.

SoulCycle Bellevue is located in the heart of downtown Bellevue.  Given the pricing of classes, this is probably the right location / demographic / niche for this type of place.  Walking into the studio, the stark white + bright yellow theme gave a sterile feel, but not in a hospital type way…in more of a fresh, happy, modern kind of way.  Complimentary lockers, gum and ear plugs as well as hair-ties, bobby pins and razors was a nice bonus!

Upon check in, I got my shoes and bottled water.  If you don’t have your own shoes, they are $3 to rent which adds to the cost of the session but they are included in your class fee if it’s your first ride.  If you’ve never worn clip-in spin shoes before, they are a little weird at first.  Almost like wearing cleats…or at least what I’d imagine wearing cleats would be like!  Since this was my first time, I got there early and was able to get on my bike to adjust my seat and practice clipping in + out.  There were plenty of SoulCyclers that were willing to help and everyone was super nice!

The dark room is candlelit except when the instructor introduces a new move.  During those times, the lights come on the instructor (rest of the room stays dark) and then turn off again.  It was nice because for a newbie, it helps to have a visual of the next move.  The darkness helps you get in the groove and depending on the instructor and their style of music, it’s easy to get lost in the beat.  My instructor was Jenna and I absolutely loved her vibe!  I could see myself going to more of her classes in the future!  On special occasions (like the night I went), they have a DJ mixing throughout the class which definitely adds to the experience.  Almost like you’re in a club but getting a KILLER workout at the same time.  The first 30 minutes(ish) was all about cycling to the beat of the music.  Sitting, standing, moving from side to side, forward – backward, up – down.  Then we incorporated upper body moves using light dumbbells for the last 15 minutes.  It doesn’t sound like much but when you’re cycling and lifting to the beat, it’s a FULL body workout!  But what I appreciated the most during the class was the cool down at the end.  Maybe it was because I was exhausted and felt muscles in areas I didn’t know existed before, but the stretches Jenna took us through really targeted the areas we worked hard on for the past 45 minutes.

To be honest, I didn’t think cycling would be as tough of a workout as
some of the workouts I’ve done before (I’m comparing to HIIT cardio
with weights).  I figured you’re *just* moving your legs but it was WAY
more than just moving your legs.  It’s definitely a full body workout!  I can see why so many people are into SoulCycle as it’s more than just a spin class but there definitely are pros and cons.

PROS
– No membership fees!
– Bright, clean facility with showers (including shampoo, conditioner and body wash)
– 62 bikes that are reserved upon sign up for a class (so no waiting around for an open machine)
– Complimentary lockers, gum, ear plugs, hair ties, razors, etc.
– Validated parking in Lincoln Square

CONS
– Classes are pricey – $28 for a single class (+$3 if you don’t have your own shoes).  You can advance purchase packages of classes but there is an expiration date that you have to use them by
– Waiting area before classes start is a bit cramped with only a couple benches for people to sit or put on shoes
– Only 4 showers (I can’t imagine trying to get to a class before work and having to fight for a shower)
– Located in downtown Bellevue which could mean high traffic area making it difficult to get to during peak times
– No childcare

Overall, SoulCycle is a GREAT workout, burning over 500 calories per ride!  If you have the time + money, it’s definitely worth checking out and finding an instructor that speaks to your soul.  If anything, your first class is $20 and definitely worth trying out for the experience alone.

Thanks Jenna for a serious soul pumping first experience at SoulCycle!  <3

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Favorite Work Out Clothes

One of the things that keeps me motivated to go to the gym is work out clothes!  I like to work out in clothes that not only do their job (like keep the sweat away, keeps me cool, keeps things sucked in, etc…) but also that I feel good in.  I figure if you’re at the gym to make yourself feel better and look better why not start out by already feeling good in the clothes that you wear?  I’m a huge Lululemon fan and admittedly spend too much money there but I also get good use out of it so at least for me, that justifies the cost. I do have a few other go-to brands that I love so here are my top faves for work out clothes that you will usually find me in when I’m at the gym.

For tops, I tend to stick to form fitting tops because I don’t like my clothes to get in the way.  Whether I’m doing yoga or something more active, I do not want my clothes to be riding up or needing to be adjusted.  I love the “No Limits” tank for when you are feeling a bit bloated and not wanting to put on the form fitting tank that day.  It hides the little belly just perfectly but also does it’s job and stays in place because of the waistband.

Lululemon ‘Cool Racerback’– my favorite.  I have so many of these and I love going to the store to see the new colors and patterns.
Zella ‘Fresh Take Z’ Tank – a little thicker (fabric wise) and shorter (length wise) than the Lululemon Racerback but very similar
Lululemon ‘No Limits’ tank – Zella has a very similar version for less.  I haven’t tried it yet but am going to order it!
Nike ‘Indy’ Print Tank – Nike is a bit more sporty for my taste but they do still have some cute tanks that I like.

Same with pants.  I see people working out in baggy sweats and I have no idea how they even do it.  I need my clothes to stick to me and keep me cool or else I can not work out properly.  If anything, investing in proper workout leggings has been the best investment for me because I used to work out in just regular old leggings but trust me when I say that these make a world of a difference.  They suck you in all the right places, don’t ride up or down and the fabrics they use keeps the sweat away and comfy the entire time you are working out.

Zella ‘Live In’ Cross Dye Reversible Capri Leggings – I have 3 pairs of these, that’s how much I love them.  They are easily my favorite.  So comfy and they don’t ride up or down on you and they hold you in at the places that need to be held in.
Lululemon ‘Wunder Under’ Pant – if you have not tried on the goodness of the Wunder Under pants, just try them and you will see why every woman that owns them raves about them.  They are AWESOME.  I have the long ones to wear to the gym (I then change into my capris and they do make capri versions too) but I also wear these just lounging around the house, they are the best ever!
Nike ‘Filament’ Capris – again, a little sporty for my taste but if I’m doing circuit training where I get a bit more hot and sweaty, these are great for something that’s more active as they have cooling mesh inserts at the back of the knees.

If you didn’t know, Zella is a Nordstrom brand, however I read an article
about how one of the designers from Lululemon actually started working
there to help create the brand so the similarities between the two are
not coincidental.  I love both lines and Zella has great pieces that are a bit more reasonable price wise and they also go on sale unlike Lululemon
which rarely has sales.

Shoes wise – I’m a Nike fan but mainly because of my husband, I don’t think he’d let me buy any other brand of shoes.  LOL.  But really, they make the prettiest shoes (in my opinion) so I’d buy them anyway.  I have a few pairs of the Nike Free Runs and they are my favorite shoe ever. So lightweight and easy to do all my activities in.  I know that it’s technically a running shoe but I use it mostly for circuit training (cardio + strength training exercise) which the Nike TR Fit is a training shoe and good for that as well.

Nike ‘Free Run+ 3’ 
Nike ‘Free TR Fit 3’ 

On the cheaper side, you may be surprised (I was!) but the work out stuff from Forever 21 is pretty decent!  I actually buy my yoga sports bras from there as they are pretty comfy and hold up pretty well.  For low impact stuff, I think their sports bras and are pretty good and the price is even better!

Mesh Paneled Sports Bra | Neon Crisscross Sports Bra | Heathered Sports Bra

Target also has great sports bras and tops, I highly recommend this bra and this tank.

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Nike Training Club – let’s get fit together!

The Nike Lunarglide+ 2 – my favorite running shoe!

I don’t talk much about health and fitness on my blog much but it is a huge part of my life that I enjoy.  I don’t get to work out as much as I’d like because of my work schedule but I still try to go a few times a week and when I go, I spend about an hour to an hour and a half pushing myself and getting the best workout possible.  My husband works out about 5-6 days a week and he is probably the fittest person I know which really helps in keeping me motivated to work out.  My gym routine usually consists of 30-45 minutes of weights and 30-45 minutes of cardio.  Although I don’t mind working out on my own, I love taking classes as I love having an instructor to push me to my max and when there are other people in the class I push myself harder.  When I attended bootcamp classes, I was pleasantly surprised at my own strength and what I could accomplish and love the feeling I get after a great workout.  I haven’t been able to commit to a regular class schedule lately so when Glam Media and Nike approached me about trying out and blogging about the Nike Training Club app for my iPhone, I felt like it was perfect timing as I could work out on my own schedule and the app itself is like my very own personal trainer!

I started the program last week and let me tell you that I LOVE it!  I actually wish that I had discovered this app a bit sooner as it was something I needed since I had been needing to get new moves in my routine.  It’s always great to incorporate new moves as you want your muscles to be challenged in new ways in order to get results.  There are four programs in the app that you can choose from:

  • Get Lean: High interval, cardio drills to slim down
  • Get Toned: Light weights and intervals to add definition
  • Get Strong: Increased weights and reps to build strength
  • Get Focused: 15 minute workouts to target specific areas

I love all the programs and probably at some point will try them all but for the next 6 weeks I’ve decided to go with the Get Lean program because I absolutely love cardio intervals.  I don’t work out to lose weight because for me, the only way I lose weight is to change my diet but I work out to be healthy, strong and toned which are the results that I get from doing cardio intervals.

Within each program, you get to choose Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced.  And then within those, there are several workouts to choose from that last around 30-45 minutes.  You choose which workout you want and it will show you each move that you will be doing and for how long.  The awesome part is that you can select any of the moves and they have photos to show you step by step, how to do each one.

Once you’ve selected the one you want to go with, you hit “Do Workout” and guess what?  A voice comes on and it’s like your own personal trainer telling you what moves to do, how long to do it, how much time you have remaining for each move and even gives you encouragement!  And if you forget how to do a move, all you do is hit the “play” button and a video comes out showing you exactly how to do it!  Seriously, it is so awesome!  After you are done, it tracks your workouts to show you what you’ve done and how many minutes you’ve completed total.

I’ve been using the app for the first part of my workout and then finishing the last half with cardio (usually running) so I still get about an hour or longer workout.  If you don’t have an hour to spare, the 30 minute workouts that the app puts together are definitely good enough for a great workout.

I would love it if some of you joined me in downloading and using the Nike Training Club app and we all got toned and lean together!  (Feel free to choose which program works best for you!)  Each week I’ll be posting my progress and I’d love to have you guys telling me about your progress as well and all of us supporting and encouraging each other!  And as an incentive (like getting healthy and fit wasn’t already enough!) you will have a chance to win lots of great Nike gear and other awesome prizes!  Come back next week to find out how to enter the Nike Training Club Sweepstakes!

The Nike Training Club App is a full-body functional training app designed for you to make yourself whatever you want to be. Whether you’re looking to get lean, toned, or strong, NTC takes every workout to the next level. Download it here.

Before I add the disclosure (which is provided by Glam Media), I’d like to just address the fact that although I’m being paid to write this series of posts and to use this app, it does not influence my opinions in any way.  I genuinely love this app and would not recommend something to my readers that I would not use myself.

1st photo taken by me, all others are screenshots from Nike Training Club.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Nike Women via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Nike Women.