Louise

It was May 2006. I feel like maybe they had been open a month, a couple weeks. You know, it was right next to Juice Generation, but it was unmarked. You went through these like glass doors and right ahead of you was this like stainless steel elevator. And you were like, what? Where am I?

It was May 2006. I feel like maybe they had been open a month, a couple weeks. You know, it was right next to Juice Generation, but it was unmarked. You went through these like glass doors and right ahead of you was this like stainless steel elevator. And you were like, what? Where am I?

Because now it feels like you're in somebody's space. But if you take a hard left, there was a door. And then it was kind of dimly lit. And you go down this really long, narrow hallway. And there's this magical, amazing place. And there was a desk. And I said, you know, hi, I'm looking to help you if you're looking for help. And Julie and Elizabeth were both there.

Because now it feels like you're in somebody's space. But if you take a hard left, there was a door. And then it was kind of dimly lit. And you go down this really long, narrow hallway. And there's this magical, amazing place. And there was a desk. And I said, you know, hi, I'm looking to help you if you're looking for help. And Julie and Elizabeth were both there.

And unbeknownst to me at the time what this was or what anything meant, they were like, yeah. When can you start? And I was like, I have to actually go back and finish my shift. But they were like, just come back.

And unbeknownst to me at the time what this was or what anything meant, they were like, yeah. When can you start? And I was like, I have to actually go back and finish my shift. But they were like, just come back.

So Julie, in my experience of her, was very straightforward, sometimes kind of curt, sometimes loving and nurturing, but in a strict bad cop kind of way, if need be. And Elizabeth was very crunchy granola, very like... Oh, my gosh, you're here. Let's hug. And I was like, wait, what do you need me to do? I'm trying to be helpful. No, let's just talk for a second. How are you?

So Julie, in my experience of her, was very straightforward, sometimes kind of curt, sometimes loving and nurturing, but in a strict bad cop kind of way, if need be. And Elizabeth was very crunchy granola, very like... Oh, my gosh, you're here. Let's hug. And I was like, wait, what do you need me to do? I'm trying to be helpful. No, let's just talk for a second. How are you?

And it was just like such yin and yang. And I guess that's why they work so well together. I felt like, Julie, I could never be fast enough. And for Elizabeth, I needed her to be faster.

And it was just like such yin and yang. And I guess that's why they work so well together. I felt like, Julie, I could never be fast enough. And for Elizabeth, I needed her to be faster.

She was an instructor. She was like on a pedestal. And it was weird.

She was an instructor. She was like on a pedestal. And it was weird.

They were like, go outside with these flyers, hand out these free passes, get butts in the door.

They were like, go outside with these flyers, hand out these free passes, get butts in the door.

Like, so I would go to this balloon shop in the 80s on Amsterdam and I would get balloons and sort of Dick Van Dyke, Mary Poppins, Bert style with like one man band, like tie balloons to like my ankles and wrists and walk around like street corners and hand them out to people and say like, come for a free class at SoulCycle. And they'd be like, what is that? Yeah.

Like, so I would go to this balloon shop in the 80s on Amsterdam and I would get balloons and sort of Dick Van Dyke, Mary Poppins, Bert style with like one man band, like tie balloons to like my ankles and wrists and walk around like street corners and hand them out to people and say like, come for a free class at SoulCycle. And they'd be like, what is that? Yeah.

So then I would have to explain it, but I got to take free classes and I was excited. Or I'd walk in Central Park and try to like stop runners or other people on bikes and be like, come inside. And they were like, I don't want to do that. I want to ride outside. But you do it enough and people come in and then it's magic. And so then they come back.

So then I would have to explain it, but I got to take free classes and I was excited. Or I'd walk in Central Park and try to like stop runners or other people on bikes and be like, come inside. And they were like, I don't want to do that. I want to ride outside. But you do it enough and people come in and then it's magic. And so then they come back.

72nd Street was lined with like black SUVs of these ladies getting out to check into their class and then get back in there. It was like wild. You walked around the corner and it was like just lines of these cars and classes were full. And now there was a wait list and now there was a fight over who was on bike six.

72nd Street was lined with like black SUVs of these ladies getting out to check into their class and then get back in there. It was like wild. You walked around the corner and it was like just lines of these cars and classes were full. And now there was a wait list and now there was a fight over who was on bike six.