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First Soulcycle Class Didn’t Go Great? Here’s What to Do, According to Chinae Alexander

Alison Feller

July 10, 2017

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Photo: Instagram/@chinaealexander

There's a good chance you remember your first SoulCycle class. (Or you may be summoning the courage for your first spin class in general.) Along with the yummy grapefruit candles and a sweaty instructor pumping the best playlist ever, there's undeniably a learning curve: clipping in, attempting a push-up on the bike, and trying to lift weights out of the saddle—all while staying on the beat. And afterward, of course, there's the #totallyworthit feeling of accomplishment.

Turns out, even fitness it-girls can relate.

“You can always do what seems too big if you stick with it. Don't give up on yourself. Just keep working at it. Little by little."

Chinae Alexander may have solidified her spot among the front-row fiterati now, but it took a lot of determination to get there.

"I remember when I first went to a SoulCycle class, I felt discouraged because I couldn't keep up," Alexander shared on Instagram over the weekend. "The feeling of lung explosion + being off beat was miserable. I felt embarrassed and frustrated...thinking I would never ever get to a place where I would feel comfortable riding, especially in the first row."

https://www.instagram.com/p/BWVTH3hHVo0/

But eventually, the Brooklyn-based Adidas ambassador worked her way forward, where she now feels "confident and strong," she says. "This isn't about being in the first seat or the last... This is about the fact that you can always do what seems too big if you stick with it. Don't give up on yourself. Just keep working at it. Little by little. You'll get there in the right timing for you."

How's that for some #MondayMotivation?

Whether you're suiting up for your first class or your 500th, a confidence-boosting (and glittery) getup might just be the key to spinning success. Check out SoulCycle's new Ultracor collab, then get the scoop on the mega-brand's new bikes.