Jess Rothschild

This is The Cult of Body and Soul, episode three, noon on Monday. In this episode, we're taking a peek behind the curtain of instructor auditions and the elusive training program. Plus, the cult of personality the brand thrives on and the chaos it can breed.

This is The Cult of Body and Soul, episode three, noon on Monday. In this episode, we're taking a peek behind the curtain of instructor auditions and the elusive training program. Plus, the cult of personality the brand thrives on and the chaos it can breed.

Chris's performing career had ended, and he was now running a dance company. This was his first class.

Chris's performing career had ended, and he was now running a dance company. This was his first class.

Dancers tend to be perfectionists, so he could not handle being bad at this one thing.

Dancers tend to be perfectionists, so he could not handle being bad at this one thing.

Unlike Chris, Halle Becker was already a sought-after personality, having taught yoga in Manhattan, at festivals, and retreats around the world. I go, what do they want me to do?

Unlike Chris, Halle Becker was already a sought-after personality, having taught yoga in Manhattan, at festivals, and retreats around the world. I go, what do they want me to do?

While Hallie was fast tracked, Chris had to will himself into performing the art of SoulCycle. He, of course, was eventually asked if he would like to audition. And so the auditions begin.

While Hallie was fast tracked, Chris had to will himself into performing the art of SoulCycle. He, of course, was eventually asked if he would like to audition. And so the auditions begin.

This is Stevie Santangelo. She was a master instructor at SoulCycle for eight years from 2012 to 2020. Stevie was my gateway to a lot of SoulCycle lore. It was through Stevie that I first learned the name Janet Fitzgerald. See, Stevie worked for Janet at Body and Soul back in LA. I introduced myself after a few weeks and she asked me to dinner after class, just the two of us.

This is Stevie Santangelo. She was a master instructor at SoulCycle for eight years from 2012 to 2020. Stevie was my gateway to a lot of SoulCycle lore. It was through Stevie that I first learned the name Janet Fitzgerald. See, Stevie worked for Janet at Body and Soul back in LA. I introduced myself after a few weeks and she asked me to dinner after class, just the two of us.

I quickly got her backstory that she had moved to New York for SoulCycle after 20 years in Los Angeles. She actually wasn't a fitness instructor at all, but a professional chef with a passion for spin. For her 40th birthday, they offered her a job at Body and Soul, which would alter the trajectory of her entire career.

I quickly got her backstory that she had moved to New York for SoulCycle after 20 years in Los Angeles. She actually wasn't a fitness instructor at all, but a professional chef with a passion for spin. For her 40th birthday, they offered her a job at Body and Soul, which would alter the trajectory of her entire career.

Stevie witnessed how SoulCycle West Hollywood put all of the boutique spin studios out of business. So it wasn't a surprise that Janet was in L.A. with Julie Rice scouting for talent.

Stevie witnessed how SoulCycle West Hollywood put all of the boutique spin studios out of business. So it wasn't a surprise that Janet was in L.A. with Julie Rice scouting for talent.

Because auditions can happen over several weeks, people had to wait to find out if they were accepted into the training program.

Because auditions can happen over several weeks, people had to wait to find out if they were accepted into the training program.

The training program was now somewhat codified. It took place between 8 and 12 weeks, three days a week. It was a mix of lectures, drills, and you were expected to ride frequently.

The training program was now somewhat codified. It took place between 8 and 12 weeks, three days a week. It was a mix of lectures, drills, and you were expected to ride frequently.