Jess Rothschild

Six months later, it was once again summer in the Hamptons. Julie made good on her promise to allow Janet to combine spinning with performance art, all set to Moulin Rouge. This would be a fundraiser to honor Claire's memory.

Six months later, it was once again summer in the Hamptons. Julie made good on her promise to allow Janet to combine spinning with performance art, all set to Moulin Rouge. This would be a fundraiser to honor Claire's memory.

The event combined burlesque, live musicians, singers, dancers, all within the middle of a spin class set to Moulin Rouge.

The event combined burlesque, live musicians, singers, dancers, all within the middle of a spin class set to Moulin Rouge.

Even Chelsea Clinton was at this event and raved about it to the press.

Even Chelsea Clinton was at this event and raved about it to the press.

By 2011, SoulCycle had expanded to the Upper East Side, Tribeca, Union Square, and the Hamptons. It was time for an Upper West Side studio with actual soundproofing. The community celebrated this milestone with a Wreck the Studio party, where they could gather for one last ride and pay homage.

By 2011, SoulCycle had expanded to the Upper East Side, Tribeca, Union Square, and the Hamptons. It was time for an Upper West Side studio with actual soundproofing. The community celebrated this milestone with a Wreck the Studio party, where they could gather for one last ride and pay homage.

They were opening just five blocks north. But for many, the end of the 72nd Street hole in the wall was profound. SoulCycle no longer belonged to just them.

They were opening just five blocks north. But for many, the end of the 72nd Street hole in the wall was profound. SoulCycle no longer belonged to just them.

I took my first SoulCycle class in 2011. A good friend of mine lived next door to the Upper East Side studio, and I happened to be working in the neighborhood. I actually spun many times before, and hated it, at my local gym in Queens. My friend was over it after a few months, but I kept going. I don't even know what the pull was.

I took my first SoulCycle class in 2011. A good friend of mine lived next door to the Upper East Side studio, and I happened to be working in the neighborhood. I actually spun many times before, and hated it, at my local gym in Queens. My friend was over it after a few months, but I kept going. I don't even know what the pull was.

I certainly hadn't met any new friends, and I definitely didn't have a spiritual bond to an instructor. I do remember being impressed with myself when I could finally clip in without asking for help. And I also remember being able to sustain a run out of the saddle. I guess I was getting good? I used to look at the SoulCycle website and stare at the schedule to kill time.

I certainly hadn't met any new friends, and I definitely didn't have a spiritual bond to an instructor. I do remember being impressed with myself when I could finally clip in without asking for help. And I also remember being able to sustain a run out of the saddle. I guess I was getting good? I used to look at the SoulCycle website and stare at the schedule to kill time.

A few weeks prior, I noticed a new instructor photo. Her name is Stevie. The energy coming through this black and white photo was instinctively different. She looked different and she felt different to me, especially from the vanilla instructors I had been taking on the Upper East Side. I told my girlfriend I needed to go into the city to take this 5 p.m. class.

A few weeks prior, I noticed a new instructor photo. Her name is Stevie. The energy coming through this black and white photo was instinctively different. She looked different and she felt different to me, especially from the vanilla instructors I had been taking on the Upper East Side. I told my girlfriend I needed to go into the city to take this 5 p.m. class.

The class was in NoHo, a new studio in the up-and-coming neighborhood right next to the East Village. I remember walking into the NoHo studio for the first time. And I remember getting a glimpse of Stevie before class. She had long dreadlocked hair, tattooed arm sleeves, and wore knee socks over her leggings. The beats were heavy, dirty, dark, and you could stomp on the music.

The class was in NoHo, a new studio in the up-and-coming neighborhood right next to the East Village. I remember walking into the NoHo studio for the first time. And I remember getting a glimpse of Stevie before class. She had long dreadlocked hair, tattooed arm sleeves, and wore knee socks over her leggings. The beats were heavy, dirty, dark, and you could stomp on the music.

Stevie would have a greater impact on my life more than any other instructor.

Stevie would have a greater impact on my life more than any other instructor.