How to afford the SoulCycle fad

SoulCycle, a New York-based fitness company that offers indoor cycling classes, is addicting–until it breaks the bank.

Each 45-minute class costs $34, well beyond the price range of many college students.

Maria Carrato ’18 took her first SoulCycle class at the company’s Ardmore location in early November. Her assessment perfectly captured what many St. Joe’s students have experienced.

“I love it![But] it’s too expensive,” Carrato said.

Despite the hefty prices, students have found ways to join the SoulCycle craze without emptying their wallet. Students who love SoulCycle but don’t love the cost offer tips on how they afford classes.

Get a group discount

SoulCycle offers deals to campus groups. Most recently, members of Alpha Phi received two and a half weeks of unlimited SoulCycle classes.

Morgan Jensen ’18, a member of Alpha Phi, was able to take advantage of that deal.

“I did not think that I would get hooked, and I didn’t want to,” Jensen said. “It is way out of my budget. After the first class I went almost every day for those two and a half weeks.”

Find a recruiter

SoulCycle reaches out to students who attend classes regularly to recruit a group of 10 students who have never tried a class before. The company works with the recruiter to find one class that all the 10 students then take together. This class is free not only for the 10 students trying SoulCycle for the first time, but also for the recruiter.

Last week Caroline Napoli ’18 tried  her her first SoulCycle class free of charge, courtesy of a recruiter.

“I have not taken a SoulCycle class in the past because of the cost and inconvenience,” Napoli said, noting she prefers the St. Joe’s gym, which “is already paid for from tuition.”

After attending a SoulCycle class with 10 other students, mostly friends and roommates, she said she understood the appeal.

“It was a lot more fun than I expected it to be,” Napoli said. “I liked that there was music the entire time. You’re kind of in your own world. I would definitely go again if it was cheaper.”

Nab student and holiday deals

The Soul Cycle website lists class packages that can help cut costs, but from $145 for five classes all the way to $3,500 for 50 classes, they’re not ideal for every college student’s budget.

But students who are on the Ardmore location’s email list might receive holiday/student specials from managers there.

When SoulCycle recently emailed Carrato with a holiday deal for students, she jumped on the opportunity to take three more classes for $20 each.

Carrato tried SoulCycle for the first time last fall when members of her sorority, Alpha Gamma Delta, were offered one free class.

As a self-described workout fiend on a budget, Carrato said she found the experience “motivational and empowering,” and much better than working out alone.

“It is expensive, so you definitely need a college type of deal,” Carrato said.

Make the regular sacrifice

Alexandra Scepansky ’18 has been going to SoulCycle regularly since January.

“The cost definitely causes me to go less,” Scepansky said.

But Scepansky also said she has managed to afford a class once a week or every other week by making other sacrifices.

“I afford it by cutting back on other things,” Scepansky said. “If I did not spend money the weekend before, then I can go.”