Sol Vibe: Why I'm Itching to Get Back
Hey oh! I’m Krista, a registered dietitian and cycling instructor at Sol Vibe. I use the term “cycling instructor” loosely at the moment because I actually haven’t instructed (or even attended a class) at Sol Vibe for a solid 12 weeks now. Why? Well I was (really, really) pregnant and now I’m (really, really) post-partum. While I’m definitely soaking up all the baby snuggles, I’m also realizing “you don’t know how much you appreciate something until it’s gone” and itching to get back moving!
So, when Kelsey (the spunky, little blonde lady that greets you at the front door with a genuine smile, then makes you do a frustrating amount of vinyasas, and then rewards you with a cool, scented towel at the end of class and all is well again) asked me to write a tidbit about myself for an instructor feature, I thought featuring three reasons why I miss working out at Sol Vibe, might relate to more of you than anything I can write about myself.
The Herd Mentality
I am a huge proponent of group fitness. I can’t say with complete confidence that this stems from my collegiate running days, but it’s a safe bet. I love that I can go to a class and not have to think about it (coach gives you a workout) and that there are people around me that are working just as hard (teammates and group camaraderie). This “herd mentality” not only makes the hour go by quickly, but it also makes it a lot harder for me to skimp out on any aspect because my neighbor is grinding out those burpees right next to me. This is the opposite of dragging yourself to a gym, hopping on the treadmill (aka “dreadmill”!!) with intentions of cranking out 4 miles, then hopping off after 12 minutes of convincing yourself you’re bored and that you’d rather go get a latte instead. I can’t be the only one who’s done this before?
2. Community
Out of the herd mentality, a sense of community arises. I have been regularly attending Sol Vibe for the past three years and have met (and became close friends with) a lot of people. There’s something about doing challenging things together that bring people closer. Whether it’s the smile when you walk in the door, the chatting in the lobby, or the banter with Aaron when he’s rambling on about sharks and/or how a certain brand of clothing makes you “X” percentage stronger (and smarter and younger and better looking) - there’s connection. And even if you haven’t been isolated from the world for the past five weeks with minimal adult interaction and lots of diaper changes, we all crave connection. We all crave a sense of community.
3. Something Special
The last reason I’ve missed Sol Vibe is difficult to explain; there’s just “something special” about it and the people there. It’s uplifting. It’s encouraging. It’s challenging. It’s where you’re reminded to breathe in the good and exhale the bad and all that doesn’t serve you. It’s the place that you walk out feeling better than when you walked in. To simplify things: it’s just a good place to be.
Well, my babe just woke up from his nap and we’re rapidly approaching lunch time. Thanks for reading! I hope you’ll join me for a spin some day!
-Krista