Dear WEHO,
I cannot believe it has been five whole years since WEHO opened its doors. What has happened in those five years. What has been accomplished in those five years. What, I, on a personal note have become in those five years, is unfathomable to me. I was hired to work on the front desk & wear the yellow shirt. I had no idea then that the part time job I had acquired would shape me into the woman I am today. That this role would quite literally guide me through so many of the growing pains that came along with a chosen life in the City of Dreams. But I wasn't on that ride alone. SoulCycle, a company, a brand & a community that so many of us love & believe in was also taking a leap of faith. A concept that began in New York City was spreading it's wings for the first time in a unforgivable place where you more often than not have only one chance to prove yourself & one chance only. You capitalize on the moment or you watch it set sail like so many other dreams. It's a rare place where you set your passion on fire without inhibitions & it ignites & spreads like wildfire or slowly fades into the abyss.
It's that kind of passion, direction & purpose that we ride for everyday. The kind of tunnel vision & focus in what we believe in & why we keep coming back that is the foundation of this company. I thank Julie & Elizabeth for their dare to dream, for jumping off of the ledge & trusting that the net would be big enough to catch their fall. I thank them because I would not be who I am today with out them & their courage to succeed & create.
The only logical place to go from here is to the instructors who built West Hollywood. The special group of humans who are the backbone of that studio. The people who were there when no one else was. There are people who have found great success on the West Coast & I commend all of them, but the reason why they found success was because of the fearless humans who paved the way. Pixie Acia, Angela Davis, Gina Heekin, Roarke Walker, MB, Kym Perfetto, Ben Bruker, Claire...forgive me if I'm forgetting anyone, but these people jumped in head first with a brand that was unproven in their market. There were days when I am sure they felt like they had made a mistake, days when they questioned their choice, but they pressed on. I remember when Angela Davis, the literal Queen herself, asked why we still had a 6:00 AM class because no one came, & perhaps we should start at 7:00 AM. Said the woman who now has a long waitlist in every class that she teaches. And, don't get me started on the Goddess, Angel, Unicorn of a human that I think Pixie is. ...The point is, these special people believed in what they were on board to create & most importantly believed in themselves above all else, and without them we would not have the sweaty sanctuary that we do. To all of you I am forever grateful.
To the front desk staff, especially Molly Schreiber, Sarah Schmitz and Jillian Davis: To you, I owe the most respect. In the last five years, I have been many different versions of myself. I didn't always see the world in the light that I do now & I truly became who I am today through all of the ups & downs that I faced while that front desk remained my constant. While the three of you remained a constant. Thank you for putting up with my growth spurts & being there through every failure, success & heartbreak.
To the riders who became friends & to the riders who became family: Thank you for taking a chance on someone new & sticking with us throughout the years. At all ends of the spectrum we do our best to be there for you all, but what you bring to the table with your positive lights & existence is payment ten times over. Thank you.
Somewhere along that journey I saw myself in a different light & chose to pursue becoming an instructor. It wasn't something that I ever foresaw for myself. However when I stepped into that role, nothing in my life has ever felt more right. Grateful, is truly the only word that applies. To the managers, front desk staff, cleaning staff, riders & other instructors who supported me & taught me everything I know, if this studio didn't exist, I'm not sure I would have found my calling. I have tried my best, but there aren't words to describe how thankful I really am. Until we meet again, WEHO.
With Soul,
VB