SoulCycle Without the Bike: Here Comes Peoplehood

SoulCycle talks about how people “come for the body but stay for the breakthrough.” It’s a good workout, but that’s only the beginning. Really what people experience is a sense of release of stress or a new insight and clarity about what’s important to them or a renewed commitment to the goals in their life or an experience of sanctuary, amid anxie... See more

Companies like Crossfit and Soulcycle create a sense of consistent space and ritual that inculcate deep loyalty and community among their participants. Reimagine, an organization that describes itself as “the world’s leading end-of-life events platform,” hosts paid gatherings and festivals related to death and healing. Casper ter Kuille and Angie T

... See more

Devotees say 'gym is church' and that customers will come flocking back, but analysts aren't so sure.

Much has been written about how brands like SoulCycle built cult-like followings by tapping into the collective desire to connect to something larger than themselves. Today, this practice has gone mainstream, so the question becomes, How can brands go beyond selling and engage with people’s spiritual lives?

For some, social isolation will leave them craving the community aspect of their favorite studio or gym more than ever before. Others who responded to the pandemic by purchasing a Peloton, outfitting a home gym, or downloading an app like Obé Fitness might not turn back.