SOUL+FULL, a new indoor cycling class, is cruising into the Valley this August, aiming to fill a unique niche where worship and wellness converge.<\/p>\n
\u201cTurns out people want more than tap backs and Beyonc\u00e9,\u201d said Stephanie Schwartz, founder of The Underground Phoenix, which opened the doors to its permanent location in April. \u201cThey\u2019re spiritual beings craving connection \u2014 real, raw and rooted in purpose. SOUL+FULL is one way we\u2019re answering that call.\u201d<\/p>\n
Schwartz has taught in the Valley since 2007, earning a reputation from Gilbert to Glendale for her top-tier workouts. The idea to launch her own studio popped up when her previous employer went out of business.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI had told a friend that we might want to start thinking about opening up our own place because I didn\u2019t know how long our studio was going to stay around,\u201d Schwartz said. \u201cOf course, within a couple of months, the owners announced they were going to close the studio. I looked at her and said, \u2018It\u2019s go time.\u2019 That all happened in June 2023, and they were going to be closing July 31. I asked her, \u2018Do you think there\u2019s any chance we could be open Aug. 1 so nobody has to find a new place to ride, work out, and be together?\u2019 She said, \u201856 days is a little aggressive, but let\u2019s see what we can do.\u2019\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Schwartz reached out to the community and friends, everybody came together, and The Underground was born on Aug. 1, 2023 in a temporary location while they searched for a permanent spot. Although the one-room studio did not allow them to fully operate all day every day with all their formats, they made it work: The community remained intact, and the teachers were able to lead classes.<\/p>\n
\u201cStaff still had a place to call home,\u201d shared Schwartz.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That home is nothing less than awesome. \u201cThink: custom neon lights glowing over graffiti murals of Madonna, Biggie and Michael \u2014 each one commissioned by local artist Uvonte Reed (@uvontereed) \u2014 creating a space that feels more like a modern museum than a traditional gym. A full wall of over a thousand CD cases, all donated by loyal riders, adds to the nostalgic vibe,\u201d wrote The Best of the Southwest after the space opened.<\/p>\n
The new space has two studio rooms and The Underground has been able to expand its offerings \u2014 or as Schwartz said, \u201copen our arms even wider\u201d \u2014 and grow its community with mat pilates, yoga and strength training classes throughout the day.<\/p>\n
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The seeds of SOUL+FULL, which kicks off on Aug. 16, were planted in The Underground\u2019s temporary location. It hosted several spiritual spin classes, and the response and class energy were unlike anything Schwartz had ever experienced.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast year when we had our first spiritual ride, I was on a high for days,\u201d she began. \u201cThere was something so magical about the people in that room and the energy and spirit that I realized this was desperately needed.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEverybody left on a higher frequency and vibration than when they walked in,\u201d she continued. \u201cPeople were holding hands during classes. They\u2019re singing out loud, belting it out. It\u2019s absolutely beautiful. People make friendships, and you see the same people start to come back class after class because it really resonated and touched them, and they want to have that experience again. It\u2019s always unique. It\u2019s never exactly like the last class. It\u2019s got its own energy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another unique aspect of SOUL+FULL is the gospel beats are delivered through a silent disco headset experience that puts the rider in complete control. Each rider receives their own personal headset with customizable volume so no hearing risk, no muffled instructor voice and no distractions.<\/p>\n
Plans for a live choir or guest DJ are not off the table, but the class would have to relocate.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have attorneys in the office right above us,\u201d said Schwartz. \u201cI absolutely want to do that, but we would have to take it to a different venue. I would love to wheel bikes to St. Thomas on 24th and Campbell and have a whole experience in a church setting, or they will be banging on the floor.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Underground<\/p>\n
5090 N. 40th Street, Suite 120, Phoenix<\/p>\n