Who: Charlee AtkinsSoulCycle instructor, New York
From: New MexicoSmall town, big city
Her ride: Inclusive and athleticFor anybody and everybody
Home studio: SoulCycle TribecaThree and a half years of classes
Off the bike: Exercise scienceRetreats, music, travel
The film: 3-minute docufilmSoulCycle, 2018

Charlee Atkins grew up in a small town in New Mexico and, in her words, made it to the big city. We spent a few days with her, on the bike and off it.

This is one of a series of documentary portraits RIOT made with SoulCycle‘s instructors in 2018: people whose classes are full for a reason, filmed the way they actually live. Charlee’s is the loudest, the most athletic and, somehow, the warmest.

SoulCycle instructor Charlee Atkins laughing, arms up, against a white backdrop

“To me, SoulCycle means community
and new beginnings.”

Charlee Atkins, on what SoulCycle means to her

For anybody and everybody

Her ride is built to be hard and to be fun at the same time. Break a sweat, have a great time, and leave feeling like you can do more than you thought when you walked in.

Charlee Atkins teaching a SoulCycle class — Charlee's ride at SoulCycle.

The music does a lot of the talking. Charlee builds every class around it, and she has a way of explaining why.

“Music has a beautiful way
of describing emotions
when we can’t verbalize them.”

Charlee Atkins, on why music runs her class

Small town, big city

New York still hasn’t lost its shine for her. She points out the water towers like a tourist, then points past them to SoulCycle Tribeca, where she has taught for three and a half years: her regulars, and whoever is brave enough to try it for the first time.

SoulCycle instructor Charlee Atkins on a Manhattan rooftop, the skyline behind her — On the roof, Manhattan behind her.

New York skyline from her neighbourhood — The view from her side of town.

SoulCycle instructor Charlee Atkins walking through the city — Heading out.

Off the bike

When she isn’t instructing, Charlee is studying exercise science, hunting for new music, travelling and hosting fitness retreats. There is a to-do list every single day, and a small, real satisfaction in crossing things off. All that study paid off: Charlee went on to become a SoulCycle master instructor and a certified strength and conditioning specialist, and she runs her own training platform, Le Sweat.