why Ritual was created

In 2014 I stepped foot into my first rhythm-based indoor cycling class. I can remember (once I calmed my nerves), the feeling of my feet moving to the beat of the music. How I felt so held being clipped into the pedals. This particular class was a ‘throwback’ ride and every song felt like an old friend knocking on my door after not seeing each other for a long time.

I was alive.

Years later I continued to visit various indoor cycling studios and fell deeper in love with the practice. At the same time, I started focusing on becoming more embodied — on reconnecting to myself after years of restrictive eating and beating up my body.

Along this journey, something just didn’t feel right for me anymore with spin classes. The upper body movements got more and more extreme over the years and so did the pace. I got older. My knees hurt. It struck me that I didn’t actually enjoy taking my hands off the handlebars while I rode; or going crazy fast out of the saddle; or being yelled at about how I’m going to ‘change my body’. Indoor cycling had become a place to distract your mind from your body — all the while I was looking to reconnect those two.

Then, I discovered Recess.

At Recess, indoor cycling was fun again. It wasn’t an overly serious, intimidating space where everyone looked like they walked out of a ‘Shape’ magazine. They knew my name. We cried together. We laughed together. The pace and movements felt good on my body and listening to your body was encouraged.

i was finally home

After going through instructor training and teaching at Recess for a year, I moved to Denver, CO. Once here, I dove head first into yoga and asked:

Why can’t indoor cycling being more mindful? Why do we limit mindful movement to only yoga?

Thus, Ritual was born.

An affiliate to Recess, Ritual exists to bring an intentional, grounded approach to indoor cycling.

Inspired by the unprecedented landscape of the Colorado Plateau and the High Desert of New Mexico, Ritual seeks those looking for a more inclusive, intentional and inspired way to move your body. By moving with intention, we live with intention.

We’re so glad you’re here.

xo, alison