Danny Kopel, SoulCycle Instructor, Editor of ArtWrit.com

What are the benefits of SoulCycling?
"Well, SoulCycling is a miracle in NYC. It's a workout and it's an exorcism. It's a full-body workout with a strong mind component, as well."

And physically, what muscles do you target?
"We are a full-body workout. You can see your whole body transform. But we do an arm series, as well, so you can open your arms. All of our coaching and all of our movements originate from the core, so you can expect change in there, as well."

What are some songs on your pump-up playlist?
"I love David Guetta and Afrojack, that's the current favorite. I've been bumping a fantastic remix of Bjork's 'Army of Me' that's on the Tank Girl soundtrack. An old favorite would be N.E.R.D's 'Hot and Fun'.

What is your motivational motto?
"Take a breath and take a chance."

Why do you think people come to you, specifically?
"I think that (and this comes from my personal experience in exercise) I try to keep a joyful connection with movement. I try to convey that to my riders in hopes that they'll find it a joyful experience. It could be a torturous workout or it could be a dance party."

What is your ideal reaction from your clients?
"I love a 'woo!'"

What's the craziest fanatic story you've experienced?
"Last week, someone asked me to sign their shirt. Sometimes, people will ask to take pictures with me."

What do you say to people who call it a cult mentality?
"I think that there's a fine line between cult and community. And a community is something that we definitely are. What I said before about unlocking the joy movement — once you make the connection and you find something that you really love in a form of exercise, then you can really hang on to it. Then there's something that keeps you coming back over and over. I see why people get hooked and why they'd call it a cult."

Do you ever not feel like working out?
"No. It's actually my day off today and I thought I'd come in. I'm always so glad to do it, it's such a treat."

Do you think it's overpriced?
"I believe not."

Comme des Garçons shirt, Selima Optique glasses.

Photographed by CJ Isaac