In June, we closed our beloved SoulCycle La Jolla studio, along with seven others. SoulCycle La Jolla was never just a studio. It was a community built ride by ride, conversation by conversation, milestone by milestone.
A love letter to LAJO
For nearly a decade, I had the privilege of watching people show up for themselves in that room: on their best days, their hardest days, and every random day in between. Losing a job you love is its own kind of grief. SoulCycle La Jolla wasn't just where I worked - it was where I found my people, my purpose, and honestly, a lot of myself.
Saying goodbye has been bittersweet in the truest sense. But if I've learned anything from years of telling people to keep pedaling through the hard parts, it's that what's waiting on the other side of a tough season is usually something really beautiful. I'm not sure exactly what's next, but I'm excited to find out.
The bigger picture (this part matters)
If you've been in boutique fitness long enough, you start to understand that the hardest part of the job isn't what happens on the bike - it's what happens outside the studio.
Studios operate inside a much bigger ecosystem: leases signed years in advance, rising rent in key neighborhoods, staffing costs, and the ongoing pressure of keeping physical spaces alive in a digital world. Even the most loved studios aren't exempt from those realities. And while closures always feel personal (because they are), they're also part of a larger shift happening across the fitness industry.
What I keep coming back to is this: the value of the experience was never just tied to the four walls. It lives in YOU - the amazing people, the energy, and what these rooms give us long after class ends.
The impact of this community extends far beyond a bike.
To every rider who clipped in
Thank you. Thank you for trusting me with your time, your energy, your stories, and your heart.
What's next for me
I'm navigating this transition with a lot of grace and a lot of hustle. That Europe trip I mentioned? It happened, and it was the reset I needed - the full recap is here. Big things are in motion, and this feels like we are just getting started.
The community didn't go anywhere
LAJO Beach Bonfire
The chapter ended, but the community didn't. We gathered at Fletcher Cove for a laid-back beach bonfire - s'mores, hot dogs, sunset views, and the post-class conversations we'd all been missing. Familiar faces reconnected, new friendships formed, and for a few hours it felt like we picked up right where we left off.
Thank you to Georgia for bringing us together at Fletcher Cove, and to everyone who came to reconnect, share the sunset and keep the LAJO community going.
4th Annual Après Sweat Padres Game
That's a wrap on our 4th Annual Après Sweat Padres Game! Thank you to everyone who came out, cheered loud and made it another unforgettable night. More community events, adventures and good times are coming - because what made LAJO special was never the studio itself. It was the people. The workout was never the whole story.
Thank you for being here, for reading, for showing up, and for being part of this little community. I don't take any of it for granted. See you out there in the Red Room or on the dance floor.
xoxo, Maya
Playlist of the Week
SoulCycle Go Home Songs · Open on Spotify →
Maya M. SoulCycle *Clean · Open on Spotify →
More playlists from Maya Monza on Spotify →
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