Breaking the Narrative—Fast Results Aren't Granted; They're Seized at Fabletics, SoulCycle, and Equinox

The Unexpected Spiritual Awakening Hidden in Luxury Fitness

Captured by Mitchell Royel—Now Playing: Fast by Demi Lovato

A moment of pure momentum. The kind of energy that refuses to be contained, that demands movement and refuses compromise. This is what happens when you stop waiting for permission and start seizing the moment—captured, crystallized, and set to a soundtrack that mirrors the velocity of personal transformation.

How my 2017 journey through fitness industry corridors became a masterclass in energy work and mindful living

When Corporate Hustle Meets Soul Searching

2017 was the year everything shifted—though I didn't realize it at the time. Fresh into my role as a community curator and associate at Fabletics, I thought I was simply building a career in the booming athleisure industry. What I discovered instead was an unintentional crash course in energy management, spiritual boundaries, and the profound art of mindfulness meditation.

The routine was intoxicating in its intensity: days spent immersed in Fabletics' high-energy culture, followed by evening sessions at Equinox and SoulCycle. This wasn't just a fitness regimen—it was a spiritual laboratory disguised as corporate ambition.

The "Always On" Philosophy: A Double-Edged Spiritual Sword

The athleisure world operates on a fundamental principle that would make any energy worker pause: we're never off. This mantra, whispered through company corridors and shouted from spin bike podiums, initially felt empowering. We were warriors of wellness, ambassadors of an active lifestyle that demanded constant presence and perpetual performance.

But here's what they don't tell you about living in permanent "on" mode: your energy becomes everyone else's commodity.

Every day after Fabletics, as I transitioned from corporate strategizing to physical training, I began to notice something profound. The very environments designed to energize were simultaneously depleting something essential within me. The contradiction was stark—surrounded by wellness messaging while feeling spiritually drained.

Energy Work Through Movement: Lessons from the Studio Floor

SoulCycle became my unexpected teacher in energy work. In those dimly lit rooms, with music pounding and bodies moving in synchronized rhythm, I discovered what ancient practitioners have known for millennia: movement is medicine for the soul, but only when approached with conscious intention.

The instructors spoke in spiritual language disguised as fitness motivation. "Find your power," they'd call out. "Channel your energy." "Transform your vibration." These weren't just catchphrases—they were invitations to deeper awareness.

Through countless classes, I learned to distinguish between energy that depletes and energy that sustains. The difference wasn't in the intensity of the workout, but in the quality of presence I brought to each moment. True energy work isn't about pushing harder—it's about aligning deeper.

Mindfulness in Motion: The Equinox Revelation

Equinox taught me that luxury and spirituality aren't mutually exclusive. In those pristine facilities, surrounded by marble and eucalyptus-scented towels, I discovered that mindfulness meditation doesn't require a cushion or complete silence. It requires only the willingness to be fully present with whatever is arising.

Between sets, I began practicing micro-meditations. Thirty seconds of conscious breathing. A moment of gratitude for my body's capability. Brief acknowledgments of the energy flowing through and around me. These tiny practices became anchors of sanity in an industry that celebrated perpetual motion.

The revelation was profound: mindfulness isn't separate from ambition—it's what makes ambition sustainable.

The Corporate Spiritual Bypass

The athleisure industry's relationship with spirituality is complex. It appropriates the language of transformation while often missing the deeper work required for authentic change. We spoke of "manifesting goals" and "high vibrations" while operating from stress, competition, and external validation.

This taught me to distinguish between spiritual performance and spiritual practice. True energy work requires honest self-examination, not just positive affirmations. Authentic mindfulness demands we face our shadows, not just our aspirations.

Integration: Where Hustle Meets Higher Consciousness

Looking back, those intense months of 2017 weren't just career building—they were spiritual initiation. The athleisure world, with all its contradictions, became the unlikely setting for profound personal transformation.

I learned that energy work isn't confined to meditation retreats or yoga studios. It happens in boardrooms and spin classes, during networking events and solo workouts. The practice is in bringing conscious awareness to whatever environment you occupy.

The "we're never off" mentality, when approached with spiritual maturity, becomes something different entirely. It transforms from exhausting performance into sustainable presence. The key is learning to be "on" in service of your highest self, not just external expectations.

The Practice: Mindful Ambition in Action

Today, I carry those 2017 lessons into every endeavor. The practices that emerged from that intense year continue to guide my approach to work, relationships, and personal growth:

Energy auditing: Regularly assessing which activities, people, and environments enhance versus drain your vital force.

Micro-meditations: Finding moments of mindfulness within busy schedules, whether in elevators, between meetings, or during transitions.

Intentional movement: Approaching physical activity as spiritual practice, using exercise as meditation in motion.

Boundary setting: Understanding that saying "no" to energy drains is saying "yes" to your highest potential.

The Unexpected Gift

The athleisure industry gave me an unexpected gift: the understanding that spiritual growth often happens in the most unlikely places. You don't need to retreat from the world to find enlightenment—sometimes you need to dive deeper into it with greater awareness.

True transformation isn't about escaping the hustle—it's about bringing consciousness to the hustle.

Those days of racing from Fabletics meetings to SoulCycle classes taught me that every moment is an opportunity for practice. Every interaction is a chance for energy work. Every challenge is an invitation for deeper mindfulness.

The question isn't whether you're "on" or "off"—it's whether you're awake.

-M.R