Interview with Maddy Ciccone

Recently, I had the opportunity to interview Maddy Ciccone. Maddy is a Master Soulcycle instructor in Boston, as well as a life coach and the voice behind the Beyond the Bike podcast. Her career started in Los Angeles, and then she moved to Boston to teach Soulcycle, but more on that later. She is such a badass and I can always count on her for motivation to put my best foot forward. I am so excited to share what she had to say.

Did you always know you wanted to be an instructor / professional athlete (because that’s what a Soul instructor really is 😉)?

"No, I actually didn't. I started to work at Soulcycle because I knew I wanted to be in the fitness realm and community. I had worked in advertising and the entertainment business for so long and I kind of got burnt out and I started working as a manager at Soulcycle. It was a completely different path and I thought one day I might work at corporate or go the managerial route. Then after riding (Soulcycle) so much, people would come up to me and be like 'you should try to be an instructor' and I just listened to them. I think when someone tells you to do something three times, you should probably follow that or explore that because other people are more aware of your skills than you might realize. That led me on the path and I became an instructor."

Tell us about the early days of your career- how & where did you start?

"So, I was asked if I wanted to teach in Boston after instructor training (because they will send you back to the location where you tried out or send you wherever there is an opening) and so I said 'yes' because I grew up in Rhode Island and my family is there and my old friends and networks. So I started here (Boston) 4 years ago and it just- started. I hadn't been to Boston or hung out there since high school so I was really the new kid on the block."

Once you became a Soulcycle instructor, what was the biggest challenge? How did you overcome it?

"I mean, the biggest challenge, I feel like there are so many different levels of challenge. One thing that one of my favorite coaches says is 'new levels, new devils', and it's like there's always a new challenge and new adversity as you climb the ranks or figure out who you are. I think not only just in Soul but when you are doing anything, the beginning is accepting being new and being a beginner. I think the biggest challenge is figuring out who you are and finding your voice, because until you actually teach and are in the room and you're doing it over and over again, you can hypothesize who you're going to be but until you are actually like living, breathing, and doing it day in and day out, you really don't know who you are, and that takes patience. I think patience is a huge thing, and it takes time."

What does a typical day look like for you when teaching Soulcycle?

"There is no typical day, of course we have a schedule that stays pretty constant, whether it's going from Back Bay to Chestnut Hill to teach. A lot of teaching fitness is showing up early (to class), prepping for your class, making sure you have had the right nutrients, have had water, doing your class, hanging out with riders after, and like maybe getting coffee, whatever it looks like. Then, always making sure to refuel and literally scheduling in naps. But honestly, there isn't a typical day. You're always in the car, or walking to the studio, grabbing food, or running into people you know. The schedule is pretty loose; really the only absolute in your schedule is being at your classes on time and teaching."

I have heard people refer to you as the “energizer bunny”- how do you always have so much energy?

"I honestly don't know. I have just always had a lot of energy. I did a lot of sports growing up and I cheered in high school, I did track, and I don't know, it's just kind of who I am. I have always been up-beat. I like to workout in the morning because it changes your state and gets you excited and feeling good. I also like to listen to really upbeat and crazy fun music which helps. I think it's just something in my character and I have always just been like that.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

"Again, I think just trust the process and be patient because when you're younger you're constantly trying to figure it out- and that's the main thing I coach people on (is teaching them that it's okay not to know what you're doing with your life and how to trust the process). So it's really just being true to yourself and trusting the process because that is really hard, to be patient and to be grounded and know that it's all going to work out. Sometimes it's not on your timing, it's on the divine timing of the universe, but it always works out."

What is one quote or mantra that you carry with you always?

"I end every class with 'may you always be joyful, loving, and above all else fearless.' One of my yoga teachers in LA said that once and it really resonated with me."

Thank you so much Maddy for sharing your wisdom with us and giving me the chance to ask you questions. You can find Maddy teaching Soulcycle in Boston (once re-opened) and also on her Instagram @maddztaddz. For more inspiration from Maddy, check out her podcast Beyond the Bike on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, etc.

Prudential building image is mine, others from Instagram and Google.