Soul-ercise

<p><strong>The lights are dimmed, candles are lit, bodies begin to sway together as the voice from the stage says a spirit-lifting, soul-stirring affirmation…and then screams “Now sprint for 10!”.</strong></p>

<p><strong>Group fitness classes have, for many, become something more than just a good way to get the blood pumping and pounds dropping. On this episode we take a look at why exercise classes from Soul Cycle to Crossfit have become some of the most fervent venues for secular spirituality and how some religious leaders and institutions are re-discovering this age-old symbiosis of body and spirit -- ones that use the body to change what we feel, how we connect, and what we believe.</strong></p>

<p><strong>And we'll learn some of the science behind why sweating together brings us closer together.</strong></p>

<p><strong>Episode Guests:</strong></p>

<p><strong>Casper ter Kuile is the author of the book <a href="https://powerofritual.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Power of Ritual</a>. Find out more about his work on his <a href="https://www.caspertk.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">website</a>.</strong></p>

<p><strong>Emma Cohen is a Professor of Cognitive Anthropology at the University of Oxford, where she leads the <a href="https://socialbodylab.web.ox.ac.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Social Body Lab</a>.</strong></p>

<p><strong>Rabbi Jaymee Alpert is the co-creator of Neshama Body and Soul, a practice that combines exercise with prayer.</strong></p>