Dubai Fitness!

I am so excited to be going to Dubai in a few weeks.  I heard some great things about the fitness scene there and I am eager to try out a few classes.  Lots of favorites like FlyWheel and Physique 57 have studios there and I can't wait to try them and compare to their NYC counterparts!

Flex Pilates

Flex Pilates on 14th street (formerly Pilates ProWorks) recently relaunched and invited me to attend one of their 30/30 classes.  30 minutes reformer Pilates and 30 minutes Barre.  The launch party had other bloggers and interested media and was a blast to attend.  The studio is brand spanking new, green and beautiful.  There is a huge couch with magazines and nice waiting area to hang out in while waiting  for class to start.  There is a hallway filled with lockers and 2 bathrooms and a changing room.  The changing room is spacious with a mirror, comfy chair and lots of amenities like hair ties, face wipes, deodorant and my favorite, dry shampoo! The instructors were hands on and both classes were pretty hardcore!  I liked the idea of two classes in one- def makes the hour go by quickly.  There is a quick transition from one room to the next- starting with pilates and then going to barre.  I have since taken the full hour long classes of both, as well as the TRX class.  All three have exceded my expectations and I would go as far as saying that the Flex barre classes are one of the most challenging bar class I have taken to date.  They also seem to have some connection with the ToeSox brand, as everyone there wears the toeless grippy socks and they were given in the gift bag at the launch event.  Classes are $35 each and packages are available!

Rating:

(up to 3 💧💧💧per catagory)

Price: 💧

Amenties: 💧💧

Insructor (asks about injuries, introduces, uses students name in class, corrects): 💧💧💧

Studio Layout: 💧💧

Fun with friends: 💧💧

Total Score: 10 💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧of 15!

Chaise 23 in NYC

 

Chaise23 is a unique studio that uses the Reinvention Method, a “Pilates and ballet-based” workout by using a device called the Reinvention Chair as a base for most of their classes. The Reinvention Chair is a little bench with a pedal that you use throughout the course of the workout to help with balance, stability, and core work. There are bungees hanging from the ceiling for your arms, which makes anything you do on this chair a total body workout. All classes require that students wear sneakers.

The studio is small, but clean and bright. The locker area provides locks, towels, a bathroom, and changing rooms, as well as amenities such as deodorant, hair ties, and lotions. There is no shower available at the studio.

Chaise23 offers over ten different types of classes. I took the Cardio Chair class, which is described as “combining high intensity cardio bursts with the defining characteristics of the Reinvention Chair.” My instructor was Seiji. Seiji explained the chair and bungees and went through some moves before class started, which was helpful. He was funny and upbeat throughout the course of the class although, because of the loud music, I sometimes had trouble hearing his directions. He also walked around correcting and modifying each student’s form. Classes are pretty small, so he could really give individualized attention throughout the class.

The classes rotated between cardio moves using the bungees and sculpting moves using the chair. Since I am a bit of a klutz, I was a little nervous on the chair in the beginning, feeling like I was going to fall or hurt myself. You use a lot of core strength to balance yourself on the chair, and I definitely felt it in my abs and thighs the next day. I think the more often you take this class, the better. It took me most of the class just to feel comfortable on the chair.

A single class is $20, but I would suggest signing up for the newcomers’ “three for $33″ special. This great deal will really help you get a feel for this type of workout. For more info, visit Chaise23.

SLT Fitness

SLT Fitness is located in both Midtown and Soho, and offer Megaformer and yoga classes. I took one of each class at the Midtown location. SLT uses the megaformer machine, which resembles a souped-up version of the Pilates reformer machine. It has a bunch of pulleys and springs that you use to work out in sequence to create long, lean muscles.

My Megaformer instructor was Amanda. Before class, she took me to a machine and gave a basic explanation of how it worked and how to change its settings. The room included about 15 machines, and on that Saturday afternoon class was only half full, allowing Amanda to really focus on students and correct our postures and movements. The class itself moved very quickly and hit all body parts. Exercises changed about once a minute. It took me about 20 seconds with each exercise to feel comfortable; I was constantly moving. I enjoyed the class, but it seemed to focus a lot on legs and less on abs, and I would have preferred to see the reverse. There were definitely a few times I felt like I might fall off the machine, but I think I’d be more comfortable after a few more classes.

Overall this was a good full-body workout. Megaformer classes are on the pricey side at $40 each. That price is a little too high for me to justify, but it is a solid, unique workout. After the class, everyone cleaned off their machines with wipes. At $40 a class, I think someone should be doing that–but maybe I’m a snob! There is a small changing room and a counter with deodorant, hairspray, wipes, and hair ties. Unfortunately, there is no shower, and the bathroom is in a shared hallway. This class may not be ideal for someone who needs to go right to work or an event after working out.

I also took the Yoga Flow class. The yoga studio is right next to the Megaformer studio, and has a small waiting/changing area with the same amenities as next door. My instructor was Erin, who was a positive, hands-on instructor making adjustments to students throughout the class. I love when an instructor is hands-on, so I really appreciated her teaching style. The music is a major part of this class; it’s fast-paced and popular rather than the peaceful quiet you would expect in a traditional yoga class. There is also a great abs section at the end, which I loved. I left this class feeling good, and like I’d really worked out.

SLT Fitness also offers a more bootcamp-style class called Shred, and a more intense Hardcore Yoga class. These classes are $24 each, a great price for what you get. The only downside is the lack of shower. For more information, visit sltnyc.

Exhale Core Fusion

I have loved the core fusion classes at Exhale for a long time, unfortunately, they are expensive.  Nut they periodically have deals to make it easier to try them.  I recently took a Core Fusion Barre class at Exhale Spa located in the Gansevoort Hotel (in the Meatpacking District). Exhale classes include Core Fusion Barre, Core Fusion Sport, Core Fusion Cardio, Core Fusion Yoga, and Core Fusion Boot Camp. They also have a yoga program that includes Exhale Chill, Exhale Flow, and Exhale Power. Almost all of the studios (there are five locations in Manhattan) are connected to a boutique and a spa with a lavish, full menu offering mani/pedis, massages, and facials.

The facilities at Exhale are plush and relaxing. I have been to all five locations and the Meatpacking District location is by far my favorite and the most luxurious—although I enjoy the yoga at the Central Park South location, practiced in a gorgeous studio. The Gansevoort location features a locker room with showers and everything you would need to get ready to party in the District after class: shampoo, razors, robes, towels—even shower shoes. There are also hot tubs and a sauna you can relax in after class. There is a wonderful relaxation/waiting room with tea and magazines—I love to chill out in here after a challenging class. Members may also take advantage of the hotel’s gym, which features cardio equipment and weights to help you achieve a well-rounded workout.

I took a Sunday afternoon class with Malaika. The class was pretty small, probably due to the time of day (4:15 pm). Malaika introduced herself and asked about injuries. There were a few newbies in this small class and the instructor gave a rundown of the class and explained what to expect. Core Fusion classes usually follow a specific pattern–warm-up, arms, thighs, butt, abs, then a cooldown/stretch; this class was no different. I found the specific combination of exercises in this class to be less hardcore than others I have taken at Exhale. I felt worked out, but not totally exhausted and begging for savasana by the end of class like I have in similar classes. For $37, that’s how Iwant to feel! Malaika was a bit quiet and I found her directives hard to hear and follow at times, but I appreciated her gentle corrections. For some reason, there was no mirror in this studio (although there are mirrors at other Exhale studios) so it was sometimes difficult to monitor your form. I think Malaika class would be a great intro for those new to Barre. A nice surprise at the end of class is that Malaika handed out free guest passes to give to a friend!

Core Fusion classes at Exhale are $265 per month for unlimited access or $37 each for an individual class. Yoga classes are $26 each. Packages are available and deals are often found online to make costs more manageable. For more information, visitexhalespa.com.

FlyWheel

I love FlyWheel!

FlyWheel Sports offers two types of classes, cycling and barre. I took both a FlyBarre class and a FlyWheel class at their flagship Flatiron Studio. I tried FlyWheel with Todd M. and FlyBarre with Amanda V. When you walk into the studio you are given the option to check in via the computer terminals or at the front desk. There is also a boutique and lounge area with couches, newspapers, water, and fruit that you can relax in before or after class. FlyWheel Sports offers both types of classes numerous times throughout the day, almost hourly from 6:00 am until 8:30 pm. There are 4 bathrooms, 4 changing rooms, and showers available for student use. I liked that the changing rooms had deodorant, lotion, and dry shampoo to freshen up with after class!

A FlyWheel Sports cycling class is not your average gym spinning class! They have stadium-style seating for the bikes, so you can see the instructor clearly from every bike. Each bike is equipped with a little computer to measure your torque and RPM. There is a scoreboard set up for the competitive types, so you can see how you compare to others in class. You clip in using cycling shoes, which are rented free to students who need them.

Todd was an encouraging, motivational instructor. He gave good directions and helped students with the setup of the bike. The music was well choreographed for the ride. FlyWheel also has one routine near the end of the ride that uses 2- and 4-pound weight bars that are stored on the side of the bike. I really enjoyed this addition of an arm series during cycling, as it really creates a full-body workout. FlyWheel Classes are $32 each, including free shoe rental and water. Although a bit pricey, it is on par with boutique fitness studio prices and the great amenities make it easier to justify the cost.

FlyBarre is a full-body sculpting workout. Barre classes focus on small movements to quickly shape and stretch muscles. My FlyBarre class was quite challenging. I have taken barre classes before and they all usually follow the same format of cardio warmup, arms, thighs, butt, and abs, followed by a cooldown. FlyBarre takes the traditional barre class and rearranges the order, making it a fast-paced, surprising workout. FlyBarre uses light weights and incorporates an arms and ab workout throughout the whole class. Amanda was an outgoing, friendly instructor who was hands-on in correcting students’ form and posture.

FlyBarre classes are also $32. For some reason, they do not allow you to mix wheel and barre class credits when buying, so even though they cost the same, you have to purchase a separate package for each type of class. Kind of inconvenient, but that seems to be the policy. I would definitely recommend FlyWheel Sports for a great workout, especially if you are someone already paying per workout. The small details and amenities really make you feel welcome.

Punk Rope

One of the most fun and different workouts that I do in NYC is the Punk Rope workout at the 14th Street Y. I go every few week with my friends Ian and Frannie and it is always a good time!  Punk Rope is a jump rope class that feels like a high school gym class! The instructors choreograph the class with punk music and encourage students to jump to the beat. This challenging but fun class alternates between rope jumping, calisthenics, relay races, and partner work. This quick-moving class is never boring, as each song brings a new activity.

During this week’s class we did rope jumping, rubber chicken relay races, squat circles, and partner jumps. The workout ends with ab work and a cooldown. The hour went fast and the music was rocking.

Punk rope was created by Tim Haft nine years ago in NYC and is now becoming a nationwide phenomenon. Each week has a new music theme and students troop to a local bar for happy hour and rock trivia afterward. For me, the best part of punk rope is the community. Tim plans events, happy hours, and group activities. Even the class itself encourages interactions and friendships with other classmates. Classes are $12 and you can try your first class for free. In a city of $35 workouts, Punk Rope is a great deal!