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!

Hard Rock Cafe Resort Cancun

My family took a trip to Hard Rock Cafe in Cancun.  What a trip!  18 of us at a luxurious all inclusive on the beach!  We all ate and drank a lot!  So my sister, Becky and cousin, Johnny, made sure to hit the fitness center everyday.  We took spinning, boot camp, Pilate's and yoga classes.  Most of the classes were taught by DJ Jenny.  She was a upbeat, enthusiastic instructor who always blared a rocking play list!  The classes were challenging and fun.  These were not easy vacation workouts.  The only downside was that the classes were only offered early in the morning, which meant if you (me!) had to set an alarm if you wanted to take the spin class.  They also had a full fitness center with weights and equipment.  Overall, it was a nice facility to get in a good workout before stuffing your face and getting tipsy at the swim-up bar!

305 Fitness

I recently tried 305 Fitness is a super high-energy dance workout class. 305 came to New York from Miami (taking the city’s area code as its name) and has been packing classes ever since. The instructor and founder, Sadie, has a background in dance and is very enthusiastic about her craft. The class is cardio dance and features a live DJ. It is choreographed to hip-hop, pop, and Latin music. Similar to Zumba and cardio dance, this class is entertaining and easy to keep up with. The routines are fast moving, but Sadie makes it easy for all to follow along, no matter what your position in class. I suggest getting a spot in front of the mirror, though, just so you can have a good view of everything. The class moves quickly, and the DJ plays live beats to motivate the class to work hard and have fun. I am extremely uncoordinated and a horrible dancer, but found myself laughing and enjoying myself the whole time. Sadie’s positive energy and the pumped-up music helped me push myself further. And the DJ was a great, unique touch. I really did feel like I was in a Miami club-minus the alcohol!

The class met in a dance room at Stepping Out Studios. Unfortunately, this location has no showers and a small, crowded locker room. There are many other classes happening simultaneously, so there’s lots of traffic and students coming in and out. Still, it was pretty cool watching the ballroom dancers as I waited for the bathroom! There are plans for expansion and new instructors are being added. I would like to see Sadie in her own studio, one that fits better with the workout, as well as one with showers: you leave this class very sweaty. Right now, there are pop-ups classes in different spaces around the city. Classes are $24 each, with package and student discounts. Visit the site for more info.

Barry's Bootcamp

Barry’s Bootcamp is a boutique fitness studio with two locations in NYC, one in Tribeca and one in Chelsea. I tried a class at each location: a class in Tribeca with instructor Alycia and a class in Chelsea with instructor Harley.

The music is pumping and the lights are low, giving it a club feel. The classes are all similar in structure: about ten minutes on the treadmill, ten minutes on the floor doing exercises that target that day’s body parts.

I took a class with Alycia in Tribeca that focused on arms and abs, and took Harley’s hard-core abs class in Chelsea. Both instructors were energetic and walked around throughout the class, interacting with students. I found the floor portion of the arms and abs class the most challenging part of either class. Both instructors encouraged the use of heavy weights. I enjoyed Harley’s style and use of partner work (a great way to make new friends), but more than once I found myself confused about what I should be doing. I appreciated the fact that Alycia took the time to correct students’ posture. The energy was infectious in both classes.

Personally, I hate running, but quick transitions within the class made it bearable. The treadmills face the studio mirrors, and something about the lighting made me feel like I looked superhot while working out!

One word of caution; Barry’s is not a good workout for people who are uncomfortable with other people’s sweat getting all over them. You share mats, steps, and treadmills, and due to the quick transitions, there is no time to wipe down, so I was literally running and planking in a pool of someone else’s sweat. Definitely bring at least two towels to class with you!

Classes at Barry’s are $34 each and get cheaper when you buy a package. I loved the workouts at Barry’s Bootcamp, and found them both fun and challenging. Each studio offers more than 10 classes throughout the day.

The locker room offers great amenities, like spray deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, lockers, hair ties, towels, and tampons. I think these benefits are important when paying a premium for a workout. Barry’s also has the Fuel Bar, which offers smoothies, snacks, and light meals. I had a peanut butter smoothie made with almond milk—one of the best I ever had!