Before downloading the ClassPass app after moving into the city, I never thought twice about trying pilates. Coming from a competitive athletic background, I judged the small movement - low impact practice as some sort of easy way out of my once preferred sweat grueling workout. But as the saying goes - don't judge a book by its cover. Not have the pilates classes proven to be a full-body workout, each class actually was pretty challenging at times. There are tons of studios in the city to choose from, therefore over the past few months I tried a ton out to determine out their differences and which one would be based on one's personal priorities. The four I mention below were my favorites based on movements, instructors, and soreness (of course).
You want to tone tough areas: Pure Barre
Pure Barre was a very high paced, loud, and uniformed class. As a newcomer, it got a bit stressful trying to keep up while simultaneously actually learning the moves yet I am sure after a few classes you'd get the hang of it. The workout focused heavily on total body strength training using bands, weights, balls, and of course, the barre. Throughout the short 50 minute training session, I started burning out tiny didn't-even-know-I-had muscles in my backside, arms, and abs - all areas hours on the treadmill or stair master wouldn't hit. The next day I was surprised when I felt sore in my abdomen, considering I rarely skip my daily ab workouts.
You're trying to build that booty: P.volve
As I talked about in a previous blog post, the P.volve method is unlike anything I've ever done before. Each workout circulates around one main purpose - build that booty. The workouts consist of short, slow movements that burn fat while building lean, sculpted muscle. My favorite part about P.volve is it's the only class on the list that can be done from the comfort of my own bedroom, allowing me to better manage my time and save some money. Regardless of the other classes I'm going to that week or even that day, I try my best to drag my butt off the ground and get a P.volve session in, knowing if I stay committed I won't be dragging it anymore.
Click here if you'd like a free P.volve trial!
You crave a cult-like community: Physique 57
To my surprise, Physique 57 was the only class on the list that started out requesting you pick up heavy arm weights for a series of arm circles and biceps and triceps. Afterwards, the class went through a series of abs and leg work, both on and off the barre. It seemed like my fellow classmates were longtime Physique 57 warriors, all with great form and focus. Being the unbalanced, tendinitis bearing klutz that I am, these precise postures were a bit hard for me to get the hang of. I talked to some of the women after class, unfazed to find out many were former gymnasts and dancers. Being a hot yoga junkie, I see myself revisiting Physique 57 with the sole purpose of training my balancing skills, both mentally and physically. In the class I realized it takes a lot of mental strength to hang from a resistance band on a ballet barre or to hold a medicine ball up in the air with one leg. As funky as it sounds, these strategic movements really burned in all the best places - back of the thighs, side of the booty and where that little slab of fat hangs from my underarm.
You're a workout warrior :Hot Pilates
To be quite blunt - this is by far the toughest yet most rewarding workout class I've ever taken in nyc, both mentally and physically. The hour long sweat session puts you through an excruciating ab series, an arm series comprised of burpees and push ups, and resistance band leg training - ALL IN A BURNING HOT ROOM. If hot yoga is you're cup of tea, hot pilates just may be your shot of whiskey. Although many would deem it insane to perform such rigorous exercises in a heated room, the post-pilates rewarding feeling is worth the pain. The exhausted yet refreshed feeling I have after completing a session is like no other and of all the pilates workouts I've tried this one has given me the fastest results. There are many studios around the city with hot pilates classes, but I've dedicated myself to the classes at Yoga & Fitness Herald Square because of the empowering instructors, playlists, and classmates.
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