Body Ride at Revolve NYC

Back in December, Revolve Fitness opened it’s doors in Union Square. It seems like each week another boutique fitness studio enters the Gramercy or Flatiron area but Revolve stands out a bit from the rest of the competition.

A newcomer to New York City, this studio is only the second studio in the Revolve family. The first one is based on Washington, DC and has plenty of followers due to their intense rides and their well known Barre Ride which combines barre moves with a spin class.

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This morning I had the opportunity to meet up with a few other Fitmapped Ambassadors to try Jason Tran’s Body Ride class. The 45 minute is described on their site as in all in one class.

Cardio…Strength…Flexibility…Everything you need in one complete class. This all-encompassing workout allows you to maximize the time you have to work-out in one place. Start out strong. The ride is cardio-intense and gets the heart rate up and keeps it there. Stay moving while you strengthen and tone the upper body on the bike. Polish it all off with a cool down stretch both on and off the bike. You get it all. You get the complete body

I couldn’t wait to give it a try especially since I’ve heard such wonderful things about Revolve from Gia, Meggie, Dori, Ashley and others. The spin studio itself seems larger than most other New York City spin studios with the 50 bikes. Each Schwinn bike has a person computer which allows you to see your RPMs in addition to space for water bottles. I especially liked that they were VERY easy to adjust unlike some other bikes I’ve used at Equinox and Soul Cycle.

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The ride itself was led by the very friendly and enthusiastic Jason Tran who can be found leading spin dance parties daily at NYSC and Revolve. He was very interactive with the class and wanted to ensure everyone was set up for a great ride.

I absolutely loved his playlist and have already downloaded a few of his songs from this morning’s class. He spent half the time on the bike and the rest of the time cheering us on and walking through the class motivating each person to push harder. The ride included multiple hills which woke my quads right up. But, unfortunately, I really didn’t care for the class itself. Because the Body Ride includes spin, weights, and stretching it only included 33 minutes of actual spinning. If I’m signing up for a 45 minute spin class I expect to push my legs through 45 minutes of hills. In Revolve’s defense, I didn’t look at the class length before signing up and assumed it’d be 45 minutes of spin with 10 minutes of weights and 5 minutes of stretching to round out the hour class.

But, luckily they offer 2 other classes which will offer more time on the bike. I can’t wait to give these a try as I really did like the energy of the studio and it’s definitely convenient.

As an FYI, there is a locker room area as well though it only includes 2 showers for men and 2 showers for women along with a long, narrow co-ed locker area. While there are plenty of lockers since there is only one studio at Revolve, this area was jammed pack this morning and I can only imagine what it’s like during the week when people may be trying to shower before work.

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So, would I return to Revolve or was once enough? Yes, I’d definitely return to revolve especially for RIP Ride which is a longer class format ranging in length from 60 to 75 minutes. In addition, Revolve is less expensive at $28 and has an intro month special which is $99 for unlimited rides.

I was provided this class for free in exchange for a full review, thanks to Fitmapped however all thoughts are my own.

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Barry’s Bootcamp

On Thursday night I finally tried Barry’s Bootcamp.

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After hearing about this workout from many friends in the city, as soon as I saw Well+Good NYC’s Ultimate Barry’s Bootcamp Experience event, I knew I had to attend! The evening included a 45 minute class with one of their famed trainers, Joey Gonzalez, along with a smoothie from their Fuel Bar afterwards, natural beauty products, and a Barry’s Bootcamp tank.

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I was definitely a little intimidated of the workout since I’m currently in marathon taper mode and haven’t been doing many intense speed or weights workouts. Luckily, the camaraderie of 30 other Well+Good readers along with Joey’s inspirational spirited instruction helped me overcome my fears within minutes. Kristine, a Barry’s regular, explained the class format to my friend Liz and I before hand so we’d know what to expect.

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The 45 minute class format includes the following:

  • 2 separate 10 minute treadmill sessions each of which is focused on speed or incline
  • 2 separate floor sessions focused on arms/back or abs/glutes.
  • 5 minute stretch session

The time in the room flew by and I was surprised to see numbers like 8.5 on the Woodway treadmill screen during the speed workout or 11.0 on the incline during our second treadmill session while Joey pumped up us “treaders” with positive affirmations. I have to say though, I was amazed to see that others were running at 11.0 or 12.0 speeds during our intervals. While I know it’s only for a minute or so each time, I still can’t imagine that speed!

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The floor portion was challenging thanks to the 8-10 pound weights, higher than normal rep workouts, and compound movements. While I loved the first workout, which was focused on arms and legs, I didn’t love the glute workout. Maybe it was because I felt awkward using the bands and felt that I wasn’t targeting the muscle perfectly, but this didn’t seem quite as affective as the first portion.

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After the workout, as I walked through the airport with sore arms and legs the next morning, I reflected on what I really enjoyed about Barry’s and I think it is that I gained things that I can apply to my workout anywhere. I loved switching things up on the treadmill and could see how a workout like the Barry’s treadmill workout would be a great way to make an average 30 minute workout fly by and challenge some under developed leg muscles through new speeds and incline.

Thank you so much Well+Good NYC for another very well organized event that allowed like minded fitness enthusiasts to push our bodies and enjoy an evening workout together. Thank you Barry’s for the absolutely delicious smoothie, which included a ginger kick, and some much needed workout inspiration which will come in handy after the marathon!

Would I spend $32 on Barry’s regularly? No, I probably wouldn’t but only because I belong to Equinox and there isn’t one that is very convenient based on class timings and location. However, I could see this being a great option for someone who needs motivation and can’t afford a regular trainer as it’s about half to a third the price of a training session.

Have you tried Barry’s Bootcamp or a class similar to it? Thoughts?

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Uplift Studios

When Bo and I moved to Gramercy two years ago, we never knew that it was going to become the hot spot for workout classes. Now it seems like there is a new studio opening on a daily basis within a few block radius of our apartment. While this doesn’t always bode well for my wallet since I belong to Equinox, I do love trying new boutique fitness classes, especially when the studio is owned by someone whom I’ve worked with before!

Back in June of 2010, right after I started my blog, I discovered Leanne Shear’s through a Daily Candy event she hosted in Central Park. This brunette inspired me as soon as I stepped into her presence; radiating a positive attitude and healthy physique. She exudes the idea that fit is the new skinny, pushing her clients to find a balanced lifestyle while incorporating strength and yoga into their normal cardio routines. Back in 2010 I loved every second of her Fit & Flow class in Central Park which included 45 minutes of sweat producing cardio followed by 30 minutes of yoga stretching on the grass. While the time nor location was convenient for me, this was a class I raved about to everyone who’d listen.

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Then, last year, I was able to work with her through a BeFitNYC partnership, bringing a free bootcamp to readers and locals. Each time I take her class, I question my Equinox membership and whether it’d be better to work with her.

Therefore, when I found out that their new space, Uplift Studios, opened in Flatiron, I couldn’t wait to try out their classes and experience the new studio.   IMG_2653 Located at 24 West 23rd Street, between 5th and 6th Avenue, the bright studio welcomes women as soon as the cross the threshold with bright colors, perfect use of mirrors, plenty of tea, water, and post workout snacks, a full locker room featuring all the products you need to get ready, and even more surprising, a full service bar!

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The bar allows for socializing before and after classes, as well as the perfect place for their popular Raise the Bar classes which bring together an intense 45 minute workout followed by a wine, chocolate, or cocktail tasting class. I love the fact that these women understand that life is a balance and that all good things, including cocktails, come in moderation. Their attitude is contagious whether you’re talking with Leanne and her team of founders or any one of their staff including personal trainers and nutritionists.

Uplift Studio’s co-founders, from left, Helena Wolin, Katie Currie and Leanne Shear seek to infuse the camaraderie of social drinking into their gym classes. (image compliments of Huffington Post)

Melissa and I had the chance to visit the studio for a Cardio and Cocktails special event class so we could see what it was all about. Not only did I love the class, I’m already working with them to put together one as an upcoming reader event but I also love the idea of doing this to kick off a birthday or celebratory weekend!

The class we attended was hosted by Michelle Mason, a bubbly trainer on their staff who knows personally how difficult the weight loss journey can be, especially in NYC. After introducing herself to the group she stressed the importance of form and intensity to everyone since our class was only 30 minutes. She promised, however, that if we pushed ourselves through each circuit we would not only leave sweating but we’d boost our heart rate and get a great cardiovascular and strength workout. 

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While I normally stick to longer classes or workouts, her combination delivered on her promise! The class included a mix of circuits after a short cardio warmup to get our body ready. The strength section included three series, repeated twice. The movements were combinations so it engaged our whole body: squats with an overhead press, lunges with kickbacks, and more. In between, she took us through burpees and squat jumps.

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Last but not least, she took us through a challenging ab sequence before a final stretch and cool down.

Every single lady in the class was sweating within minutes of the start and by the time we finished our last plank we were all collapsing on the floor in defeat, even one of Fitness Magazine’s editors who is in amazing shape!

If you’re interested in giving Uplift Studios a try, check out their special 50% off rate for first time students! In addition, they have 30 minute classes throughout the week which only cost $18 and can be bought in packs for a great savings. In reviewing the Uplift Studio class schedule, I’d love to try the following classes:

  • Fit and Flow Express
  • Uplifting
  • Power Yoga
  • Raise the Bar (clearly)

*I was provided with a complimentary class through Go Recess but the review and opinions are all my own.

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