As you may remember, two months ago Bo and I decided to give ClassPass a try after hearing wonderful things about it, realizing the two of us could leverage it together and a positive month long trial back in July.
Each month I will provide a brief recap of our experience including the number of classes taken, average cost per class and a brief recap of the studios where we sweat that month. In addition, if you’re on CLASSPASS feel free to follow my fitness schedule here. I love meeting readers so if you see me in a class, please say hello!
Month 1: September 20 – October 20th
Number of classes taken: 8
Number of studios visited: 6
Number of classes missed or late cancelled: 0
Average cost per workout based on NYC rate of $125 per month: $15
Considering that I spent 12 days traveling for business or races, I am thrilled with the number of classes I took the first month. Of these classes, five of them were early morning classes taken with Bo before work. On a typical day I take the subway into Manhattan with him for a 6 AM class somewhere in Flatiron or Chelsea. Once class is over he’ll shower at the studio and head to work while I’ll quickly hop back on the subway towards Brooklyn.
Keep in mind, while Bar Method Brooklyn is a ClassPass studio, I use their registration tool and the membership as part of our partnership versus registering on ClassPass. If you include that, then there would be an additional three classes and one studio added to the below list, which would of course reduce the average cost even more.
Last Month’s Classes
Hot Power Flow Yoga 60 at Tangerine Yoga (2)
There is a reason this studios classes quickly sell out, especially evening and weekends when Brooklyn locals and Manattanites flock to Tangerine Yoga. The 60-minute class isn’t for the weak as it is a heated strong, power yoga class. But, don’t fear, instructors provide lots of adjustments and guidance to ensure everyone has the best session possible. The studio provides complimentary yoga mats and towels as well as selling juices and coconut water in the small boutique and lounge area.
I’ve talked about Y7 more than a few times on the blog as I really enjoy their candle lit power yoga classes. The flow and atmosphere is unlike any other studio I’ve experienced, allowing for free flow time every 15-20 minutes and limiting the light in the studio so students aren’t judging themselves or intimidated by other students abilities. The 60-minute class moves very quickly, which is why I would recommend that only students who have at least a basic yoga knowledge attend the class. Due to the dark room it isn’t very possible to follow the instructor who is primarily adjusting and motivating students versus flowing through the poses. The studio doesn’t have showers but they do have two bathrooms and an adorable, fully stocked “refresh bar” including dry shampoo, deodorant, body wipes and more. The studio provides towels but charges $2 for mats and $3 for skidless yoga towels.
Charlie and I took this class together after her 6-hour flight from London and before the Chicago marathon. While it met her request of being easy and relaxing, I do not think I’d take it again. The hour long class consisted of literally 5 poses which we held for 10-15 minutes each. We left the class, laughing that we’d just experience assisted naptime. If you have an issue relaxing or sleeping, then this class could DEFINITELY help!
I’m a huge fan of the Area Yoga studio in Carroll Gardens due to the hands on approach to teaching, airy second floor studio and proximity to our house. This class included 40 minutes of strong, power yoga which left me sweating but then flowed into a relaxing 30 minute sequence of restorative poses. I was so relaxed by the end that I fell asleep during legs up the wall. Make sure to bring your mat and towels to this no-frills studio as it’s $2 to rent.
Signature Fhix at Fhitting Room (2)
I think I screamed with glee the day I received the ClassPass email stating that Fhitting Room was now an affiliated studio. Bo and I love the 50-minute high intensity classes which pair two instructors with a class of 20-25 students for a sweat inducing good time. The music is always perfectly on point, motivating and pushing us while the instructors lead the group through functional movements such as lunges, burpees and squats followed by strength training with kettle bells and finally high intensity exercises including rowing machines, ski-ergs and box jumps. The atmosphere is one of the most supportive I’ve felt and it is a great starting place for people who want to learn more about functional training and using items like boxes and kettlebells as the instructors adjust students during class. The dual instructor model means that there is always someone watching you! The studio offers showers, lockers, towels and water.
After one too many disappointing classes FlyWheel, Bo and I decided to give Peloton a try due to the fact that they have lots of classes on their daily schedule, feature one of the nicest locker rooms for post workout showers and we’d heard a great deal about their bikes. This 6 AM class did not disappoint and even though we didn’t love the instructor, we definitely felt great energy in the studio which holds more than 30 cyclists per class. The Peloton classes are all streamed live so Peloton bike owners can follow along at home. This creates a different dynamic as the instructor is at times motivating and coaching the class while other times she’s giving props to the riders at home. Regardless, we both agreed that we’d return to this studio because the bikes were the best we’ve ridden on – smooth, easy to read computers and easily adjusted. The studio greets clients with complimentary spin shoes, water and towels which make things easy!
Your turn: If you’re a NYC local, what are your favorite studios? Where should I sweat next?
This post is not compensated nor requested of me via CLASSPASS. While it does contain affiliate links, as a CLASSPASS affiliate, I only receive a small compensation if you choose to purchase a CLASSPASS membership.
