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Physique 57 NYC

Since moving to New York City over three years ago, I’ve made my rounds to the different bar method studios in the city. Each time a new one opens I feel the need to give it a try, especially as more and more open near Gramercy.

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Bar Method NYC Review

Core Fusion Review

Figure Four Review

Physique 57 Review

While I may try numerous different places, every single time my heart eventually leads me back to Physique 57, the very first bar class I tried back in April of 2009, when Bo was living down in the Financial District. I used to walk the mile to the Spring Street location and enjoy evening classes during my May unlimited package. During that month I took more than 15 classes and loved each and every one for the same reason: the level of instruction and attention to detail. All pictures courtesy of Well+Good.

Friday evening Well+Good NYC and Physique 57 hosted a group of bloggers for a class with the co-founder, Tanya Becker. This was such a treat as we had the opportunity to enjoy an intense workout while laughing and getting to know each other since many people were visiting the city for BlogHer. I loved sharing the class with them, especially those who questioned the light weights in the very beginning. This is definitely a high repetition class incorporating resistance training and deep stretching while working the entire body with small movements.

Even though it had been a year since I walked through the doors of Physique, as soon as I saw the familiar bar,  blue carpet, and playground balls I knew it would be a wonderful workout. While this was one of the most intense classes I’ve taken, I never once worried about injury or not “feeling a movement” as both Tanya and her assistant were circulating the class constantly, adjusting form and providing very detailed instructions.

Physique 57 and WellandGoodNYC.com bloggers event

I dare you to try one of their classes and leave without working each of your muscle groups or feeling your legs quiver. Due to the class diversity and instructors’ watchful eye this just isn’t possible. There are times when I wish I lived or worked closer to one of their New York City locations as I truly love every class I take and feel that after only one class I can feel myself standing taller and engaging my core muscles. I do not question whether I would see results equal to my personal training sessions. But, much to my wallets elation and my marathon training legs, taking regular classes just isn’t possible right now.

But, if you’re ever looking for someone to accompany you to a Physique 57 workout, just shoot me an email and I’ll be there! If you don’t think taking a class in NYC is in the cards, I can’t recommend their DVD’s enough! My favorite DVD is the Physique Arm & Ab Booster since it is only 30 minutes in length but includes 14 minutes of arm workouts that engage each and every muscle and leave my arms screaming by the end. You can read my full review here.

If you want to read more about Physique 57, check out the other review from Meghann, Caitlin, Gina, and Theodora!

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Key to A Good Night’s Sleep

Wake up at 4:15 for a 14 mile run 12.5 mile run through the streets of New York City just as the city is going to sleep and waking up at the same time, depending the neighborhood. IMG_3782 IMG_3783 Get ready for a customer meeting in 25 minutes flat, all while your body refuses to stop sweating thanks to the August humidity. Don’t forget to dash to grab a protein filled breakfast since protein oats just won’t do the job after a run like that.

IMG_3784Hop on the subway to finally see an event you helped plan come to fruition and say your lucky prayers for amazing brands, friends, resources, and bloggers!  IMG_3798 Spend an hour laughing and making faces with 15 other bloggers as we’re inspired to hold each move a little bit higher, a little bit longer, and use a little bit heavier weights since the co-founder, Tanya Becker, is teaching the class.

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Use some extra calories laughing since she and the other ladies are absolutely hilarious and you can’t help but smile through the burn even though your thighs hate you for doing this after a long morning run.

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Walk 1.5 miles through downtown to the West Village where chips, guacamole, cheese, and margaritas are waiting for us at Agave.

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Spend four hours hanging out with amazing new and old friends alike talking about everything from vibrators (yes they are being given out at #Blogher12) to relationships and things we’ve each experienced during our years of blogging. fosim.jpg

Walk a very long mile home at midnight sticky from the evening’s sweat and exhausted from the day.

Crawl into bed, forgetting to brush your teeth or even remove your makeup, wishing that you could sleep more than just seven hours.

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ashleyd /

Bar Method Soho Review: Pain with a Smile

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Tonight I had the great opportunity to check out the newest Lotte Berk kid on the block in NYC thanks to Jes free class she set up for her readers. I’ve enjoyed classes inspired by the Lotte Berk method previously at Core Fusion and Physique 57.
In preparation for class, I reviewed the basics of The Bar Method.
The Bar Method™workout creates a uniquely lean, firm, sculpted body by combining the muscle-shaping principles of isometrics, the body-elongating practice of dance conditioning, the science of physical therapy and the intense pace of interval training into a powerful exercise format that quickly and safely reshapes and elongates muscles.

I’ve found from previous experience that taking a bar class 2x per week results in definite body changes. When I was taking Physique 57 classes last year 2x per week I noticed arm definition and my thighs were more slender. It has similar results as swimming.
The Bar Method Soho location is located on the second floor of 155 Spring Street right in the heart of Soho. Upon entering the space this evening I immediately noticed the warm, bright lighting and clean lines. This environment is definitely refreshing after walking through the Subway station grime.


The reception was warm and attentive as each reader entered. Everyone was smiling and more than happy to give us a tour of the space so we could make it our own. First up, the necessary water and treats in their kitchen area. I’ve never seen this before in a studio!


They offer filtered water to refill your water bottle or sell bottled water for $1.25. In addition they offer herbal teas for post class refreshment.

As you can see above, the lobby area features a plethora of lockers and benches which students may use to store their belongings. The lockers have key locks which remove and hang in the rooms during class which makes it easy to know your things are safe and sound.
Next stop on our tour was the ladies locker room. Once again there are plenty of lockers in the locker room along with changing space, bathroom stalls, towels, and a small shower area featuring a few stalls.


This locker room was definitely easier to navigate than both Physique 57 and Core Fusion. There was plenty of space even when 10 of us were in there changing. In addition, the new space has been kept up very well and is still spotless!
After meeting some of the other attendees, many of whom I’d met previously at other events, we were ready for a great class.


The class itself was very, very similar to both Core Fusion and Physique 57. The class is an hour long and best practiced while wearing socks or special grip socks which are sold at the front desk. I wore my Core Fusion socks and they worked perfectly.

I would really like to enjoy more Bar Method Soho classes but right now it doesn’t fit into my monthly gym budget since I already enjoy an Equinox membership. However, I think this is a great class to enjoy with friends every now and then. It forces me to focus on the difficult, small movements. If you are interested in learning more, their website is very thorough! In addition, a few other ladies have reviewed the classes: Jes, Dori, and Missy. Thank you Jes and Bar Method Soho for an amazing evening and workout! Hopefully I’ll be back soon to receive more pain with a smile.
Here are some of my favorite aspects of tonight’s class:

                                         Amy, one of the founders, led our class and had an amazing knack for learning names. She complimented and critiqued each of us throughout the class while addressing us by our names. This made me focus more since I knew I wasn’t “invisible”

    • Everything was done with a smile. The instructors and all staff must have been extensively trained on service and it shows!
    • The music was awesome! I’ve found in other classes that the music is dull at times and rarely actual music, especially during my experiences at Core Fusion. Tonight’s music was a great mix and really helped me stay with the beat.
    • I enjoyed tonight’s thigh sequence at the bar. It wasn’t necessarily as long as Physique or Core Fusion’s but I felt it very effective.
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