I had a few lazy weeks recently, and for a while I was running outside more thanks to a fun run club, but being a ClassPass member has helped keep me active in a way I have never been before. It’s gotten to the point where I feel off if I don’t do some form of exercise every day (even if that means squeezing in fifteen minutes of at-home yoga and some foam rolling). That’s not to say that I’m in the best physical shape of my life, because I’m not (yet!), but I am so happy to have renewed my love of exercise. I used to feel anxious and guilty when other people talked about exercising, but it’s become an essential part of my life. I never thought I would grow to love squats and lunges, but here we are!
This was definitely one of my favourite discoveries via ClassPass. The studio is located in the east end and it is one of the most beautiful, light-filled spaces I’ve visited, and the workouts are challenging and, dare I say lovely? I particularly love the Allegro Ballet Bootcamp or the Allegro + Sculpt classes. The Allegro is a workout designed by owner and dancer Jenn Nichols that incorporates ballet movements to get the heart racing. It is a little challenging for the uncoordinated among us (in front of a mirror, no less), but I have found it addictive, and pick up more steps every time. I particularly like the Allegro + Sculpt because it incorporates hand weights in addition to the cardio movements and core exercises, making it a well-rounded workout. I haven’t been in a few weeks and I am itching to get back. Image via Fashion and Beauty Inc.
This is another workout that I find so pleasing that I’m almost surprised when the burn kicks in! This workout incorporates barre, pilates, and yoga (hence the “3”) and packs a good punch despite being low impact. Lots of modifications are given, making the classes accessible to any fitness level. The instructors are so friendly; the instructor who signed me in for my first class remembered my name every other time I came in, which I don’t think has ever happened before, especially as I am not one to chat and make myself known after a class. Image via Beauty Editor.
I was familiar with this space because I attended classes there when it was a different studio, so I was happy to revisit this airy space on Bloor Street. Union offers a wide variety of yoga classes, some of them heated. I’ve enjoyed flow classes there, as well as flow + meditation. I took a 7am flow class there a few times with a teacher named Megan and she sang during savasana. It was utterly blissful. Image via BlogTO.
A few others:
HARMONY FITNESS: This facility is in a warehouse-like space by Wilson subway station. It’s got a bit of a harder feel than, say, a barre studio, but the workouts are amazing. I highly recommend the Treadsanity class, which combines running on a treadmill with high intensity training intervals. They also have a rowing class that is similar, which would be so amazing for the arms (I hope to try it soon!).
STUDIO LAGREE: A cult favourite, and the studio on King is usually fully booked way in advance. Another very intense workout, one that left me sore for three days after the first time I tried it. This one is performed on a machine similar to a Pilates Reformer or a Gravity training system, is low impact, and gets the heart racing. You go hard and non-stop for 50 minutes.
KULA YOGA: Kula offers a very wide variety of yoga classes, and I particularly LOVE their Reiki Restorative. It’s delicious.
SPYNGA: I’ve only tried the spin classes here, but they offer yoga as well. I usually find spinning kind of boring, but have found the teachers here to be really encouraging and motivating, and they tend to play good music, whieh makes all the difference in a spin class.
If you have any recommendations for me or questions, please let me know! I love to talk about this!
Oh man, I am loving ClassPass! It sounds like you have way more interesting classes than my neighborhood, but I only like to work out first thing before work so it needs to be within 10 minutes of me, which is limited. But I LOVE barre and spin. I wish we had something like your first class description, I love barre but wish it was a little more dance-y. I feel like a bowl of jello afterwards but I crave that feeling, it's weird. ha! I run my non-class days, and I can feel the difference in my running lately.
ReplyDeleteOh yay, so glad you use it too! lol LA has 600+ studios on ClassPass and Toronto has about 130. You guys are pretty serious about fitness! Although ClassPass has only been here since March. Yeah, the Allegro class is so fun.
DeleteI love the Allegro Ballet Bootcamp at Extension room! Such a fun workout, but I definitely am one of the uncoordinated ones. lol Thanks for sharing, what a great city we live in.
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