Unite Fitness: Twelfth Street Treasure

Category:  Cardio, Strength, Yoga

Target Zone:  Legs, Arms, Core Location:  Midtown Village

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We LOVE Unite Fitness. It's intense and results driven, designed to improve your endurance, strength, and flexibility... all in just an hour and fifteen minutes. Each class is a special cocktail of cardio, strength, and stretching - testing your stamina, keeping you motivated, and strategically working to improve your overall fitness at a rapid speed. Intrigued? You should be. Whether you're a competitive athlete, or someone who dabbled on a high school JV team, if you want to take your fitness to the next level, Unite will help you do it. 

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Break it down.  30 mins of cardio, 30 mins of strength training, and 15 of yoga/stretching. That's the standard "Cross-Training" class (not to be confused with CrossFit!!), however there are different series (A,B, C, D and Express) where you will have slightly different allocations of time. My personal favorite: Cross-Training D. 45 minutes of heart pumping out of your chest cardio. Go to this Saturday morning class and you will feel totally OK enjoying the rest of your weekend knowing that you worked for that R&R.. and bottle of wine on Saturday night :)
     Part One: Cardio. In the "cardio room" you will find a fleet of treadmills, spin bikes and rowers. The choice is yours as to what machine you want to use, so choose wisely. In some classes the cardio segment will involve stations on each (or maybe even the seven flights of stairs in the hallway). In this portion of the class the teachers set the parameters and structure for your workout; giving you a target pace (as a % of your max speed), incline and time for each interval, but it's up to you to set your own speed. So PUSH it. But really, with the teacher pacing around and checking your speed, a guy next to you grimacing in all out exertion, and music pumping all around you... You won't be slacking off. 
    Part Two: Strength. Don't be fooled into thinking that once the cardio is over its an easy ride to the finish-line. It's not. This segment is essentially a circuit training class, incorporating weights, bands, TRX, and other functional resistance exercises to tighten and tone, strengthen and build muscle. In conjunction with the cardiovascular benefits of the cardio segment, this element of strength training will help keep your metabolism ramped up and burning for long after you leave the gym.
    Part Three: Stretch. After your cardio and strength circuits, its time to slow it down. Focusing on flexibility is essential to preventing injury, and lengthening the muscles that you have just worked out during class. On top of these physical benefits, your mind will be ready for a break too! A quick meditation at the end of class allows you to lay back, close your eyes, and just allow your body to feel the benefits of the major workout that you just rocked.

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On the people. The trainers at Unite are legit. Seriously. These aren't just instructors who have gone through a Unite teacher course, every single one of their trainers are certified personal trainers... These guys (and girls) know their stuff but they aren't just kick-butt trainers, they are also SO friendly, helpful and welcoming. I walked in for the first time and they already knew my name--did I have "new girl" written all over my forehead? Probably... But whatever, the teacher immediately came and introduced himself, set me up on a treadmill, explained everything that we were going to be doing, and made sure I was totally good to go. And it didn't stop there. All through class he was checking in to make sure I was good, and afterwards took a solid 10 minutes to walk me through all of the different package options and benefits that come with becoming a Unite member. Love the personal service.

Packages/Pricing.  First class is FREE. Just go onto the website and sign up. You will get an email from an instructor asking what class you want to take and then all you have to do is show up! After your first class, if you think this is something you want to stick with, it definitely makes sense to buy some sort of package. Yearly and monthly memberships are a good option if you think you will make it to at least 3 classes a week (which is ideal to see results quickly, but also can be tough to accomplish). You can also buy 10 class packages or just stick with the Drop-In option. 

Specific class and teacher reviews to come soon! Enjoy!

Teacher Review: Keli H from Flywheel

Category: Spinning

Target Zone: Legs Location: Rittenhouse Square 

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On the teacher?

Hello Monday Morning! After a Sunday Funday watching football playoffs, I managed to get myself out of bed and make it to Flywheel for the early morning class.. it HURT but I was so happy that I did! Keli is an enthusiastic, motivating instructor that gets you energized to start your day-- she only teaches 6am and 7am on Mondays, but it’s well worth the wake up call! All I kept thinking was wowzas I'll take 3 of whatever she's having. Don't be fooled by her peppy personality though, this girl is a seasoned pro. She'll have you dripping sweat before the warm up is over and eager for the rest of the ride. 

Do I know you? Keli made eye contact with everyone as they walked into class, which automatically created a connection, making me feel like it was my 10th class with her. She did the whole ride with us while instructing--MAJOR props. 

Motivating. But not annoying. Her upbeat demeanor is the driving force of the class. You're not going to get the screaming-in-your-face-cursing-every-other-word, but you will hear a keep-pushing-don't-stop-go-faster throughout the ride. 

Prepared. The countdowns were perfect, the music was selected with purpose, and the pushes were timed flawlessly to the choruses. 

http://philadelphia.flywheelsports.com/instructors/keli-hefele

On the class?

There was a puddle of sweat around my bike. AKA I was sweating profusely. Great mix of higher and lower resistance according to the music. Also enjoyed the nice mix of saddle, out of saddle, hills, jogging, run and sprints. So glad I grabbed two towels before class! 

Jams. Sprinted out of class to download some of her new songs before I forgot! Expect to hear a variety of newer and older songs, timed perfectly with the pace of the ride. 

Goals. The first thing she says is to set a goal. Okay, so my goal is 300. 42 minutes later we're on our last song and I'm only at 271, yikes! I've never pushed so hard for 3 minutes straight and ended up slightly passing my goal-- I was pumped! The gentle reminders throughout class about your goal 

The crowd. Ehhh a little low energy. The room was full of spinners who were not really showing her any love, but Keli was peppy as ever. She asked the class how we were doing a few times, and didn't seem phased or agitated by the lack of woohoos. Her persistence kept me going and actually made me want to try harder to make up for the rest of the crowd. 

Intensity. Keli won me over and the class was definitely fun, but it wasn't the most challenging. This may be a good ride to try out if you're new to Flywheel. 

All in All. 

From what I’ve seen, most of the Philly Flywheel instructors are amazing and Keli is no different. She has her own style/personality and I always leave looking forward to the next ride with her. If you’re an early riser, don't press snooze and get to Keli's class! 

SNOW DAY!

SNOW DAY!!!!! The universally anticipated, appreciated and celebrated occasion that immediately invokes memories of sledding, hot chocolate and pure happiness. What could be better?! The holiday almost requires comfort food, warm drinks, fireplaces, good books / movies, fun with friends, and if you’re anything like me… definitely a bottle (or two) of yummy red wine. By nature, these days generally get a healthy living “pass” since… It’s a snow day!! I get it and totally agree. However, what could be better than posting up on the couch, at the table, or in the bar, knowing it’s a snow day and you STILL did something to positively contribute to your fitness regimen.

No Gym Required. Let’s be honest, if the gym is more than 20 ft from your front door today, it will take a lot of discipline to get you there. No worries. Just do SOMETHING. Here are some thoughts.

Be Creative. Ok so maybe you don’t get in your scheduled 5 mile run today. There's a foot of snow on the ground… It’s ok! Improvise and remember that just moving in some capacity provides a benefit to your body. Roll out a yoga mat or towel, push your couch out of the way and you’ve created your own mini studio.

35 Minute Living Room Workout:

- 10 Minutes: Stretch. Wake up your muscles slowly. Listen to your body and give everything time to warm up. Your muscles know its a snow day too!

- 15 Minutes: Cardio Intervals. 1 minute on, 30 seconds off (then repeat the circuit)

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1) Walking Plank: Get yourself into push up position. Slow and controlled, lift your right hand and left leg, keeping both straight and tight. Release and switch to the other side. Continue to alternate and remember to keep that core tight!

2) Standing Mountain Climbers. No time for vanity when there’s a workout to be done. Although I am yet to see a graceful looking standing mountain climber (feel free to prove me wrong), this one is a killer. Standing tall, reach up with your right hand while lifting your left knee in towards your chest, as if you are climbing an imaginary ladder. Alternate and pick up the pace, this one is for speed.

3) Side Lunge with Leg Lift. Start with your feet together, step out into a wide stance bending your right leg. Get that butt down and touch your foot with both hands while simultaneously lifting your left toes off of the ground. Come back to center and do the same over to the left side (lifting right toes). Try to keep a steady pace.

4) Burpees. Start in a standing position. Lean forward putting both hands on the ground, step or jump both feet back so you are in a push-up position. (Optional— Add a push-up here). Jump both feet back up to your hands and stand back up. Continue this way and pick up the pace!!

5) Tricep Dips. Find a chair, couch, or any hard and stable surface. Sit on the edge and place your hands, facing forwards on either side of your butt. Walk your legs out so that your knees are at a 90 degree angle over your ankles and slide your butt forward off of the seat. Lower yourself down so that your elbows are now at a 90 degree angle and push up. Dip away and feel the burn in those triceps.

- 10 Minutes: Cool Down Stretch

The Non "Workout" Workouts

Shoveling. Necessary AND a great workout! Not only will you get some major brownie points but you’ll burn some major calories as well. Spend an hour shoveling your driveway / sidewalk / walkway and you will feel even more deserving of that indulgent lunch (which we all know is a must on a snowy day).

Sledding. You know you want to go. Let your inner kid shine and grab the sleds, hit the hills, and work for that hot toddy that you’ve been thinking about ever since you heard there was a snow storm brewing. You’ll have so much fun on the ride down that you won’t even realize you are actually doing wind sprints to get back to the top of the hill… over and over again. (Looking for a hill in the city — try to Art Museum steps!!)

Sweaty With A Side of Zen : Anjali Power Yoga

Category:  Yoga

Target Zone:  Core, Arms, Legs Location:  Rittenhouse / South Street Intensity:

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Did you know that Forbes Magazine recently ranked Philadelphia as the third best city in the US for practicing yoga?? Venture down to the Linc on a winter Sunday and you might find that hard to believe… Yogi’s by day, aggressive (or as I’d prefer to call it “passionate”) sports uber fans by night. Only in Philly. But seriously, recently I feel like it’s hard to walk two blocks without seeing at least one yoga studio. Eager yogi’s hustling past with their stretchy pants and yoga mat backpack in tow is a pretty standard occurrence these days. I don’t need anymore proof- the yoga scene in Philadelphia is booming, no doubt. And so, even though I still love my Saturday mornings at Philly Power Yoga with Steve Gold, I decided to stretch my wings and venture down to South Street and Anjali Yoga. 

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You’ll Feel Right At Home. Literally, you are pretty much in the owners living room- she lives right upstairs! My first time at Anjali I opened the front door and suddenly had this “oh-my-god I think I just entered someone’s house instead of the yoga studio” feeling. Luckily that was not the case, but don’t be alarmed when you walk inside and wonder if you are in the right place.. You are! The hospitable and communal feel of Anjali will put you immediately at ease, allowing you to sit back, find your zen, and get ready to sweat. 

No-Frills, No Problem. Remember, this is about the yoga! While the aesthetics may be less glam than you will see in other spots around town, the charming simplicity of Anjali makes the experience feel even more authentic. And after a few vinyasas, the only thing on your mind will be how you’re possibly going to get through 75mins of the sweat bath that you are entering. 

Get Ready To Sweat. Make sure to bring an extra towel and lots of water, because the combination of a heated room (usually to around 90 degrees) and the vinyasa flow style will have you dripping by your first down dog. Love it, and embrace it. When you walk home feeling like you’ve just cleansed every toxin out of your body, you’ll be happy you stuck with it. 

Male-Friendly. In my mind, seeing guys in a yoga class can mean one of two things. Either its a super athletic, ultra sweaty, awesome workout OR... there's a super hot teacher. It's a pretty basic equation (sorry guys). The class I most often attend is Monday nights with John Wylie, and while he is really great, I think it’s option # 1. So while I know "yoga" can be a tough one for guys, the teachers at Anjali make the experience that much more enjoyable AND beneficial by offering multiple variations of every pose. This isn't a mirror lined studio so you won't have to see yourself struggling to get into that elusive pidgeon-pose, and most importantly- you won't be alone!

anjalipoweryoga.com

Multiple Locations. Work in the burbs? Or looking for a place to stop on your way home from the city? Anjali offers multiple studio locations making it that much easier for you to find a time and place to squeeze a session into your daily routine. I have only experienced the South Street studio, however Anjali also has studios in Westmont, Maple Shade AND in those summer months... Avalon too!

It’s A Steal. The first-timer deals at Anjali are so good that you really have no excuse not to sign up. First month unlimited classes for $50, or 10 days of unlimited classes for just $20. Don’t feel like committing? Drop-ins are a perfectly reasonable $12 per class. Bottom line: Anjali will leave you feeling all the benefits of a toxin-cleansing, muscle lengthening and body strengthening workout, without feeling a major hit to your bank account. 

Brazen Boxing: Don't Let the Smell Scare You

Category:  Boxing

Target Zone:  Arms, Core Location:  Olde City

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I’d been wanting to try this studio forever, so I finally grabbed the old boxing gloves and made the push to Olde City and Brazen Boxing. I’ve boxed 1 on 1 with a personal trainer in the past, but never in a group setting, so I was excited to see what this was all about. I went to the Women’s Boxing class with Jess and it ended up being a tad on the instructional side.

On the studio? 

Where is this place? 45 North 3rd Street, 3rd floor (above Sweat Gym). If you feel like you’re walking into a side entrance of the Olde City Sweat location, you’re in the right place. Walk up the narrow staircase and Brazen Boxing is located on the third floor.

First impressions? My first thought -- this place smells awful. I mean like really bad. It takes a few minutes to adjust, but you’ll soon realize that it’s just because this place will make you sweat-- I can get over the smell knowing that I’m definitely going to get a good workout.

Don’t let the boys scare you. The first time I walked in, two guys were going at each other in the ring. Eakkkk do I have to get in there? NO. The Women’s Boxing Class is completely different, focusing more on form and fundamentals, rather than kicking each other in the face.

On the class? 
Warm-up. Class starts with dynamic stretching and individual air punching. I feel like this is where Jess watches and assess where you’re at with your form and body awareness.

Put your hands up. Lots of skill building exercises, learning the right way to throw a punch, how to avoid a punch, how to cover your face, how to position your legs, etc. It’s important to learn these fundamentals, so when you get to the “real stuff,” you do it right.

Cardio hit. Just when I was thinking I should’ve run before class, the last twenty minutes crushed me. We did three minute segments of bag boxing, four times, with suicides in between. My heart jumped out of my chest and made me regret why I was ever complaining about the class being “easy.” 

Stretching. We finished the class with a group stretch to elongate the tightened muscles. Two thoughts: Why won’t my arms stop shaking? and I can’t wait for the next class.

brazenboxing.com

On the teacher? 
Funny. I want to be best friends with Jess. She’s not only badass, but she is hilarious, making jokes the entire time. Trademark of a great class!

Form. Jess doesn’t joke around about form. She takes the time to explain every detail of each move-- sometimes seems like a little much-- but she won’t let you do anything unless it’s done right. 

Knowledgeable. She knows what she’s talking about and there is a purpose for each move—air punching, 1 on 1 drills, recoveries, bag punching, sprinting, etc. There is rhyme and reason for every exercise and Jess is excellent at explaining the WHY throughout class.

Overall 
While I loved the technicality of the exercises we did (and understand why we did them), I did need a bit more of the heart racing intensity to make the whole hour worth the while. Maybe a few more intervals throughout class before coming back to boxing drills, letting our heart rates shoot up and come back down would help me leave the class feeling a little more fulfilled. I’ll definitely go again, but glad to know the breakdown of the class.

Take Off With Flywheel

Category: Spinning

Target Zone: Legs Location: Rittenhouse Square 

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When I first learned that Flywheel, the NYC based indoor cycling big-hitter was coming to Philly, I was beyond excited. Having gone to a few classes in NYC, I knew I was a fan, but after my first class in Philly, I went quickly from a fan to an addict. 

Where is it? Center City studio is located at 1521 Locust Street. 
Main Line studio is located at 711 West Lancaster Ave, Suite 300. 

What is it?  Cycling on steroids. This class will have you huffing, puffing, completely drenched in sweat and probably cursing your teachers name under your breath... all in the first 10 minutes. Just trust us, it's worth it. 

First impressions?  Immaculate, inviting, and CLEAN. From the decor to the amenities to the actual bikes, you know as soon as you walk in the door that this place is legit. Even the front entryway and the bathrooms are beautiful. I kind of wanted to just hang out in the studio and not even work out! I'll get to the actual spinning later - if studios were rated purely on aesthetics, this one would get an A+.

Why Flywheel? The technology! At Flywheel each individual bike is equipped with the technology to allow you to track your own personal output/exertion/power level throughout class, and also track your progress over time. Feeling competitive? Choose to display your total power score on the Torqboard and let your inner athlete shine because lets be honest - no one likes to lose. Nothing will motivate you more than beating a personal best, or that girl 3 bikes down who for some reason is totally on your nerves. If competition isn't your thing or you're struggling to shake the cobwebs after a big Thursday night, don't worry, you can easily opt out of the Torqboard and still see your own personal power score without advertising it to the rest of the class. 

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The Perks 

Music.  A spin class without good music would be like a margarita with no tequila. Seriously incomplete! Well luckily at Flywheel the music is always amazing. You'll hear different genres depending on the teacher, with the beat always timed perfectly to the flow of the class. 

Free-bies. First class is FREE! Other freebies are yours at every visit; shoes, water, hair ties, even earplugs (if thats your thing).

Arms. Rarely when you walk into a spin class are you expecting any kind of upper body workout. Well get ready. At Flywheel there are actually weighted bars attached to each bike, turning your typical cycling class into an incredible full body workout. Doesn't get much better than that!

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What else do you need to know?

Is it worth buying a package?  How often are you going to go? If you're fully committed to being there 3 to 4 times a week then the answer is YES! Unlimited monthly packages are $180, $130 for students. Individual classes aren't cheap ($25) and my recommendation would be to buy the 10-class package for $225 with an expiration date one year from purchase.

Results? It’s a full body workout, torching calories and working muscles in your legs, core and arms. Aka.. Keep at it and you will absolutely see your body start to change. For maximum results, pair this high intensity cardio blast with something like a barre or yoga class that will focus on building long, lean muscles.

Need to cancel? Don't forget to do it by 5PM the day before, otherwise you'll still have to pay for the class or a $20 cancellation fee. Ugh!!

Hidden fees? The membership seems like a great deal (and it is) but you’re locked in for at least 3 months and need to send a written notice to cancel. Not a big deal if you’re hooked, but don't get stuck paying month after month without realizing!

Overall
Flywheel is definitely my favorite spin studio in Philly. A little on the pricier side but worth every penny when you leave feeling empowered and motivated. Isn't that the point when you're spending the money and taking valuable time out of your day? Flywheel won't disappoint and you'll leave counting down the hours until you can come back and do it all over again.