nyc boutique fitness studios

New York City, Workout Reviews & Ratings

CRANK it up with Nick Oram: NYC’s Hottest Cycling Studio and Hottest Instructor

July 8, 2013 5 Comments

Just when I thought I’d discovered them all, I found another NYC Fitness GEM! Ladies and gentlemen I HIGHLY recommend you check out CRANK Cycling Studio on the Upper East Side. You guys know that I always keep it real and very seldom do I give raving reviews of fitness studios. But CRANK has some serious GRIT. So, I decided to put together a top 10 list of what I love about it!

Here’s why I LOVE IT…

Insane Intensity. The workout is a 45 minute studio cycling ride. As a spin instructor, I’m super critical of other spin instructors, but I have to say that the instructors at Crank are legit. All of them incorporate a solid amount of variety, intervals and resistance training into the workout to ensure the class is pushed.
Reasonably priced. Only $23 per ride – woo hoo! Those are Texas prices right there y’all. Soul Cycle is $34 per 45 minute class (to give you a relative comparison). You guys know that I’m all about accessibility. We don’t have to be wealthy to be healthy.
Cardio + Choreography. I think having rhythm is a prerequisite for all of the instructors (as it should be). I love that the class is set to music, we move to the beat of the music and the BASS had me bumpin’ the whole ride. This workout incorporates the most dance and movement that I’ve ever experienced. We were out of the saddle for about 80% of the classes and bobbin’ to the left, to right, to the front to the back – heyyy!
Cool Vibe and Decor. The studio is completely dark and lit only by small red lights. Red and black are the official studio colors. I love red because it’s strong and intense. During the class, we ride very close to each other generating lots of HEAT! By the end of the class, all of the mirrors are completely covered with sweaty fog (sounds gross, but it’s really awesome!)
Excellent Equipment. The bikes are comfortable and ride well. Each one has a magnetic charge in the wheel that helps ease each pedal stroke and ensure a smooth ride. I can tell the bikes they are well maintained. There is nothing worse than cycling on a rickety old bike. Not to mention, poor equipment increases injury risk.
Straight to the point, No fluff – Unlike some high-end fitness studios, all of the students in the class seemed like athletes. They came to work out. Not to see and be seen.
Chill Culture. On that same note, the students I interacted with were also very cool and welcoming. No snobs allowed.
New and Different. CRANK hit NYC only a few months ago, so it’s a nice fitness routine change-up. With so many fitness boutiques in Manhattan, it can be hard to keep up. But rest assured, Crank is new and it’s legit.
Super Sweet Staff. The staffed is incredibly knowledgeable about both fitness and about cycling. The manager spent some time telling me why he chose the specific bikes in the studio and about how Crank got started and continues to the grow.
HOT instructors (Exhibit A: My Ultimate Fitness Crush – Nick Oram). If you recall, we became obsessed with Nick when we discovered him at Soul Cycle a few months ago. He even topped out charts when we put out the “Official NYC Soul Cycle Instructor Ranking.” I’ve gotten to know Nick pretty well over the past few months and not only is he smokin’ hot and the fiercest fitness instructor in NYC, he’s also a very genuine accountability partner and sincerely cares about every person in his class (I’m taking regular text messages to check on his students – awe). So, while I wrote this blog post to spread my love for CRANK, I also want spread my love for NICK! You can follow Nick on Twitter @OramNick or check out his website http://nick-oram.com/

And now that I’ve told you all about Crank Cycling Studio and about my awesome instructor, Nick Oram, it’s time for you to hear from the man himself. I asked Nick a few key questions, and here’s what he had to say…

Why did you become a fitness instructor?

I loved spinning in college and it was through the love of it that I became an instructor.

What’s your favorite “get hype” line to yell to your class?

My favorite thing is to say is “Are you READY!!?” I get a big rise out of my class when I say that.

What you do recommend as the right mix of weekly cardio and resistance training/toning workouts?

I believe in keeping the body guessing, alternating days and doing intense intervals with your training

What song always get you going?

Can’t Hold US (Kaskade Remix) – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

What do you tell yourself to stay motivated when your completely exhausted?

Mediocrity is never OK. Alway’s excellence!

What advice would you give to someone who is just starting to work out?

Be patient Be present and Be open to CHANGE

What does GRIT mean to you?

Grrrrrrr 😉

Workout Reviews & Ratings

Aqua Studio NYC: Spinning in a swimming pool!

April 29, 2013 3 Comments

Aqua Cycling...how cool does that sound? I was super pumped up to hear that Aqua Studio opened earlier this month in NYC, so some friends and I checked it out. It was definitely the “Most Interesting Workout” I’ve ever done. Long story short – try it out to say you did it, but overall it’s not worth the money. I’m sad to confess that after my first Aqua Cycling workout, I walked right across the street to CrossFit 212 for a “real workout.” Now let me temper my sentiments by making clear that I crave intense workouts. If I’m not drenched in sweat by the end, I feel like I wasted my time. If you’re like me in this regard, save your money and hit up a higher intensity class.

On a side note, word on the street is that Beyonce did Aqua Cycling to lose her baby weight. But, let’s be real. Did you see the way she was sweating and working it out during the Super Bowl half time? There’s NO WAY she got into that shape by casually pedaling a bicycle in a swimming pool. I’m 100% confident that she worked her butt off to the point of complete exhaustion to get that body and those moves. I’m just sayin…

Now that I’ve shared my colorful commentary, here’s the real deal with Aqua Cycling:

Workout Details

Aqua Studio opened in NYC on April 15^{th – it’s}located in Tribeca in a really chic, high end, boutique studio
45 minute cycling workout with the bike completely submerged in water
No resistance on the bike, so resistance is based on how fast you pedal (the faster you pedal, the more natural resistance you feel from the water)
Lots of core and isometric toning exercising are incorporated throughout the workout session. The moves are similar to water aerobics (i.e. arm strokes in the water, float on your back and do crunches)

Pros

Low impact, so a good work out option if you have knee problems
Being in water naturally is therapeutic 😉
Instructors are really nice (not mean or too intense)
Music is good. We gotta a like Drake “Started from the Bottom” jamz during my class
Studio is impeccable, like being at high end spa, really nice!
Nice change up to your usual workout routine

Cons

Very expensive ($40 for single drop in class)
Lacking intensity – I’d estimate you only burn 300 calories in 45 minutes
The class choreography could use some help. Simply doing more sprints on the bike would make the the workout more effective. Also, we did a body weight arm circuit above the water that was super easy…kind of felt like a waste of time.

Sorry Aqua Studio NY, had a good time, but not “GRITTY” enough for me 🙁

Workout Reviews & Ratings

Studio Review: Uplift Studios NYC – Get UPLIFTED!

April 2, 2013 6 Comments

Last weekend I discovered yet another NYC fitness gem, Uplift Studios! It’s a women’s only gym that provides personal training and group fitness classes (no standard gym equipment to workout on your own). Long story short, it’s a smaller, higher-end version of Lucille Roberts or Lady of America. While scoping out the scene, I took a Cardio group fitness class. Overall, I was VERY pleased with my experience. Here’s the low down…

The vibe of the studio is VERY welcoming and peaceful. Boutique fitness studios in NYC can often be snobby, which makes me feel super uncomfortable. This certainly was not the case at Uplift. I was greeted with a HUGE smile from the front desk staff and received several compliments on my Nike Pro leggings 😉 Also, the group fitness class instructor, Steph, went out of her way to introduce herself to me and push me individually during the class.

Now, this studio is NOT for you if you like to workout on your own with no guidance or if you want to engage in some hard-core competition. On the other hand, the studio is GREAT for ladies who are new to working out. There’s no anxiety about being the “worst person in the class” or men watching you exercise. As you can see in the pictures above, the studio tries to generate a very “uplifting” group atmosphere. Cardio dance parties and encouraging, intimate group fitness classes are the core of the studio. The fitness classroom is very small and can only hold about 15 people. Also, the personal training is great if you’re getting ready for a big event, like a wedding! Training sessions are private and the trainers seem really patient.

Last but not least, the studio itself is very nice, clean, modern and well-kept. GREEN is key color and luckily that day I had green nail polish, so I fit right in 😉 Showers, hair dryers and free lockers are also available. In regards to cost, Uplift classes are on the high-end (market rate for boutique fitness studios in NYC). Expect to pay $32 per 1-hour class.

Ultimate Verdict: I personally, won’t be going back because I’m very value conscious. For $32 dollars I would rather go to SoulCycle, CrossFit or Barry’s Boot Camp because the atmosphere and culture are more intense. However, I’m a really competitive person and realize that many people don’t share my fitness preferences. Nonetheless, I highly recommend my GRIT Girls to try out Uplift, especially if you typically only do Pilates/Yoga workouts and want to explore new cardio and strength training classes. Get “Uplifted” – enjoy!

Lots of luv,

Brit