BODYROK Reviewed by a Fitness Instructor

Hey there! This week I have another fitness class review. I love trying out new classes, and there are so many cool ones out there, especially in the NYC area. I follow a lot of NYC-based fitness instructors and fitness bloggers, so I’ve been hearing a lot about BODYROK on social media. They have studio locations in California, Illinois, Montana, and NYC. If you’re interested in hearing a fitness instructor’s perspective on this class, keep on reading!

What is BODYROK?

BODYROK is a fast-paced 40-minute sculpting workout that uses a megaformer. BODYROK claims to “do in 40 minutes what other classes do in 60”. It’s a low impact workout - pretty much Pilates with music and lighting.

About the studio.

I went to the Union Square location in NYC. I was able to book my class a couple of weeks out. So you shouldn’t have to worry about setting an alarm to book for the upcoming week like you would with SoulCycle.

Some online reviews claimed that the studio was big, but I felt like it was pretty small. Yes, there are two floors, but they’re both tiny. There aren’t any showers; just cubbies downstairs to hold your belongings. I’d advise getting to class at least 15 minutes early because the locker area is small and gets really crowded. Plus, reformers in the best spots get claimed fast. The front desk was super friendly and helpful both before and after my class.

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The studio in between classes. BODYROK uses lighting and music in their megaformer classes.

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The studio is small but cute and has a merch wall.

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Pricing.

BODYROK offers a discount for first-timers. I paid $20 for my first class. The other option is $99 for 5 classes, but you have to use them all within 30 days of purchase. Since you’re not really saving anything with the 5-class option, I’d go with the $20 single-class pass if you want to try it. BODYROK is also on Classpass, which is another great way to try it!

BODYROK is on the pricier side. It’s $36 for a drop-in class if you aren’t a first time client. They offer class packages, but you aren’t really saving much by buying any of them. If you don’t want a membership commitment, your best option for saving money is 50 classes for $1,450. This breaks down to $29 a class. A bit better than the $36, but it still seems high to me. Especially since most people can’t afford to shell out that much money at one time for a workout class.

The monthly memberships don’t come in an unlimited option. They require a minimum 3-month contract, and any drop-ins beyond your monthly limit will cost you $25. 4 classes a month is $125, 8 classes a month is $220, and 12 classes a month is $300.

Is it worth the money? Keep reading to find out.

The class.

I liked my experience with BODYROK, but I didn’t love it.

If you’re new to the megaformer, this probably isn’t the class to start with. I’ve done plenty of mat Pilates, but this was my first megaformer class and I felt super lost throughout most of it. I didn’t feel like the instructor was very good at cueing. Even though the girl next to me was a regular, she seemed to be confused. She was also doing some of the moves wrong. It seemed like most of the class was lost; the instructor didn’t really know how to explain things in a way we’d understand. I’m sure that after a few classes things would become more intuitive, but I wouldn’t say it’s beginner-friendly by any means. I felt like I missed out on a lot of potentially good work because I spent half the class trying to figure out how to get into the pose/movement.

BODYROK claims to do in 40 minutes what other classes do in 60. My experience was that BODYROK attempts to do in 40 minutes what should be done in 60. There’s no real warm-up or cooldown and everything just seems really rushed. We weren’t in a lot of the moves long enough to benefit from them. Had the class been 10 to 15 minutes longer, I think I would’ve enjoyed it a lot more. The express-style class may work for people with tight schedules, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable relying on this as my main workout.

Another issue I had was that the workout was very uneven. For several moves, we didn’t do the same amount of work on our right side as our left, which is a pet peeve of mine. I personally prefer classes that use a set time or number of reps on each side instead of just winging it.

The class certainly wasn’t easy. If you’re experienced with the megaformer you’ll probably get a lot more out of it than I did. I was definitely sweating by the time class was over. I also like how challenging the megaformer can be.

Was I sore?

I left the class feeling like I kind of wasted my time. It wasn’t until later that day that I realized how sore my abs were! I took the class on a Saturday and didn’t feel the soreness completely go away until Monday night. This was such a pleasant surprise! Because I’m so active, I rarely get sore any more. When I do, it’s a great sign that my workout was super effective.

I didn’t feel anything anywhere else in my body - it was just my abs. But, at least I know the class was effective with the core work. I would’ve loved to have felt some soreness in my glutes/legs. Most of the class was focused on core, though, so I wasn’t expecting it anyway.

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Post-workout in front of the Union Square studio! Before the soreness hit.

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Tips for BODYROK first-timers.

• Get there early and grab a reformer in the middle. While I had a person on either side of me, everyone in class seemed confused. The instructor didn’t spend much time walking around and helping or making adjustments. So it’ll probably be super helpful to be in the middle where the instructor spends the most time. Get there 15 minutes early as reformer location is first come, first serve.

 

• Remember there aren’t showers. I found the “grooming products” listed on the website to be a bit disappointing. All they had was one body spray and another spray that was supposed to be a deodorant spray. For a place that doesn’t have showers, I felt there could’ve been a bit more. Maybe some dry shampoo and/or body wipes? I sweat enough in class that I wouldn’t make plans to do anything afterward without going home and showering first, though.

 

• Consider trying another megaformer class first. This class is only 40 minutes, so it’s fast-paced with quick transitions. It’s easy to get lost if you’ve never used a megaformer. You may want to start with a longer class that allows the instructor to give a bit more instruction. Then, work your way to an express class like BODYROK so that you get the most benefit from it.​

Is BODYROK worth it?

BODYROK in NYC only offers the one 40-minute SCULPT class. I could see myself coming back via a service like Classpass when I’m looking for something quick and effective, especially now that I’ve gotten a little megaformer experience. I can’t say that I’d recommend buying a membership at BODYROK because I think your money would be better spent elsewhere. For the prices they charge, you can pay for an all-inclusive membership at a place like Equinox, which offers plenty of sculpting classes and much better amenities.

If you love megaformer classes or Pilates in general, I think BODYROK is a good express option for when you don’t have a full hour. As an instructor, I didn’t like that the class had no warm-up or cooldown. Even in a low impact sculpting class, they’re still important. To me, it felt like BODYROK skipped out on some of the important pieces of a workout class in order to make it 40 minutes. It felt rushed, but I got a great core workout.

BODYROK has definitely sparked my interest in megaformer classes. I’d love to see how my body responds to an hour-long class! I’m thinking I’ll try some more popular ones to get more of a full-body burn.

Thanks for reading! Do you prefer mat Pilates or reformer/megaformer classes? What are some of your favorites?

Let me know in the comments!