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. 
The studio in between classes. BODYROK uses lighting and music in their megaformer classes.
The studio is small but cute and has a merch wall.
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. 
Post-workout in front of the Union Square studio! Before the soreness hit.
Tips for BODYROK first-timers.
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!
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Happy Friday! Today’s post covers a really important topic: sticking to your exercise routine. I talk to so many people who tell me they only work out 1-2 times a month and they all have different reasons. If you don’t exercise as much as you’d like to, this post is for you! Here are my tips for developing an exercise routine and sticking with it.
Start with an achievable goal. If you currently work out less than once a week, deciding that you’re going to work out five days a week probably doesn’t make sense. Starting with a goal that you can actually achieve makes you more likely to stick to it. If you rarely ever work out, maybe going for a walk 3 days a week is a good place to start. You can always adjust your goals to make them more challenging if you need to, but holding yourself to an unrealistic standard isn’t going to promote progress. Find the workouts you actually enjoy doing. One great thing about fitness is that your routine doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. I interact with a lot of runners, but I personally don’t enjoy running at this stage of my life. I’d much rather get my cardio in a spin class. Do you hate the Stairmaster? Guess what? You don’t have to use it! Most movements and workouts have an equivalent that’ll offer similar benefits. When you’re doing something you hate, the chances of you maintaining a routine are slim. But when you find a class or workout you genuinely enjoy, you’ll be much more likely to stick with it! 
Lately I've been loving low-impact workouts like hot power yoga and Pilates.
Try group fitness.
In 2019, there are so many different types of group fitness classes available. If you haven’t gone to a class in the last few years, understand that group fitness has changed drastically and there are options for everyone now. Some people’s perception of group fitness classes is Zumba or 80s aerobics classes. But I promise there’s so much more! Once I became a group fitness instructor, I discovered just how much more I prefer taking classes over working out by myself. I have an instructor pushing me and fellow classmates motivating me, so I go much harder than when I’m working out alone. I also don’t have to think about what my workout for the day is going to be. My instructor takes care of that for me! Plus, classes are a great way to meet other people who can eventually become accountability partners! I’d recommend getting a membership at a gym with a good selection of classes. CrossFit, Pilates, hot yoga, barre, HIIT, and spin classes are some of my personal favorites. A lot of inexpensive gym memberships offer Les Mills classes which are excellent, especially if you want to get stronger. I reviewed some of the Les Mills programs here. Check and see if your gym offers any of their programs! When I’m traveling and don’t have access to my regular fitness classes, I’ll grab my laptop and put on a workout video from YouTube! POPSUGAR Fitness has some great ones you can do right from your bedroom or hotel room with no equipment.
Consider your workouts mandatory appointments.
Just like work meetings or social events, I schedule my workouts in my calendar. I use my Outlook calendar so that I get a reminder on my phone when it’s time to get ready to go. When it’s in your schedule just like other meetings, you’re less likely to skip it! Eventually, you should start to see your workouts as appointments that you can’t cancel. Of course, life happens. So, stay flexible and shuffle things around as needed. If you’re just getting into the swing of things, try scheduling workout classes with a strict cancellation policy. That way, you’ll actually have to pay a fee if you cancel last minute or no-show! This will help keep you accountable and make sure you show up. Eliminate excuses. When I talk to people about the reasons they don’t consistently exercise, the biggest reason I hear is that they’re too busy. This isn’t a viable excuse! Everyone is busy. We all have things going on. Some may be busier than others, but we make time for what’s important to us. If you can’t wake up an hour earlier to get a workout in, it’s because exercise isn’t a priority to you. Sometimes it’s going to require sacrifices - you may have to go to bed an hour earlier or get home a little later so you can stop at the gym. You may have to skip your daily Netflix binge or say no to happy hour on occasion. You’re not always going to feel like getting up and doing a workout. I don’t think anyone always feels motivated to exercise. But you have to learn to push through that feeling and get it done anyway. I promise it gets easier once you find your rhythm. If your reason for not working out is that you feel like you don’t know where to start, group fitness is perfect for you. Having an instructor and classmates to follow will be a huge help. And if you’re not feeling being in a gym setting just yet, try an at-home program. 
When I don't have much time, a 30-minute weights circuit is one of my favorite ways to get my workout in.
Change your mindset.
This is sometimes easier said than done, but in order to push yourself to stick to your routine, you have to shift your mindset. Rather than thinking of exercise as something you have to do, think of it as something you get to do. I don’t think of my workouts as punishment for something I ate or for how much I weigh. I genuinely enjoy doing them because I’m taking classes I enjoy. If I were to spend an hour running on a treadmill, I’d probably hate working out too. Be grateful for your body. Be grateful for the ability to move, and think of your workouts as taking time for yourself to escape the craziness of life. If you dread something, don’t do it. Use trial and error to find what works for you and stick with it. Final thoughts. I went through a period of my life where I wasn’t active, and I’m so glad to have that behind me. I hope the tips in this post helped you reflect, even if you’re already working out consistently. These are some of the behaviors that helped me get back into a consistent routine, and I’ve been super happy with my progress! If you end up trying any home workouts online, let me know what you think! I credit workout videos with helping me get back into a regular workout routine and keeping me active while I was constantly traveling for work. Do you have any other tips for sticking to your workout routine? Do you prefer the gym or working out at home? What questions do you have for me about staying consistent? Let me know in the comments below! |
AuthorDominique Cheylise, 25 year-old engineer and group fitness instructor. Archives
September 2020
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