Spin @ Forest Hills

If you like a teacher who gets on his bike and shows you the way, Scott isn't your guy! He's really good for those that wear heart monitors and can moderate their own intensity, but for the rest of us, it can get kind of tricky to know when to slow down or speed up. But overall it's a really great cardio session set to some fun rock tunes and you're legs will love you for it!

Instructor 3/5
Music 4/5
Workout 5/5

Total Body Conditioning @ Forest Hills

I've taken this class a few times now and the best part about Kendra is that she constantly switches it up! Although every class will work your entire body, some classes focus more on the upper body vs. lower body or vice-versa. It's good to shake it up because that's known to work too! Her moves are easy to follow and she's good about waiting for everyone to get situated before moving on to another exercise. She'll push you to the limit and make you work your booty like never before, but the hour will fly by! If this is the only weight training you do all week, it'll be well worth it!

Instructor: 5/5 - she's truly amazing!
Music: 3/5 - didn't even notice it
Workout: 5/5 - you will feel it the next day!

Bosu Bootcamp @ Crunch Union Square

This class teaches you every possible exercise you can do with a Bosu Ball. From arms, to abs to balance routines, Marc will show you how to use the ball to fight gravity and use your whole body as support. The exercises where you close your eyes are surprisingly difficult even for the strongest of athletes. But it's a great way to learn what you should be doing on the Bosu ball on your own time. As a workout, I'm not sure what I got out of the class, but as a crash course in Bosu balls, this class was superb.

Instructor 5/5
Music 4/4
Workout 3/5

Bosu ball is pretty new and still not offered too often, but you can see the Union Square schedule here.

Inner Warrior @ Crunch Lafayette

The description for this class is nothing like what I experienced. I thought it would be an energized yoga class that incorporated martial arts into the experience, but it's more like a fast paced martial arts class that includes several yoga poses. Nadia is very descriptive and easy to follow, but she goes around the room constantly instead of leading the moves, and that can be sort of confusing, since everyone is at a different pace. But the workout is intense and great. You'll be winded in a matter of seconds! There's lots of arm and leg work, but there's also a lot of choreography to remember. Once you get passed some of the confusion, you're in for a fast paced, intense workout!

Instructor 4/5
Music n/a
Workout 5/5

Cardio Kickbox @ NYSC Forest Hills

Yvonne is possibly one of the worst kickboxing instructors I've ever taken. First off, she doesn't lead the class, she just tells you what to do, and secondly, she doesn't used a microphone, so you can't even hear her dictate what the moves are. For some moves, she just assumes that the class knows what they are and she doesn't even show them! It was laughable. The music kept skipping and the audio was awful, but that's not her fault; the gym as a whole needs some help. But this poorly choreographed class starts with a few combinations and then ends with you doing every combination you did in the class all together. It's not very well thought out and for most of the moves, there isn't enough room to punch towards the front of the room or kick to the sides. I had a good time, but mostly it was because I was laughing at how unbelievable her poor instructions were.

Instructor 2/5
Music 1/5
Workout 3/5

Total Body Conditioning @ NYSC Forest Hills

This class is cut and dry training. You use free weights, a body bar and a step to combine a series of strength training exercises for the whole body. What ever happened to fun weight lifting classes? I don't even think Ivonne played music for this class or did absolutely anything out of the ordinary. There weren't any new renditions of any of the classic moves, so the workout was pretty decent. But it was just boring. There was absolutely nothing exciting about this class, but if you like a straight forward lifting class, then it was fine.

Instructor 3/5
Music n/a
Workout 3/5

Ab Attack @ Crunch Union Square

I like Marc's no nonsense approach to abs. Right away we start off on the mat with a basic crunch and he never asks you to get weights or resistance bands or anything like that. You just use your body weight as resistance. His moves are easy to follow, though not always easy to do, and very clear cut. It's a great half hour blast for the abs and you'll certainly feel it the next day!

Instructor: 5/5
Workout: 4/5
Music: 4/5

Spin @ Forest Hills

Melissa is just great! Her music is upbeat, she pushes you to the limit and you leave feeling wobbly and dripping in sweat. She has a decent warm up and stretch and then she takes you right into hills. The 45 minutes will fly by as she pushes you up and down extreme hills. The only issue I have is that she does very quick "jumps". That's when you have to get in and out of the seat a lot. It's hard on your legs and just doesn't seem good for you. But otherwise, you'll love her music and the intense ride she'll put you through!

YogaWorks 1 @ Soho

Whether you've taken several yoga classes or this is your very first, rest assured, that YogaWorks 1 is a great place to start. If you're a novice, you may find it boring or too easy, but for us beginners, it's truly a great introduction into yoga. Sarah is very descriptive and repeats things over and over so that everyone gets it. She also comes around and fixes your posture if it isn't perfect. She's calming and soothing and uses words like supple and tender to describe body parts. It's a very calm and relaxing class and you'll get a great stretch from it. The hour fifteen and minute class will leave you relaxed and standing tall. It's a best place to start if you're looking to get into yoga.

YogaWorks Schedule

30/60/90 @ Equinox Soho

What an intense class! Kristi warns you ahead of time that you're in for some work, but nothing can prepare you for the amount of jumping, lifting and pushing involved in this non-stop class that combines weight training with cardio. It's a great place to go if you want to get a full body work out in 45 minutes, but be prepared to work hard for it! If you're new to class, I suggest standing somewhere near the middle so that you can see Kristi demonstrate the moves. It gets packed and from the back it's hard to see what you're supposed to be doing. Kristi's microphone doesn't always work, but maybe it's better that you don't here her yelling to keep going!? Overall, I loved the intensity and the room full of biff bodies everywhere making me work harder. Just bring water and a towel and don't be afraid to slow down if you need to!

Instructor 4/5
Music 4/5
Workout 5/5


Also, it's good to note that the class had a few guys in it too, so anyone can feel comfortable taking it. It gets packed though, so sign in at the front desk a few minutes before class begins.

Jukari @ Equinox 19th street at Broadway

Jukari Fit to Fly sounds way more intimidating then it actually is. For now (until July 1st) it's just a half-hour class to get people used to swinging on a trapeze-like bar. The workout was inspired by Cirque du Soleil and for now is only offered at Equinox gyms. Eventually it'll be 45 minutes of jumping, swinging, ab and butt work. Sarah, the Wednesday instructor, is friendly, tiny, and super buff. But don't worry, she'll make you feel comfortable and ready to fly in minutes. The jumping around gives this class some meaningful cardio, while your arms are pretty much engaged the whole time. Although the shorter version of the class seems rushed, it will definitely make you break a sweat. I'm excited to see what the extra 15 minutes, added in July, will bring!

Instructor 5/5
Workout 4/5
Music 3/5

Also, it's good to note that the class was half guys and half gals, so it's really for anyone. I suggest signing at the front desk a few minutes before class begins.

Cardio Gymstick @ Crunch Lafayette

Brooke E. normally teaches this class on Mondays, but she was our sub on Thursday and it was great. She's energetic, helpful and super enthusiastic about the class. If you've never used a gymstick before, it's a bar with resistance bands attached to it. You can do almost any exercise with the gymstick. You can put your feet in the straps and do bicep curls and back exercises or your can put your hands in the straps and stand on the bar to work your chest and shoulders. Whatever the exercise, the gymstick makes it more fun and the range of motion seems effortless, but you definitely feel the burn! It's a fun new way to get all your strength training in with a nifty little tool. Brooke also walks around to make sure that you are doing the moves correctly and she's very supportive if things seem difficult to the class. You should definitely try this new class. It's totally different!

As with most Crunch classes, you can't sign up ahead of time, you just have to sign in when you get there. Here's a look at the schedule for Lafayette and click here to learn more about the Gymstick.

Instructor 5/5
Music 4/5
Workout 4/5

Kickbox I.T. @ NYSC Soho

First off, this class is supposed to be kickboxing mixed with strength training but aside from the handful of push ups, there's no strength training here. It's just straight up kickboxing, and even that aspect wasn't great. Andrew is fast on his feet and expects you to be the same. Although you'll get good cardio in constantly jumping around, don't expect to be corrected if you're doing something wrong. With all the difficult kicks and tricky combinations, I would think that form is pretty vital so that you don't hurt yourself, but Andrew doesn't seem to care about the semantics. He's constantly changing the combinations just as you're catching on. He's one of those teachers who shows you once in slow motion how to do something and expects you to pick it up right away. For the uncoordinated, such as myself, this was not easy. I wouldn't recommend this class unless you know how to kickbox and have great form cause unfortunately this teacher won't walk you through it.

Instructor 2/5
Workout 3/5
Music 3/5

I went to the 12:15 class on Wednesday and it wasn't packed, so you probably don't have to sign up. You can check out the schedule here!

The Ride @ Crunch Kips Bay

First off, the studio is dimmed with black-lights, so right off the bat, its unlike any other spin class I've ever taken. You don't have to sign up ahead of time, but there's a sign in sheet when you walk into the gym that has the bike numbers. So make sure to sign in the higher numbers if you want to be in the back! The teacher, Ayana, is wonderful. She tells us ahead of time that there won't be much talking and that we should just follow the music. Lucky for us, she blasts Rihanna, Britney, Beyoncé and Lady Gaga, so it's not hard to go full speed and bop to the beat. But her nonstop pedaling and lack of breaks, make this class a tough ride! It was one of the best sweat sessions I've had in ages! Don't plan on slowing down or cooling off very much, she takes you through about 40 minutes of hardcore cardio and leads you through a pretty thorough stretch at the end. The only downfall is that there's nobody pushing you, motivating you, or cheering you on to work harder, so I suggest closing your eyes, forgetting about the ride and just going with the music. You won't regret it!

Instructor 4/5
Music 5/5
Workout 5/5

Check out Kips Bay schedule here!

Spin w/Sue @ NYSC Forest Hills

When you first see Sue, you don’t really envision her teaching a spin class. But she’s awesome! She’s perky, friendly and loves to smile and interact with the class. She gives a good warm-up and then gets right into some hills. I really liked her style and tempo. Not too fast, not too slow; It’s just right! Some people may not like that she doesn't ride with you the whole way, but I like that she walks around giving pointers. Her music is pretty good and you may want to sing along to a few of the classics. The best part is that she makes the ride coincide with the songs, so you speed up when the tempo does. It definitely pushes you to keep going.

Teacher – 4/5
Music – 4/5
Workout – 4/5

Her class is at 10:30AM on Fridays, so it doesn't really get packed, but you can still sign up if you want.

Abdominals @ NYSC Rego Park

Hailey is upbeat and very creative with her technique, but it's always hard to follow a teacher who doesn't do the workout herself. Her counting is sometimes off and some of the moves seem near impossible! It's 45-minutes of pure abs in every way shape or form. From mountain climbers to planks, you will feel the burn in several places. I was shocked that there were no lower back exercises considering how much we hammered away at the front. Some supermans or deadlifts would be a nice addition. It's a great class to take after a good cardio session. But be warned: If getting through a set of normal crunches is a challenge for you, this class will be way over your head. It's pretty advanced!

Instructor 3/5 - She knows how to motivate, but doesn't lead by example
Music 4/5 - Recent pop hits
Workout 3/5 - Some of the moves seem unnatural and probably aren't good for your back or joints.

Check out the Rego Park schedule here.

Spin w/Candice @ NYSC Rego Park

Candice preps you really well before class. She makes sure that your bike is set up properly and gives you an exact rundown of what to expect from her class. It's really refreshing to get a precise course outline before you dive in! Once she's done with the preview she gives you a quote of the day that has to do with the theme of the class. Today it was something like 'something good always follows something bad and vice versa'. So her intense interval training kept up with that motto and she coaches you by saying a break, aka something good, will come after this intense minute of climbing. Intervals really made the class go by quickly and she let's you know what your heart rate should be at any given time, so it's a great class for people who like to wear heart rate monitors. Overall, it's intense enough for novices to enjoy it, while her teaching style is easy enough for anyone to follow. It's a great overall class. You're legs will thank you!

Instructor 5/5 - Phenomenal
Music N/A - She's so good, you will barely notice music
Workout 5/5 - You're legs will feel wobbly when you get off your bike

The 6:30 and 7:30 classes fill up quickly, so make sure to sign up first thing in the AM. Check out the Rego Park schedule here.

Cardio Sculpt @ Crunch Union Square

This class should be called "cardio squats". Ayana loves squats and lunges in any way, shape or form - with weights, without weights, jumping squats - you name it, she does it. You'll definitely get a good cardio workout in cause she likes to switch it up and add lots of jumping jacks and grapevines in between sets. Luckily the music is upbeat and keeps you motivated. Ayana may even sing a few verses, but don't worry, she's surprisingly not bad. It's definitely a fine mix of cardio and weight training. There isn't too much focus on your upper body, but the abs portion at the end is short and sweet and you'll probably feel it the next day. This class is definitely all about toning your legs and butt! Perfect way to look good in those short shorts this summer!

You don't have to sign up in advance, but you do need to sign in when you get to the gym. The class gets packed, so come in early to get a good spot. Check out the schedule here!

Instructor 5/5
Music 4/5
Workout 4/5

Spin w/Melissa @ NYSC Forest Hills

I love teachers that really put time and energy into their music selection. Melissa tried out a new mix with us this morning and it was great. The songs were pretty recent pop and hip hop tunes that definitely made you ride harder. The class went by very quickly cause the music was so good. She works on a lot of hills and does some pretty tough jumps, so go at your own pace. This high energy class might not be for everyone since there's a lot of getting in and out of the saddle. But if you're looking for a fun spin class that will truly make you work hard, try to get Melissa. She teaches at 10:30am on Mondays and the classes never get too packed.

Click here to check out the schedule.


Instructor 4/5 stars
Music 5/5 stars
Workout 5/5

Spin @ NYSC Forest Hills

Gina has the thickest New York accent you've ever heard. Her teaching technique is unconventional as her intervals are about 5-6 minutes as opposed to the normal 30-60 seconds most spin classes have. She starts by getting your heart rate up, but be warned, she never really lets it slow down. The music is very 103.5 KTU with oldies but goodies turned into dance mixes. It's a very intense workout and you'll be working at your "10" for most of class. It's a fine mix of an endurance ride combined with strength training. You'll need a good stretch after this one! You don't need to sign up for her 8:30am class even though they recommend it.

Click here to check out the schedule.


Instructor 3/5 stars
Music 1/5 stars
Workout 3/5

Spin w/Maria @ NYSC Forest Hills

The energy in this 7:30pm class is undeniable. Maria has all these regulars that clearly know each other, so I felt like a bit of an outsider. But she’s a great teacher. There are lots of “jumps” and endurance training. You’ll feel like you did squats and lunges for an hour! Her only downfall is that you don’t stretch enough at the end of class, so you'll want to give yourself an extra 10 minutes after class to make sure and stretch. With her workouts you REALLY need a stretch! I didn’t stretch enough and my legs are pretty sore the next day.

Instructor 5/5

Workout 5/5

Music 4/5

Maria's 6:30 and 7:30 classes fill up quickly. Sign up here!

Spin @ NYSC Forest Hills

First off, this class is really early. It's supposed to start at 6am. But the instructor, Scott, didn't wander in until almost 6:10, so that made me wish I had slept a little longer. Needless to say, the class wasn't off to a good start! Right away he had some Red Hot Chili Peppers blaring through the speakers and had us on our first hill. I didn't mind it so much, except for the fact that Scott didn't get on his bike. I asked some regulars and apparently that's his "teaching style". He likes to walk around and time things without breaking a sweat. I don't know about you, but I like a teacher who leads by example. I can't exactly push myself to climb the biggest hill while they are just hanging out and bopping to the hard rock music in the background. Once I got over his teaching style, the ride itself was fine. Lots of in and out of the saddle and playing with the resistance. It was an okay class and a fairly decent workout. But for me to get up before 6am; I need way more than just decent.

They recommend that you sign up for this class, but it was half empty, so you're probably okay to just walk in. Click here to check out the schedule.


Instructor 2/5 stars
Music 3/5 stars
Workout 2/5

Club Strength @ NYSC Rego Park

The class started a tad late which threw me off a little. I didn't know if I was in the wrong place. But I followed everyone else as they grabbed a yoga mat, 3 different sets of dumbbells and a big barbell (that one would use for squats). Once the class started, with Sharmane, it was fast paced with lots of reps working every different muscle on my body. We started standing working the legs with different variations of squats with and without weights. Then we moved to arms, then laid on the mats working chest, then stomach. The class ended by working the derriere and then some light stretching. All in all, I left with my legs, arms, and stomach burning. It's an in depth full body workout that will leave you sore for a day or two.

You'll need to sign up in advance for this class. Check out the schedule here!

Instructor 4/5 stars
Music 5/5 stars (some kind of Spanish house music with bass)
Workout 5/5 (you'll feel it for days!)

Core Fusion Sport @ Exhale Spa Midtown

What a difference it makes going into a spa to workout versus a gym! When you walk into this spa on Central Park South, everything screams tranquility and calm. The locker rooms are clean and each locker has a key (so no personal locks needed!). After you check in at the front desk, someone will personally escort you to the locker room and show you where your class is. So I was already quite calm before I entered into the serene yoga studio for the Core Fusion Sport class. But that quickly changed with the help of instructor, Micaela Butcher! This class is more endurance and cardio than it is yoga. The moves are quick and intense, but very easy to follow. You'll use a medicine ball (you choose either light or heavy), a resistance band and a mat. You should probably take a light and a heavy ball cause some moves are too easy with the light ball and you may want to switch it up. Micaela is very encouraging and comes around the small class to make sure that everyone has good form and is keeping up. She's energetic and friendly and definitely makes you feel comfortable even as you approach yet another set of squats. This class is very leg heavy with intense training on your thighs and butt. There's lots of push-ups and arm work and some slow ab work at the end too. It's a very well-rounded routine!

You'll need to sign up in advance for this class. Check out the schedule here!

Bodyweb @ Crunch! 38th Street

I've never used the TRX system before. But knowing that Gunnar Peterson uses it to train Jennifer Lopez and his other star clientele, I knew I had to give it a shot. What could be so hard about bands that are used for suspension training, right? Wrong. This class works muscles you didn't know you had. Everything from push-ups to planks and squats becomes easier yet so much harder at the same time. Instead of just using your legs and butt for squats, you're also using your arms to pull your weight back up with the suspension trainers. It's odd at first, but you'll love it by the end of the 45-minutes. You'll surely feel it the next day! This is a really intense full body workout that anyone can do. It's at 12:15, so if you can sneak out during the workday, I highly recommend it. It's the good kind of pain :)

You don't have to sign up in advance for this class but you'll want to sign in when you get there. Check out the schedule here!

Workout 5/5
Instructor 4/5
Music 3/5

Aerobox @ Aerospace

If you like kickboxing, you're bound to like this quick half hour cardio kickboxing class led by Michael. The jabs are fast, the kicks are high and the jumping is never-ending. Like the two other classes that I took here, you'll definitely need water and you should be prepared to sweat a lot. Unlike the previous classes, this one seems to adhere more to beginners, but that doesn't mean that you won't get a good workout in! It's a great kickboxing routine, that of course has some jump rope intervals as well.

You must sign up for this class. It gets packed!

Aerosculpt (abs) @ Aerospace

I consider myself to have strong abs, but I couldn't do half the ab moves in this class. They are so intense! Michael is really encouraging and will help you feel comfortable, but it doesn't change the fact that your entire core will be burning like crazy. It's fast-paced without much breathing room, but you'll feel the burn for days! It's a great follow up to the Aerojump class or a great warm up for the Aerobox class that comes after it. But be prepared to struggle your way though. No wonder the regulars have such tight abs!

You must sign up for this class. It gets packed!

Instructor 5/5
Music 2/5
Workout 4/5

Aerojump @ Aerospace

Remember when you were a kid and you thought you could jump rope for hours? Well this class proved that my body isn't what it used to be! Michael, the owner and instructor, doesn't believe in breaks. From fast jumps, to one legged jumps, to criss-crossing your rope, you'll do it all. And it is not easy! Imagine jumping for 30 minutes straight and then imagine doing that really quickly, with high jumps and double jumps. It's intense! Although there is no actual break or cool down, it's totally acceptable to take a breather if you need one – and chances are you will! It's amazing what some people can do with a jump rope. Expect to sweat A LOT. If you don’t like being in tight quarters with ropes flying everywhere, you may not like this one. But if you're in the mood for some killer cardio, Michael is the man. Be warned that the music is sometimes too loud and you may not be able to hear the instructor at all times.

You must sign up for this class. It gets packed!

Instructor 5/5
Music 3/5
Workout 5/5

Hi-Ya @ Gravity in Le Parker Meridien Hotel NYC

The second Dorothy puts the music on, you know you have to be ready to work! You'll be jumping and moving around the whole time, so if you were hoping not to sweat during your lunch break, think again! It's a jam-packed half hour with lots of kicking, jabbing and jumping around. You'll be corrected if your form is wrong and that's always good for this kind of class cause I never know if I'm doing it right! It's a great way to break up your day and get a good sweat it during your lunch break!

Teacher: 4/5
Workout: 3/5
Music: 3/5

You don't have to sign up ahead of time, but you can check out the schedule here!

Indredi-Ball @ Gravity in Le Parker Meridien Hotel NYC

This class definitely mixes things up. It's fun to implement a ball with your normal workout. The teacher, Dorothy Evans, is super upbeat and happy-go-lucky. Push-ups, crunches, squats, you name it and you can do it with an exercise ball. Who knew the ball could make these things harder (or sometimes easier). Anyone can do this class - young or old, beginner or novice. You'll feel it all the same! The teacher is great and really helpful and I love that the classes are intimate with about 10 people max. A great half hour class during your lunch break!

Teacher: 4/5
Workout: 3/5
Music: 3/5

You don't have to sign up ahead of time, but you can check out the schedule here!

Spin Class @ NYSC Soho

This might be the most intense spin class I've ever taken. It might have something to do with Red Bull the teacher (Hanna) pounded before class! She will yell and make you work. Her counting is off sometimes, but the ride itself is really intense. Expect lots of intervals! Your legs will feel like jello by the time you're ready to cool down and stretch out. The number scale Hanna uses is really helpful, but her count downs for when to sprint and when to stop are kind of confusing. You'll chuckle when you hear her transform from her normal voice to a lower "teaching" voice. But by the time you get used to that, prepare for a hard ride!

They say you should sign up for this class, but it was half empty, so you're probably okay just walking in. Click here to check out the schedule.


Instructor 4/5 stars
Music 3/5 stars
Workout 4/5

Spin w/Ed @ NYSC Glendale

Ed is the "happy medium" spin instructor, he is neither a crazed cheerleader, nor a mime that just sits on the bike and utters an instruction every 15 minutes. This class is a good balance of all spin techniques: jumps, sprints, hills, etc. It is a great workout with enough recovery periods that you're not left gasping for air at the end. It's just right for a 6:30am workout. While the music leaves a little to be desired, with lots of techno/dance beats without any singing, he does throw in the occasional popular 90's rock or current hot dance song.

Teacher 4/5
Workout 5/5
Music 3/5

Sign up here!

Spin @ NYSC 49th and Broadway

Even at 7-months pregnant Jill can still kick your butt! The class is intense and ever-changing. I love that she constantly has you do new things and switch up the movements so you don't get bored or stay in one position too long. Her music goes great with the workout, but don't trust her timing, cause it never really is just another 30 seconds! I checked her time against the clock on the wall and it never added up! I loved this class though and can't wait to see what she's like when she's not preggers.

Teacher: 5/5
Music: 4/5
Workout: 5/5

You'll need to sign up in advance for this class and it fills up quickly! Check out the schedule here!