Crash Course:  Georgetown Pilates is a small, boutique, classical Pilates studio focused on quality instruction and attention to detail. They offer private reformer sessions, group mat classes, tower classes, massage, acupuncture, and muscle activation techniques. A private Pilates apperatus session will deliver a tailor-made workout integrating breath work, stretching, and various strength-building exercises. It’s not cheap, but the level of care and personalized approach were truly second to none. The experience was luxury fitness at its best. For a full list of services and prices, check out the Georgetown Pilates website.

The Georgetown Pilates studio is really tucked away, located in a gated collection of offices called Hamilton Court. If you’re having a hard time finding it, it’s almost directly across from the Georgetown Post Office on 31st Street. The gate should be open during normal business hours, but if not, there’s a call box to buzz in.

Walk all the way to the back of the courtyard and head to the the right, where you’ll find a small pathway that leads to the front door. The entrance is hidden from the main area – I had to be directed via hand signal by one of the instructors already inside.

Ta-da! Found it. You’ll be greeted at the front desk by one of the trainers, who will walk you through new client paperwork and give you a little tour of the studio. From the first moment I arrived, I knew this place was special. Everyone was extremely warm and welcoming, and the entire space gave off a calm, serene, spa-like vibe. There were no loud noises, there was no smell of sweat, there was plenty of space to move around in, it was well lit, and a member of the team was always available to answer questions. And the entire studio from top to bottom was gleaming with clean. Be still my heart.

I tucked around the corner to the small bathroom to change into my workout gear. There is no changing room, but the bright, cheerful purple bathroom does the trick in a pinch. It’s stocked with a few essential toiletries should you need to freshen up after class. There’s also a hallway with a row of hooks and hangars for your coat or clothes. I’m so used to rolling up my work clothes and smushing them into my backpack, being able to hang them nicely was a total luxury.

I almost forgot to mention this handsome fellow – the rescue pup who serves as chief-greeter, frazzled-nerves-corrector, and mayor of the studio. I’m sorry the photo is blurry, but the little guy was wagging his tail so hard it was difficult to catch him in stillness. Can you could see his amazing mustache collar? So fashionable! As an animal lover, it was a delight to be able to chill and de-stress with this dude before class. I know studies show animals in the workplace make for happier employees, but I think the same goes for customers too. Love!

The session I had with Lissette was unlike any other Pilates class I had ever been to. I’ve tried the reformer at Reformation Fitness, and done mat classes at Fuse in Dupont and other places. But this was something else entirely. From start to finish, the entire class was tailored for my specific needs, whether I knew what those were or not. I mentioned a few target areas I’d like to work on, but as the session progressed, I realized that often times we would work on muscle imbalances or weaknesses I didn’t even knew I had (until I was hanging over the cadillac machine, shaking like a leaf, wondering where my core strength went).

Every move, every breath was carefully guided and closely watched. I couldn’t get away with cheating if I tried. Lissette was right there to make sure every inhale and vertebrae was exactly where it needed to be. We worked on stretching, strength, and everything in between. I was pleasantly uncomfortable the entire time and sweating within 5 minutes, and it was wonderful – I knew I was in professional hands and trusted in the technique. After the warm up, I blurted out, “wow, I didn’t know Pilates was hard,” and got a few approving smiles and laughs. But really, I have never been to a class or session so focused or so challenging. It was absolutely wonderful.

This smile is fake – the chair machine torture device was absolutely my least favorite part, probably because it so clearly highlighted my biggest weakness: my knees. A few reps on this thing and I was toast. My thighs were burning, my core was shaking, and I was looking at Lissette with an “are you serious” face of panic.  It was an eye-opener for sure, and made me realize how much work I still have to do to make sure my muscles are balanced. She calmly guided me through the exercise and encouraged me to do just a few more reps than I thought possible. That said, I was happy to leave this machine behind!

Here was my initial reaction after walking out the door:

just treated to a private pilates session @gtownpilates. absolutely mind blowing in every way. can’t say enough great things! #sweatyluxury

— DC Fit Crasher (@DCFitCrasher) March 15, 2013

It truly was mind blowing in every way. The studio was beautiful. The class was the most carefully constructed yet challenging Pilates session I had ever been to. It was completely customized and I never had any doubt that I was in the best, most professional hands available. I was greeted by name and spoken to genuinely. My clothes hung neatly on a hanger. The floor and equipment was sparkling clean. I got to pet an adorable dog.

Now, let’s get one thing straight – I’m a federal employee paying grad school loans and live within very real budgetary boundaries. At $103 per session, it should be this mind blowing and you pay for what you get. The honest truth is that I could not afford to come to this studio regularly, no matter how much I would love to. It’s just not in my budget at this point in my life. But if it is in your budget and you are looking for an incredible, one-of-a-kind Pilates studio to get you into tip top shape…this is the place for you. I wholeheartedly recommended the awesome work they do.

What’s your favorite high-end exercise indulgence?

*Georgetown Pilates generously waived the fee for this session. This review, including all of my opinions, are my own.

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Last week, Sculpt asked me to come by and crash their new monthly class called the “Sculpt Lab.” If the name conjures memories of that dreaded high school course when you were partnered with the kid with sweaty hands, don’t fret. While there won’t be any chemical mixing or mitochondria modeling, the hour-long class is definitely a bit of a mad science experiment in the fields of stamina, calorie burning, and sweat.

So what exactly is Sculpt Lab? Each month, the studio chooses one of their instructors to piece together a Frankenstein workout based on participant requests. While Sculpt focuses on spin and yoga classes during the week, the Lab class are a wild combination of any and all workout options put on the table by the instructor. This month, Anita sent an email to everyone signed up for the Lab class soliciting votes on what we would like to do. We chose from the following: body weight exercises, yoga, pilates, kick boxing, spin, plyometrics. I’m not entirely sure there was any choosing or voting, because we ended up checking all of those things off the list in one crazy, calorie-burning hour.

We started Lab in the spin studio with 25 minutes of intense intervals. There were flashing lights. Standing climbs. Eye-closingly-intense seated sprints. And then there was “Dirty Pop” by NSYNC – which Anita swears is one of the most challenging spin songs of all time. I can’t say I disagree, but I was too busy signing and channeling my 14-year-old self to notice. This first part of class definitely was not a warm up – we cannonballed right into the deep end and never looked back. With shaky legs and sweat pouring everywhere, we moved on to the second part of class in the yoga room.

Don’t let the yoga mats and mood lighting fool you – this was not a cool down. Anita turned up the music and we began with plyometric moves (think lots of jumping). We transitioned into kickboxing, followed by a series of push ups and planks. I’m not going to lie, after the kickboxing part I was starting to really feel fatigued and pushed to my limit. This was tough. Think muscle confusion meets bootcamp meets a crazy and twisted decathlon. 

We ended with a few signature Pilates moves focusing on abs (not the easy ones I was hoping for) and then, as if the giant Buddha head decided to show mercy on us, we cooled down with some yoga. Oh boy, Sculpt Lab, you crashed this crasher in the best way possible.

This was tough, fun, and totally unlike any other class I have taken before. If you go, remember to listen to your body and monitor your heart-rate’s roller-coaster ride. I will definitely be keeping my eyes peeled for the March Lab to see what kind of insane combination you piece together next. And for those of you who have never taken a class with Anita – do it. She teaches an enormous variety of things ranging from spin to breakdance yoga at gyms all over DC and is a total ball of energy.

One other thing to note: I haven’t been back to Sculpt since they did a bit of remodeling downstairs to help maximize the space. The landing on the ground floor is now much more open, with only one cubby cube and a bench. This helps reduce the claustrophobia of everyone standing on top of each other trying to get to their lockers at once.

The lockers now line the hallway wall leading from the changing area to the spin studio. This is such a big improvement in their use of space and general flow. I’m a fan.

I’m also digging this new piece of artwork hanging on the wall. Oh, it’s so true. If only all watches looked like this.

Sculpt Lab: eureka or scary?

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Crash Course: Reformation Fitness is a brand-spankin-new Pilates studio located near the Convention Center in the former Shakti Yoga space. It’s bright, beautiful, and has the lux feel of a high-end boutique studio. It has all the Pilates class bells and whistles one could hope for,  including chair, reformer, jumpboard, and mat options. The studio offers both group and private instruction. For more information, check out the Reformation Fitness website.

Despite what it looks like, this is not a torture device. It’s a Pilates reformer – essentially a moveable mat with pulleys and springs to provide resistance. Classes at Reformation Fitness use this tool to build and tone muscles, work on flexibility, and challenge coordination. The studio opened just a few weeks ago, and I was so excited to get a first look at the beautifully renovated space. Want a tour? Of course you do!

The main studio area is bright, cheery, and clean with five reformer machines, five chair devices, mirrored walls, and a few other fun props. Leave your shoes on the rack by the door, please!

There is one bathroom, and it is darling. It has tiny little potted plants, a scent diffuser, and was totally spotless. A plus.

The private changing room has a full length mirror, fresh flowers, a leather bench, and plenty of space to move around in. I think that’s an old-fashioned Pilates machine in the corner serving as decoration, cool right?

The class itself was wonderful. I had never taken a Pilates class on the reformer – mostly because the cost is prohibitive and I’d rather spend that $40 on a few other things. But the entire system – the pulleys, springs, jump board, box, etc. – was designed in a way to make even the most micro movement challenging. I didn’t sweat as I would in a boot camp or even a yoga class, but I could feel the burn in my core, arms, and legs as we worked through the moves.

To be honest, the thing that impressed me most was the level of detail and care Michael put into each and every moment of the class. Everything was tailored to make my workout completely unique to my needs and abilities. He constantly adjusted the tension, checked my form, suggested alternatives, and offered encouragement. Despite the four other people in the room, I felt like it was a private class. It was totally indulgent and I loved every minute of it.

The other thing that really struck me: despite the high-end feel of this studio, the atmosphere of the class itself is not pretentious or stuffy. Michael was extremely down to earth – wearing soccer shorts and a plain t-shirt – and was friendly and approachable. The other students were great too, and we all banded together during some of the more challenging sets. Even though this was my very first time using the reformer, I never once felt out of place, judged, or uncomfortable.

Things I liked: 

- beautiful studio with attention to detail
- small class size and a private-instruction feel
- passionate and knowledgable instructor
- it’s around the corner from Xtend Barre…double-header crash, coming right up!

Things I didn’t like:

- the price would keep me from coming regularly
- I prefer workouts that leave me in a pool of sweat; this just isn’t that kind of class

Bonus:

Reformation Fitness is offering a grand opening special that really is a steal of a deal. New students can purchase two classes for $20.13 by 28 February. If you’ve been before, you can get still get 20% off class packs with the code GRAND. Click here for the schedule if you’re interested in giving it a go.

Pilates reformer: enough of a workout to get results?

*Thank you to Reformation Fitness for waiving my drop in fee. This review is not an endorsement, and all opinions are my own.

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As the snowflakes began to fall on Saturday afternoon, I cozied up at Off Road DC for their Inner Core Pilates/Yoga workshop. The studio is best known for their spin, TRX, and boxing classes, but they occasionally use their beautiful U Street space to host other special events to bring their clients a little something extra. Colleen – who regularly teaches spin class – led the yoga portion, and Jillian kicked things off with mat Pilates.

I really liked the combination of the precision of Pilates and the zen of yoga into one, core-burning 90 minutes class. I can’t say I broke a sweat during the session – which is completely a-okay – but I woke up the next morning with the acute sensation that I had worked quite a few neglected muscles to their max. The core and outter thighs, to be exact. Colleen and Jillian, I salute you for the sneak-attack workout that I’m still paying for. Loved it!

After class, V from Goûter, came by with a few tonic samples for us to try. I was so excited to see her again and loved hearing about how her business is bustling and growing all over DC. Hooray Goûter! I had the pleasure of reviewing a number of Goûter products back in December and was pumped that V brought Stretch – a tonic with tumeric – and a Mexican “hot” chocolate melk made with cashews, cayenne, and cacao. Delicious!

Of course I had to bring a few of these babies home with me. It tastes like a creamy milk chocolate shake with a cayenne kick. Definitely makes for a filling afternoon treat or something to sip after dinner in lieu of dessert. I love the idea of vegan “melk” and can’t wait to see what V and Steve come up with next.

Sunday was a day reserved for running. It was time to complete ten miles, so I made my way over to Rock Creek Park to join the DC Tri Club for their weekend group run. My friends Jenny and Joe are members and invited me to join in the snowy fun. I’m so happy they did, because the miles flew by and before I knew it, we were finished! No fuss, no stopping, no big deal. It’s not every day ten miles just flies by…but for today, I’ll take it!

Big thanks to Jenny for keeping me on pace and totally distracted with talk of wedding planning (and food, and running gear, and blogging, and puppies, and life, and anything else that came up over ten miles). She and Joe recently got engaged (hooray – congrats!) and I’ve taken it upon myself to offer all my best advice from watching one too many episodes of “Say Yes to the Dress” and “Bridezilla.” Regardless of my reality tv habits, I’m taking this official blog opportunity to extend happiest wishes to my best running buddy.

After warming up at home for a bit, I drove over to Union Market for some much-needed brunch. Something about long runs makes me insatiably hungry all day long, and this spot is every foodie’s dream come true. It’s essentially a big open space full of vendors selling every delicious thing you could imagine. Crusty fresh bread, smelly cheese, pastries, pickles, green juice, oysters, wine, fountain sodas, lattes…catch my drift?

First on the menu: caffein in the form of a hand-crafted soy latte from Peregrine Espresso.

Second on the menu: smoked hummus and avocado sandwich on a whole wheat everything bagel from Neopol Savory Smokery. This, my friends, is the most decadently scrumptious sandwich on the face of the planet and is currently number one on my list of favorite things.

A few other shots from the market: 

It was a most awesome weekend. Tell me about yours!

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