At a Glance:

Website: http://www.bestustudio.com
Address: 931 N Fairfax Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90046
Class length: 60 min
Price: 1 class/$20, 10 classes/$175, month unlimited/$185
Sweat Scale: medium
Energy level: medium

I am currently spending a week trying to be a morning exerciser. I also happened to get ENGAGED the night before this exhausting week was set to begin. The result: a champagne-hangover 7:00 AM Monday barre class. After the initial sleep deprivation wore off, I took out a calendar and planned my class schedule for the rest of my week. Looking for places in the Hollywood/West Hollywood area, I stumbled across a morning class at Best U Studio. I’ve wanted to take this class for a while, so I decided there’s no better time then now!

Pre Sweat

The studio is located on Fairfax, a block away from Santa Monica Blvd. There are plenty of meters out front, but since it was morning, I had to be extra careful to read the signs. I ended up turning on Willoughby Ave. and parked on the street for free! When I walked into Best U, I was greeted by one of the founders, Kodi. I filled out a short form and met Veronique, the instructor. Best U has some really cute workout pants and sports bras (the trendy, strappy ones) that I have my eye on.

The studio is really nice and clean. Walking into the workout room, there are of U shaped devices attached to the mirrored walls. In another room in the back there are cubbies and complementary towels.

  

Sweat

Kodi and Nadine, who cofounded Best U, used their passion for fitness to create a Pilates and Barre combo that includes specially designed U shaped bars. We started by warming up and stretching our muscles. Next we used a flat, rubber band to do a variety of arm exercises. The quick movements got my heart rate up while the resistance worked my muscles.

For the ballet-inspired portion of the workout, we used the U as our bar. It was a bit different than the normal horizontal bar, but I felt like it was easier to hold onto. When the U is disconnected from the wall it acts as a weight (4 lbs). Using the U, we squatted, lunged, curled, pressed, and pulsed until 4 lbs started to feel MUCH heavier.

Lastly, we came down to the mat for some abs work. Holding the ball, we did twists, scissors, and flutter kicks. After the workout was complete, we stretched and finished with some deep breaths.

Post Sweat

Best U is just down the block from West Hollywood favorite, Laurel Hardware, where you can people watch and grab a trendy drink. If you’re looking for some caffeine, check out Mocafe where you can enjoy the beautiful weather at an outside table. You can also get some post-workout grocery shopping done at Whole Foods, 2 blocks away.

Tricks of the Trade

• If the U is too light, be sure to request one of the heavier ones.
• Unless you have grip socks, you should definitely go barefoot or you’ll find yourself slipping on the bamboo floors.
• This class will definitely help you work on your balance. We did a variety of exercises while on one leg. Focusing on one spot can help you stabilize.