At a Glance:

Website: http://circuithollywood.com
Address: 6223 Franklin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Length: 50 minutes
Price: first class $10, 10 classes/$225, 12 classes a month for $199
Sweat scale: medium
Energy level: medium

I’m always a little skeptical about the intensity of Pilates reformer classes so when I saw a Pilates/Spin combo, I thought it would be the perfect mix of a workout, and I was right!

Pre Sweat

The studio is located in a shopping center, with parking, in Hollywood right off of the 101. I parked and went inside to find Pilates reformers and Real Ryder bikes. Katie, the instructor, introduced herself, asked if I had any injuries, and had me fill out a short form. I then placed my belongings next to a bike and headed to a reformer.

Sweat

For the combo class, half is on the Pilates Reformer while the other half is on the bikes. We started on the reformers and jumped into the workout very quickly. Katie had us do a ton of core work, which I loved. We did planks, side planks, hundreds (staying in a crunch while pulsing your hands), twists, and a variety of arm exercises using the handles. My abs were burning and I could feel my muscles getting worked.

Next, we relocated to the bikes. The bikes were stationary but moved from left to right, mimicking the feel of a road bike. As I pedaled, I also had to steer and maintain balance as the bike swayed dramatically. This created more of a full body workout. During the cycling portion, the music was loud and we stayed on a pretty high resistance. We did a lot of transitioning between seated and standing positions and the class flew by!

Post Sweat

Circuit Pilates is located a short drive away from the Hollywood and Vine area and the Franklin strip that is home to La Poubelle French bistro and Bourgeois Pig coffee shop.

Tricks of the Trade

• Grab a complimentary towel for the bike portion; you will definitely get sweaty!
• If you forget a water bottle, no problem, the studio has cups and a water dispenser.
• Ask the instructor if they have clip on spinning shoes in your size. I was able to wear a pair that belonged to the studio and felt way more secure than if I had worn my running shoes!