At a Glance:

Website: http://www.myhotpilates.com
Address: 8604 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA, 90069
Length: 60 minutes
Price: 1 class/$25, 10 classes/$230, month unlimited/$150
Sweat scale: high
Energy level: high

After a long run of nonstop fitness classes, I decided it was time for a rest day…in the form of a Sunday morning hot yoga-Pilates combo class (that’s what happens when you’re addicted to fitness). Before heading out to this studio for the first time, I did some research and saw that they don’t offer the yoga-lates class at the time I had signed up for. Instead, the 10:45 was an advanced Pilates Sculpt class, NOT something I wanted on my rest day.

Pre Sweat

The studio is located on the Sunset Strip and has a huge parking lot. My class was on the Sunday after Thanksgiving so not only was there no traffic, but there was also a ton of parking. I headed in to the studio and signed in. They let me know that there had been a mistake on Class Pass and the class wasn’t the yoga-lates I had signed up for (darn!). I indicated that I needed a mat and went into the waiting area where I put my purse in a cubby.

Sweat

Walking into the room I was hit by a wave of heat. This was my first experience with a hot workout and I didn’t realize just how toasty it would be (95, to be exact). I also didn’t eat breakfast or drink any water before (fail), so I wasn’t feeling my best. The mats were already set up nicely with towels folded on top of each one, but I went and grabbed another.

I feel like these 60 minutes were pretty core focused. We did a ton of abs work including Pilates favorites like hundreds, roll-ups, leg circles, leg stretches, planks, downward dog, bridges, swimming, rolling like a ball, and others. For pics of the exercises check out the beginning, intermediate, AND advanced poses on: http://www.kcpilates.com/beginner-pilates/basic-pilates-exercises.html.

Greg had us move so quickly from position to position that I barely had time to grab a sip of water. We also did some of the exercises with hand weights that he brought over to our mats. I’m not sure if it was my exhaustion but this class was TOUGH! I’m looking forward to coming back for yoga-lates and making sure that I drink water before class!

Post Sweat

After hot Pilates there’s not much else you can do but shower. The studio has two showers with Malin+Goetz products and plenty of fresh towels. Afterwards, take a stroll around the Sunset Strip!

Tricks of the Trade

• Make sure you grab an extra towel or two. Lay one down to cover your mat and use the other to wipe your sweat (gross, but necessary).
• Freeze your water bottle or put lots of ice in it or else it will quickly lose its chill.