At a Glance:

Website: http://www.melrosepilates.com
Address: 7901 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
Length: 60 minutes
Price: 1 class/$40, 10 classes/$350, month unlimited/$199 new clients
Sweat scale: low
Energy level: low

Pre Sweat

The studio is located on the second level of a shopping center on the corner of Melrose and Fairfax. There is a parking lot with both tandem and single spots but nothing was available when I arrived for my 7:30 AM class so I drove one street up and found unrestricted (except for street cleaning) neighborhood parking.

The studio is small with five reformers, two Cadillacs, and three stability chairs. They also have a water jug with paper cups. They don’t have a shower but neither do most Pilates studios (you won’t work up a spin-like sweat).

Sweat

We started with legs, pushing the carriage back and forth and changing our footing between parallel, turned out, and wide stance. Next, we grabbed the straps and worked our upper body doing tricep kickbacks and curls. Still holding the straps, we continued with the usual Pilates ab workouts: hundreds and crunches.

Near the end of the class, she split us into two groups. Half stayed on the reformers and the other half went to the stability chairs. This was my first time seeing one of these chairs and they were amazing for oblique crunches and lifts…I could feel the soreness already that night! We ended with some side leg lifts and circles and then finished with a stretch.

Post Sweat

Come on a Sunday so you can head across the street to Melrose Trading Post after your sweat. The $3 entry fee will give you access to the flea market that has great, affordable furniture, clothes, and especially jewelry. It’s always a great place to check out with visitors (see below)! Before heading to the market, stop by Coffee Commissary one block north on Fairfax for some delicious espresso.

Tricks of the Trade

• There can be a max of five students in the class so be prepared to get a lot of individual attention.
• When using the tandem parking, try to find someone who is also taking a class at the same time.