At a Glance:

Website: http://www.thexccelerationstation.com
Address: 8440 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069 (inside Harmony Studios)
Length: 30 minutes per class
Price: 1 class/$36, 3 classes/$99, 6 classes/$180
Sweat scale: low
Energy level: low

What do Madonna and I have in common? We’re both fans of the Power Plate.

Pre Sweat

Located near the busy intersection of La Cienega and Santa Monica Blvd, there is metered street parking and free neighborhood parking that is unpermitted until 7 pm. I parked in the neighborhood and walked into Harmony Studios where I filled out a waiver. There are only three Power Plates (they retail at a whopping $13,000) so the classes are extremely small. The classes are 30 minutes long so I opted for an intro class followed by something a bit more challenging.

Sweat

The instructor, Patricia, began by introducing us to the Power Plate. She described it as a vibrating platform that activates your muscles through involuntary response. The machine has been known to tone muscles, increase bone density, improve stability, reduce pain, and diminish cellulite. After getting the low down, we stepped on the plate and spent time getting used to the shaking. It was definitely weird at first to feel the vibrations through your body.

During the workout portion of class we did forearm planks, side planks, reverse planks, crunches, lunges, step-ups, and squats. We held each exercise for 30 or 45 seconds with a break in between to allow our body to recover from the taxing vibrations. Since it was our first class, Patricia had us work on a low frequency and amplitude. When there were 10 minutes of class remaining, we got to use the Power Plates as our personal masseuse, lying in different positions and letting the vibrations soothe our muscles.

Post Sweat

Grab a drink and some DIY s’mores across the street at Barney’s Beanery. If you’re in the mood for something a bit more healthy, head to EarthBar (there are two locations within three blocks of the studio) for a power smoothie, fresh juice, or healthy grab-and-go snack. Don’t miss drag queen bingo at Hamburger Mary’s just three blocks east. Lastly, if you need groceries you’re not too far from Trader Joe’s and Gelson’s.

Tricks of the Trade

• Make sure to drinks lots of water and don’t go on an empty stomach.
• For the perfect rest day, check out the recover and revitalize with essential oils class.
• The workout can be done barefoot or with socks.