At a Glance:

Website: http://www.motivateglendale.com
Address: 410 E Broadway, Glendale, California 91205
Length: 45 minutes
Price: first class free, 1 class/$35, 10 classes/$265, month unlimited/$239
Sweat scale: medium
Energy level: low

If you’ve been following along, I am always on the lookout for friendly megaformer classes. Megaformers are a beast of a workout and classgoers are usually ripped and they know it. I’ve literally been in classes with Victoria’s Secret models. Motivating? Nope. Just makes you feel completely inadequate when you must take a break from your shaky plank. Well I’ve officially found another must-try megaformer studio in the neighborhood!

Pre Sweat

I parked right around the corner and there seemed to be a good amount of street parking in the area. The studio is only a week old and has an industrial feel to it. There are 10 megaformers, one restroom, and a little area where they sell BKR water bottles and sticky socks/gloves. There’s also a place to fill up your bottle and cups incase you forgot one. I met Cereza, the owner and instructor, and signed the digital waiver. I told her that it was difficult to find welcoming megaformer classes in the area and she mentioned that since the studio is so new it’s a great place for beginners and wouldn’t be too intimidating.

Sweat

Cereza introduced herself to each person and went over the machine for any newbies and then we got started. Although megaformers REALLY work your core, they’re a full body workout for sure. Throughout the 45 minutes we moved from the front and back of the machine doing planks, lunges, squats, and a ton of arm and leg exercises. Each move used the resistance of the megaformer—for some resistance made it harder (like bicep curls) and others had light resistance to challenge our abs even more. The movements went one after the other without breaks because Cereza was explaining the next exercise while we were all doing the previous one! The class went by really quickly and my whole body felt it. We ended with a short stretch and then wiped down our machines.

Post Sweat

Not knowing how traffic would be, I actually had time to walk around the area before class started. Glendale Galleria and The Americana (similar to The Grove) are a few blocks away. There you can find Pressed Juicery (and they do have the Freeze!!), J Crew, Tiffany & Co, Nordstrom, Free People, Apple, Lululemon, and honestly every store you could ever want. If you’re parking, be aware that parking is free at the Galleria but not at The Americana.

Tricks of the Trade

• Don’t be afraid to take modifications. These workouts are really tough and strange to get used to when it’s your first time. Don’t beat yourself up if you have to come down from the plank early or need to take a break, your body will get stronger with time.
• Make sure the carriage is all the way home before you change the springs or else they will come undone.
• They are currently having a grand opening special–one month unlimited for $129!