At a Glance:
Website: http://www.platefit.co
Address: 309 N Kings Rd, West Hollywood, CA 90048
Length: 30 minutes
Price: 1 class/$27, 10 classes/$220, month unlimited without contract/$220
Sweat scale: high
Energy level: high
Los Angeles truly does have the most unique workouts—something that I appreciate more every time I exercise in another city. From machines that simulate climbing to vibrating plates, they sure do know how to keep it interesting around here.
If you’re looking for something fun, free, and fitness related, look no further. New Balance is hosting Girls Night Out events at stores around the United States and Canada.
I attended the West Hollywood GNO fit party last night hosted by Frontrunners, a store where you can buy everything from new running shoes, to energy gels, to GPS watches.
During the event, Body By Simone instructor Erica Hood led us through a dance inspired cardio workout. Although we used nothing but the beat of the music and our own body weight, I was absolutely drenched in sweat just five minutes in.
I usually despise any class that requires coordination because, well, I have none, but I loved how easy it was to pretend you knew what you were doing. That might have something to do with the fact that I was literally in the back behind a wall, but either way, there was so much bouncing that whether or not my moves were correct didn’t even matter.
The music, played by Erica’s DJ boyfriend, was so positive and uplifting that it immediately urged you to get moving.
Once class was over and we were all way sweatier than anticipated, we munched on acai bowls by Amaze Bowls, sipped drinks by WTRMLN WTR and Go Girl, and reenergized with mini Cliff Bars and Gu Energy Gels. There was a sports masseuse, caricaturist, and a photobooth.
Unfortunately I wasn’t lucky enough to win any of the raffle prizes including tanks, socks, make up bags, and even a brand new pair of New Balance sneaks of the winner’s choosing (ugh, my fingers AND toes were crossed for that one!). Nonetheless, this was the perfect way to spend my Wednesday.
Interested in checking out one of the upcoming events? Find one in your area here. Check out photos using #nbgno!
Written by contributor Angela M
Highs and lows – you can’t have one without the other. Sometimes life can throw us curveballs and lead us in directions that we hadn’t planned for. This is how my 2016 started when I found myself laid off from my tech startup job in Santa Monica.
While I was sad to leave my position and company behind, a part of me was eager to see what this next chapter had in store. Selfishly, I was also excited about all the ClassPass classes I was going to be able to take advantage of while I was looking and interviewing for a new position.
I am excited to announce that I have recently accepted a new position, but while I was thinking back through my time of unemployment (roughly two months) I’m not sure I would have been able to get through it without ClassPass.
At the time, some of my friends were surprised and asked, “Well, since you’re unemployed, are you still going to keep ClassPass?”
During times of the unknown and “crisis” it’s completely normal and most of the time necessary to cut costs wherever you can. For the majority, group fitness classes are probably not a necessity. For me, this was a no brainer. I knew I would be experiencing a good chunk of down time and wanted to have an outlet to help me get through this transition – not only physically but also mentally. And boy was I right!
Thankfully in Los Angeles it’s not strange for people to have unique schedules – rather not your normal Monday through Friday, 9-5 sorta gig. With that being said, there were so many classes at my disposal during the day. When I wasn’t applying for jobs or taking part in interviews, I was excited to browse through and see what was available.
I’m not going to lie – some days were tough. Whether it was receiving a rejection or patiently waiting to hear back from an interview, I needed to get my mind off things. Going to classes was a huge help for me mentally, as I would step into a studio, begin class and immediately forget about everything else going on in the outside world.
The social aspect was key as well. When you are not going into an office everyday, it’s nice to socialize and be around people. Through ClassPass I have been able to meet (and network) with so many friendly and motivational class goers, not mention the incredible instructors. If I was feeling down, hearing, “Angela! So excited to see you and have you in class!” from one of my favorite instructors really got me in a positive mindset when everything else seemed like chaos. While I’m an avid spinner, it was also a great time for me to check out yoga to work on my “namaste” and help center or calm my thoughts before or after interviews.
Sometimes things were fun! This was a time where I had the flexibility to try new classes or participate in others that I enjoy (like dance!) that I might not have had the time to do previously. Since I talk about ClassPass all the time with friends, I had converted a lot of them to the service. With some of them having unique schedules, I was able to coordinate a lot of catch-ups with them via classes and stay connected/social without having to go out and spend money on meals or drinks all the time.
Lastly, how could I forget the actual physicality of it all – the sweat! Leaving classes sweaty made me feel so accomplished. Which at the time was a welcomed feeling. My health and fitness journey has been a crazy ride. While that might be another story for another post, I was grateful to have the time to work towards my health and fitness goals.
As I’m about to start this new chapter, I am very appreciative to have had ClassPass to help get me through it. It would have been easy to just sit around on the couch, go through the motions of job searching, etc, but ClassPass was able to keep active and motivated. Thank you ClassPass!
Here are some of the studios that I loved during my time off and I encourage you to check out:
About the contributor: Angela is originally from Upstate NY but has called West Hollywood home for the past five years. When she isn’t keeping up with pop culture and social media trends, you can most likely find her at spin class or having a glass of Pinot Grigio at The Den on Sunset. While Angela’s passion and career is in HR/Recruiting, she is also the co-creator of the blog I’m Moving to Los Angeles.
The popular and effective Eagle Rock workout, completeBURN, is finally moving west and setting up shop at the swanky Mondrian hotel on Sunset Blvd. in West Hollywood.
I had a chance to attend the media preview on Tuesday and have had trouble walking ever since. CompleteBURN, created by Leah Purcell, is a high intensity interval-training program that uses bodyweight, kettlebells, and a stability step with resistance band to torch calories and skyrocket your heart rate.
Photos by Josh Reiss ( http://JoshReiss.com )
Although we were going through a shortened class, I was dripping sweat about two minutes in and it never slowed down. Our class sampled each of the three classes that will be offered: power bodyweight, power weighted, and core.
At a Glance:
Website: http://www.upliftstudios.com/Uplift-Studios-Los-Angeles
Address: 8254 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
Length: 55 minutes
Price: one class/$28, 10 classes/$260, month unlimited/$300
Sweat scale: medium
Energy level: medium
While Los Angeles is blessed with so many great places to workout, I always feel like New York City is one step ahead of us. Thankfully, the new trend is for NYC based studios to head west and set up shop where blizzards are less likely to prompt a class cancellation. Enter: the opening of Uplift!
At a Glance:
Website: http://www.yogaworks.com/location/west-hollywood/
Address: 1067 North Fairfax Avenue, West Hollywood, CA 90046
Length: 85 minutes
Price: first two weeks/$25, 1 class/$22, 10 classes/$195, month unlimited/$100
Sweat scale: low
Energy level: low
Sometimes there’s nothing better than just chilling out. After a busy weekend, spending time in relaxing stretches was exactly what I needed and it was the perfect excuse to finally check out YogaWorks.
At a Glance:
Website: http://www.equinox.com/clubs/
Address: 8590 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069
Equinox is THE mother of all gyms so when I was offered an opportunity to have a free seven day trial, I signed right up! My fingers were tightly crossed for celeb sightings.
At a Glance:
Website: http://sandbox-fitness.com
Address: 8317 Beverly Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90048
Length: 45 minutes
Price: first class free, 1 class/$26, 10 classes/$220
Sweat scale: high
Energy level: high
Sandbox Fitness opened in Sherman Oaks last year and was one of my very first reviews. While that location is conveniently located a couple blocks from my office, many people don’t love traveling into the valley to workout. Fret no more; Sandbox has opened a West Hollywood spot in a prime spot!
At a Glance:
Website: http://www.basecampfitness.co
Address: 8714 Santa Monica Blvd. Suite C Los Angeles, CA 90069
Length: 45 minutes
Price: first class free, 1 class/$29.99, 10 classes/$279.99, month unlimited/$199.99 with no commitment
Sweat scale: high
Energy level: high
Basecamp prides itself on being an in-and-out workout that challenges you during every second. While most studios have 60-minute classes, Basecamp classes run 35 minutes long with an additional five minute core section at the end.
October seems to be the month of studio openings in my neighborhood and you won’t hear me complaining! Three awesome studios that keep the west side sweaty are moving inland to grace us with their killer workouts.
Basecamp Fitness
What: 35-minute workout rotating between 1-minute on stationary bike followed by 1-minute of strength training ending with a core-focused set
When: Opened October 10th
Where: 8714 Santa Monica Blvd
First class free
Orangetheory Fitness
What: High intensity interval training based on heart rate target zones using treadmill, rowing, free weights, and TRX
When: Opening for founding members on Friday, October 16th offering three free classes
during a two week period before the official public opening
Where: 7950 Sunset Blvd
Burn60
What: High intensity interval training incorporating Woodway treadmills, bands, weights, kettle bells, and Bosu balls
When: Opening October 20th and offering unlimited free classes for the first two weeks
Where: 8969 Santa Monica Blvd
Enjoy and happy free sweating! I’ll be at each of these studios in the coming weeks so hopefully I’ll see ya there!
sweat and repeat 