Downtown, Toronto
Author: T
Back in tha day I used to be a dancer. From the spry age of 4 years old I was that slightly chunky, probably not very graceful but keen jelly bean in ballet class and I loooooved it. I grew up in the ballet studio, spending over 10 hours a week with my dance family. I was incredibly blessed to grow up in such a positive, supportive and disciplined ballet studio that never once challenged my body confidence but constantly challenged me to work for my personal best. It's made me who I am and it made me appreciate the sense of belonging and community that you can feel when you're part of a studio.
So after 18 or something years of dancing, I retired my pointe shoes and moved on to yoga and running. Which I used to hate by the way, like HATE. I actually hated gym class too. Anyway, after moving across the world to Australia and back again I found myself constantly searching for my new home studio, I was just sampling yoga studio after yoga studio. THEN this crazy fitness industry explosion happened, and studios were popping up everywhere. Not just in yoga but in dance, barre, spin, boxing, you name it, and all of a sudden I was happy I didn't just go to one studio becasue I wanted to try them all! So I started dragging my friends to classes and picking apart what we loved and didn't love. And then lightbulb. I realised we all wished there was a guide that would do just that for us. And so, as they say, the rest is history.
Undrcard | Boxing
Downtown, Calgary
Spokehaus | Spin
Cityplace, Toronto
Octopus Garden Yoga | Yoga
Little Italy, Toronto
Toronto Yoga Mamas
Leslieville, Toronto
Quad Spin
King West, Toronto
Shala Ashtanga Yoga Centre
Downtown, Edmonton
Mindset Brain Gym
MINDSET Brain Gym is one of Toronto's newest types of gym, one that focuses solely on the brain. Even though meditation and mindfulness studios are having a major moment, the concept they've brought to life is like nothing else in the city with state-of-the-art meditation rooms and the latest meditation technology set in a modern and futuristic environment. They've created a still space in a nonstop city, giving people an opportunity to focus on mental fitness instead of just physical fitness.
Rumble Boxing
Rumble Boxing in Calgary is one of the new age, next gen boxing studios that we're seeing now. Gone are the days of the dirty, hardcore boxing clubs that may give you tendinitis and a black eye - enter the boutique boxing studio that opens the underground boxing ring up to the masses. Rumble does it well by still owning a level of hardcore with a killer workout, but serving it up in a pretty package with covetable boxing gloves, amenities galore, and in a beautiful setting. Rumble is creating a space where anyone can lace up their proverbial boxing boots and learn how to throw a right hook/undercut/cross jab combo in a well-paced, club-like, safe environment - and not have to worry about their neibs ruining their face for their Tinder date. Winning.
Studio Lagree
Studio Lagree is, like, a big deal. Any fitness studio regular has heard of or (more likely) been to and subsequently become obsessed with, Lagree. The workout is a hybrid of HITT and pilates, with the entire class done on an oversized megareformer pilates machine. Despite the fact this is a Pilates studio, the vibe is hardcore and the sweat is real. The class focuses on toning and lengthening your muscles to build a lean physique and don't be surprised that, even with the lack of cardio and high intensity, how tough that road is. The class killed us, and there's no doubt you'll feel a burn you didn't think Pilates could dish up.