Hi there!  Hope your week is off to a good start!  I am so excited to tell you about a new fitness studio I have been trying out over the past few months called Body By Simone or BBS.  You may remember I talked about their online classes here, but I haven’t yet told you how awesome their studio classes are!

Located in Chelsea in the middle of art galleries and large loft spaces, this spacious studio draws an unexpectedly large crowd.  Every class I went to on the weekend was packed! 

(Simone De La Rue- Source)

What is it:  BBS is a hybrid studio that offers classes in dance cardio, trampoline cardio, full body toning, upper body toning, lower body toning and stretching.  A native of Australia, Simone De La Rue began her training in dance.  This carries over into all of her classes and personal training sessions.  

Perks:  The studio is huge and clean with well placed mirrors, high ceilings and a cool, downtown kind of atmosphere.  The locker room is fully stocked but beware guys, there is only a women’s locker room!

Tip:  The dance cardio class can be intimidating because there is a lot of choreography and jumping and it moves quickly (think jumping jacks, side shuffles, pivot turns, etc).  The key to getting the choreography down is to remember that the dance cardio classes are incredibly repetitive so you will get the hang of it eventually.  Most participants are unable to pick up the choreography right away so don’t feel bad! 

The upper body class is a combo of upper body and abs.  Although you use light weights for this class, you may find a heavier set might be helpful for a few of the exercises. 

Thoughts:  Overall I enjoyed every single class at BBS.  The trainers there are all so cut!  And the students aren’t so bad themselves drawing from a “fashionable” crowd.  There is a great sense of motivation in classes and you will work hard.  My heart rate was always high in the dance cardio classes but it went by so quickly!  I enjoyed the upper body class but probably could have been challenged a little bit more with some heavier weights.

Readers, what is the number one thing you look for in a trainer/gym/fitness studio?  Do you prefer a total body class or splitting up into upper body/lower body classes?  Would you try BBS?