UNDERCOVER: TEMPO PILATES

Tempo Pilates is Pilates set to music. It's Covent Garden branch is in Gymbox and as I've said before Gymbox is like a night club and although TP is separate I was very excited about the whole Tempo Pilates experience!

In my mind I was expecting it to either be Pilates exercises and sequences choreographed to music, like a dance on a reformer bed (!), or Pilates exercises to booming music. It was a mixture of both. The songs are chosen to fit the exercises/pace and stage of the class. In the studio you don't hear the pumping music from Gymbox, just the great soundtrack. I love Pilates but I have to say some classes I come out feeling like I worked hard but not too intensely throughout. After this class I knew that I had worked every muscle in my body from the start. Within the first 15minutes I was shaking and I have to say it is a good job the music is there because it definitely helped me push through and enjoy it!

When I was booking the class online, before paying, I was taken to the deals page. I loved this as it meant that the class was only £10 as I was a first timer. Annoyingly I had to book a 45 minute class in order to fit it into my lunch break but I wanted more! The classes aren't divided into level but the teacher, Gina, adapted exercises for the beginners and more advanced people in the class. She also explained everything really clearly so the class still moved quickly. Lunch times tend to attract beginners apparently so if you're more advanced I'd head to a morning or evening class. However I felt the burn, got the shakes and definitely sweated so any class would work!

Best bit... feeling the burn to the music

Worst bit... wanted more! I should have booked an hour class

Good for...bums, thighs, arms, abs

UNDERCOVER: Gyrotonics at The Third Space

I booked an appointment with Loa at The Third Space gym in Soho. I feel I need to flag up that this gym is INCREDIBLE but your session with the gyrotonic crew, doesn't get you entry in to the actual gym.  The Pilates & Gyrotonic studio is separate. And you will want to get in to the Third Space gym when you see it - it's stunning.

This was one of the best workout sessions I've ever had. I arrived feeling tired, scrunchy, a little hungover and very much like I'd been spending too much time hunched over at my desk.  I left feeling tall, lithe, strong and clear-headed. This is not an exaggeration. I felt lighter in many ways, but unfortunately, my wallet was also considerably lighter too. These sessions cost a LOT of money.  In so many ways, it's 100% worth it, but a one to one session for non-members is £65.

When they say one to one, it is literally a hands on experience.  I suppose you'd pay nearly that for a massage or a physio session, or one to one yoga class, and I doubt all three of those combined would do you as much good as this.  Gyrotonics is like really extreme pilates reformer class.  It is based on swimming, dance, martial arts and yoga, but takes place on machines made of wood, springs and ropes.  My lovely instructor had me sat astride something that resembles a wooden horse, pushing two rotating wheels with my arms in opposing directions in a diving motion...then five minutes later I was hanging upside down on a monkey-bar contraption! It's really hard to explain the moves, but it's basically like stretching and hanging about on a wooden climbing frame….but it does you good, and you do it all under the guidance of an instructor! Have a quick look here if you want to see some photos of the equipment. 

This is fantastic if you've been injured and need rehabilitation, or have a large budget. It was incredibly relaxing, soothing and I felt no pain during the workout, although some of the planks were extremely challenging!  I know (by the pain in my stomach muscles the next day) that it's good for your core, but I also think it would be great as a rehabilitation after an accident, or for someone with extreme back pain. Quite a few of the other people having one to one sessions were in their 40s or older. My dad had a frozen shoulder a year ago, and still suffers pain from it. I'm sending him down there quick sharp as it would be AMAZING for him, and his budget would allow for it more than mine.

The staff here are all incredibly friendly, and I loved this session. If money were no object, I'd be down there once a week, but I think that the cost is a bit prohibitive for me. I'd definitely treat myself to a session after a stressful time at work, or if I got injured in any way doing sport.  They seem to understand a lot about how your body works and I felt very much like they tailored the stretches to what I needed and the kind of body I have. 

Best bit: the feeling afterwards and the staff

Worst bit: the cost

Good for: rehabilitation and strenghtening

9/10

PS... Look how amazing the pool is!! I had to show you.