Carrie's Pilates located along Cumberland Ave near Bay St. is a contemporary/modern Pilates studio where they use a "transformer" machine (specifically designed for Carrie's, as mentioned by my instructor during class!). This is different from a Pilates reformer machine as well as the Lagree megaformer (although similar). Having tried both the reformer and the megaformer machines previously, I was curious how this Carrie's transformer would differ.
I was able to try out a Carrie's class for free recently from a promo I received. Using the code and booking a class was fairly easy. Day of the class, my friend and I arrived half an hour before class started just in case. Grip socks are required for all classes where if you do not have, you will need to purchase a pair from the studio. The front studio space has some merch as well as other wellness snacks and products for sale. Recently this year, Carrie's also partnered with The Hut, a smoothie place where you can grab a smoothie (which is made to order) after your class as well!
Checking in with front desk staff, we were given an introduction to the space (it isn't big). Lockers, washrooms, and a water station are to the left before the studio. Inside the studio there are about 16 transformer machines where you are not assigned a machine. There are also mirrors lining the entire studio room.
For the class we had, our instructor was Carley and the class was a full body burn. Carley had great energy, was super motivating, and made sure that we were doing the moves all correctly. She also sometimes comes over to make sure your form is correct. Her music was also upbeat and great to workout to as well. Throughout the class we were guided through lots of differing exercises which allowed us to work our upper and lower body as well as core. She also gave us recommendations on the springs we should put on our machines (beginner, intermediate, and hard).
This by no means was an easy class! It leans more towards a Lagree class than a reformer Pilates class, although slightly different. You will definitely work up a burn and get the shakes from the repetition and slow movement of the exercises. Didn't get much of a sweat but definitely got my muscles worked on.
Overall, a good workout class for a full body burn in the Yorkville area! read more