I attended here over 20 years ago (the black leotard and bandana head days) . I now live in New…read moreYork City and even heard about the recent accusations here. First off, did anyone hear Lenny say these things? Is there a recording of him saying this anywhere? One thing I know about the local demographic circles is that if 1 or 2 people say something the whole town joins in with them. Secondly, I attended here for a few years but continued to take classes elsewhere because it's not for everyone, including myself. I was not diagnosed with a disability but I did have chronic back problems and anxiety from a young age which made the the routines difficult for me to perform and memorize. I do however credit attending David De Marie for preparing me for my relatively successful career in fashion and media that I went on to in my adult life. I recommend at least trying this studio.

It seemed to me that this dance studio was geared more towards the serious student than those who…read moreare there "just for fun". My impression was that they were very organized and efficient which I found important when laying down the money for dance lessons. My daughter enjoyed the experience with this studio but soon realized it wasn't quite the right fit for her.

It's been five months since I started barre, and it's definitely not for the faint of heart. (You…read moreshould still try it, though.) Barre is like a mix of pilates, some "ballerina" moves, and a whole lot of sweating. It's ab intense, will make your bun twitch, and muscles shake -- which means things are working. The routines change up, so I'm constantly finding myself grunting during seat work or through "tucks." As intimidating as barre might sound, it's a pretty amazing workout with people from all different fitness backgrounds coming together to burn their abs and legs off (lol). All jokes aside, I consider myself fit-ish, and barre is the only workout that's help dissolve my mom pouch and tone me up. I enjoy the classes, the instructors, and the struggle to push myself and challenge anyone else to give it a try. You'll be sore, but not disappointed!

In an attempt to keep this review succinct, I'll stick to the things that I love the most about…read morePure Barre. I'm not always in town - in fact, I'm rarely in town, except summers and crazy stints when I get a wild hair and decide to call the area home for several months - that means finding a workout place can be difficult, especially if you're looking for a place where you feel comfortable but want the accountability factor that group exercise provides. Enter Pure Buffalo - these ladies told me that everyone is family, and I believe them! They greet you by name every class, spend ample time introducing new moves and making sure newbies learn the lingo and form, and are always encouraging, enthusiastic, and extremely professional. I love difficult workouts and was initially skeptical about the difficulty level of barre. I was quickly humbled - the small, precise movements quickly put me in my place - I was a puddle of sweat by the end of the class. The instructors are friendly, knowledgable, and offer modifications to both simplify or challenge, making it a great workout for any fitness level. After blowing through my Groupon 20 pack, I bought another 10 pack, just so I can keep attending classes until I leave. Overall, I feel stronger, more toned, and not as guilty for all the ice cream cones I ate while I was home. :) I will not hesitate to come back and exercise with all the wonderful people at PB next time I'm home.

Updated review 12/2021. After another 5 years of dance, we…read morestill shop at Bailey's for dance shoes. It's hard to buy tap, jazz or ballet shoes without trying them on for size and proper fit. On-line (Amazon or Discount dance) is ok for accessories and if you are sure of the fit of your clothing/ dance tights and leotards. For shoes specifically we don't think it wise to Internet order. Going into her 11th year of formal dance classes, my teen daughter was excited to get her first pointe ballet slippers. A true ballerina! She was a bitty 4 year old baby ballerina when she started. We shopped at Baileys earlier this week. The young lady who waited on us was helpful. She brought out several pairs of pointe ballet shoes (the kind that allows the ballerina to stand on her toes - ouch) for my daughter to try. Each one fit a bit differently. I hope my daughter will enjoy her new pointe shoes and find them comfortable. The shoes, plus inserts and ribbons all came to $143 approximately. Not cheap. Dance, like any sport, has related expenses.

My granddaughter needed tights, ballet slippers, etc. for her first time trying ballet. She's 11…read moreand tall for her age. When I asked the fellow who was waiting on us, he showed us tights, fitted her for slippers, and said she needed toe separators and toe pads. The tights ($11 each) had runs in the the first time she wore them. The toe separators weren't necessary for a first time dancer. The slippers were too small And the toe pads ($28) weren't necessary. My total bill was over $100. When I attempted to return the toe pads (unused and in original package) the owner refused, stating it was beyond their return policy deadline. There was absolutely NO consideration, in spite of the other problems stated above. I will never set foot in this shop. Because of their location, they probably cater to the rich, and $28 probably doesn't mean anything to them. BEWARE OF THEIR RETURN POLICY ... YOU WON'T WIN!

What a great workout! Wow this was really challenging in a satisfying way. I would highly recommend…read morefor anyone looking to add something new to their routine. The studio is really clean and they prioritize wiping down all the equipment and mats after class. They have all of the equipment you will need for class and the instructor was super helpful. The staff are kind and welcoming and I felt like I belonged here. I would come back and highly recommend this location!

Barre 3 I joined Barre Centric 3 years ago after trying a…read morefree class. I was immediately impressed with the friendly non- judgmental expert instructors / owners, Gia and Rachel. They transitioned to Barre 3 in 2024. Their focus on correct postures, hands on guidance and modifications as needed throughout the class was a key factor in maintaining an annual membership. I'm 65 years old and the exercise helps my balance, strength and mental agility! The Barre 3 program also emphasizes correct breath control and mindfulness to further enhance your overall health. This boutique style club is worth a visit. You will not be disappointed!

Overall, my family has been pretty happy with the Y. The workout facilities, locker rooms and…read morebathrooms are much cleaner than what I've experienced at places like LA fitness. I love that they have lockers with locks in the main workout area (you do need to bring your own lock for the locker room), although currently many of the lockers are broken so I hope they repair them soon. I've taken quite a few good classes here although the classes do tend to get crowded so you really have to show up early to make sure you have a spot. We also enjoy swimming both in the lap pool and with our son in the zero depth pool. The one frustration I have had is with the adventure room. This is a great indoor playground which my toddler son loves. However, unlike the rest of the facilities, it is covered in dust. I worry that if they aren't maintaining this area, not only is it covered in germs from the children, but they may not be regularly inspecting the safety of the structure. Overall, it seems like a safe playspace but anytime you have kids climbing at such high heights, a piece of broken equipment could become a serious danger. I always watch my son closely and check out the equipment myself while he's playing. The other problem with this area is that although there is an app with schedules, it is frequently incorrect when it comes to the adventure room. The open hours for children under five are very limited and as you can imagine, it is very difficult to get a toddler out of the house, bring him to his favorite place only to have to tell him that it is unexpectedly closed. I have brought up this issue to the staff multiple times, but it still has not been addressed. In general, I would say the Y is worth it, especially if you were planning on utilizing all of the facilities

The excercise classes in the pool led by Sara are wonderful. Overall, the staff is friendly,…read morehelpful, and professional. The facilities are 1st rate.

This studio has all the makings of a great place but has a few areas to work on. First, there is a…read morelot of chatter in the yoga room itself (and a few cell phones going off during class). I prefer a quieter experience when I enter my yoga space, but that's me. The class itself was hatha so I wasn't expecting an experience where i would be dripping sweat, but this was a very gentle class...yes you can deepen the postures as you need to, but that was challenging when there were so many people in the class that we had little room to accommodate. There is a really beautiful alter that adds a lot to the atmosphere, along with plenty of props for use. There was restrooms and changing areas available as well.

I've been looking into yoga for a while now and was so nervous, being a beginner. I didn't want to…read morespend tons of money to feel uncomfortable in a class with "yoga professionals." But Rising Sun is exactly what I needed. It's welcoming and catered to any experience level. Plus it is incredibly affordable and it doesn't lock you into a set number of sessions. I also like that I can do it online or in person. So happy to have found it!

I just finished my 6 week challenge and have to admit that I highly recommend the program. The…read moremeal plan was very clear as to what was allowed and not allowed for each meal. There were enough choices and variety to get through the 6 weeks, but most of all the changes made to my diet were seen on the scale immediately! The first week alone (when my body was in utter shock), I lost 7 pounds! From that moment on, there was no doubt in my mind that the program worked. In terms of the exercise plan, it is the most efficient 1 hour workout I have ever done. I used to work out regularly on my own prior to the challenge but the classes Body and Soul offer and high intensity workouts where I am performing a perfect mix of cardio and strength moves. The trainers are excellent, personable, and challenged me regularly to increase my weights in order to get stronger. Lastly, the overall atmosphere of the people at Body and Soul is so encouraging. We are all there for the same place and I have to say that I met some great friends along the way. If you are looking to drop some pounds or become leaner, Body and Soul is the place to go. I highly recommend you stop by, check it out, talk to the trainers, and get on your way to a fitter, leaner, healthier you!

Full disclosure, I joined this group of studios. I tried them last year and found it too pricy…read more But then as I went around to other places in town, I just kept thinking about this workout format and the way I felt after doing some of the workouts. I did a trial run earlier this summer, and just bit the bullet and joined after that. As a result, Ive been to this studio a number of times recently, I found tis location to be perfect some days. Its much smaller than the Tonawanda location, which is good and bad. Good because there are fewer people in each class, bad because its often full for each class. Ive never been here with more than one instructor, and at Tonawanda's there is almost always 2, if not three but I imagine that has to do with size of class. The format is this - They create 6 workouts (Mon-Sat) which they then do for 4 weeks. Each workout is designed to hit different areas of the body, and some days have more weight and less cardio than others, they mix it up. Each class starts with the same tape to get everyone stretched out and ready for the next 50 min. Then there is a short cardio burst to get the blood flowing, and a longer section with some burpees or squats or whatever they think of. Then you pay attention while the instructor shows you what each exercise of the day is. By week four those demos don't take quite as long, but they still cover them all each day, and show you the various different levels for each exercise. Well trained group of instructors. Then the class starts, usually that portion is between 22-25 min. as you go from exercise to exercise. There may be some sort of 3 min end exercise, they often involve squats Ive found. Then the same cool down tape plays and everyone does that. Class ends as the instructor brings everyone into the middle for a "tip of the day". Sometimes those are super interesting, other times they are so-so. I don't think those are spelled out from corporate, I think they make them up themselves, which could explain why some are better than others. They have improved their website experience by joining mindbody, so that's nice. There is another location coming in Cheektowaga this fall. I look forward to checking that out too. This place is the home of the "6 weeks 20 lbs" challenge, and you'll have challengers in most classes. I cannot stress enough how much support these people get from the instructors and members in their goals. Most hit the goals if they show up to class and follow the diet plan. If you want to come try a class, PM me and Ill see if I can help make that happen.

I will update my review after I've trained here longer, as I'm still a newbie, but I am so…read moreimpressed with Spar I had to jump right in on a review. (This review is only for the Brazilian JiuJitsu program.) I haven't trained in a few years, but between BJJ and karate I've trained in martial arts for at least a decade. Have trained at a few different area schools and done seminars all over the state. Professor Eduardo Barboza is the real deal. Not only is he an accomplished competitor and IBJJF ranked athlete, he's also genuine, kind, encouraging, humble and professional. He's also very thorough. I love that there are multiple classes offered each day, and several different types: basics, beginner and all levels. It's a great variety, and they are adding additional classes in no gi next month (July 2021.) The facility is always super clean, students and staff are friendly. Rates are very comparable to other schools, no contracts. I'm excited to be training here and honored to be able to train with Professor Barboza.

PROS: The Women's Self Defense Class... WOW!!! What a fun & empowering experience!! The…read moreinstructors, Jen & Robyn, are so knowledgeable! At first I was really intimidated, bc I could only see mostly just men grappling on the floor, but once I went upstairs to the private space where we trained, I totally relaxed. It truly is a women only class, which is so important when you're just getting involved in self-defense for the first time. Now I wish I could take the class more than just 2x a week- I love it so much!! Every time I walk out, I feel like a total badass, ready to right the world's injustices, one hammerfist at a time!! THANK YOU, JEN & ROBYN!!! CONS: The only thing I would change is for the class to be at an earlier time. It SUCKS to work all day & only be home for an hour and a half (just long enough to get cozy with the cat), before having to leave again for another couple hours... As much as I love this class, it is seriously hard to drag myself back out of the house once I finally get home. Even a 6:30pm class would be better than 7:30pm! UGH!