This review is long overdue! I recently moved up to the North Shore and had to look for a new spin…read morestudio. I have tried two studios so far and neither comes close to The Handle Bar! The energy that the instructors at the HB bring to each and every class cannot be matched at these other studios. If I'm going to wake up to go to a 6am class I need the energy that Jill and Candice bring to their 6am classes, not an instructor that's half asleep with a terrible playlist and awful choreography. The instructors at the HB will kick your ass but are also super motivating which is hard to find at other studios. The other studios that I've been to do not have the amazing sense of community that the HB has. The environment is so welcoming--everyone from the front desk team, to the instructors, to the people riding next to you are willing to lend a helping hand and support you in and out of the studio. If you are lucky enough to have a Handlebar studio in your neighborhood, I highly recommend trying a class!

i'm a new spin-er so my experience is only after the three classes I've been to but so far I've…read morereally enjoyed them. They are challenging for me but very fun! I've seen two different instructors and like them both a lot. I'm excited to keep coming. The girls at the front desk are welcoming and knowledgeable and the instructors are fun. The class itself is very intense, but I know that I'm getting a good workout in.

I met with Brian and he showed me around this facility. It seems really nice very clean very well…read moreorganized. I like how everything has a little niche, and it's humongous! The only reason why I had to turn it away is because the few things that I like to do with the gym, they do not offer. I would still recommend. The price is a little bit pricier than the competition, and they do charge an extra $25 to use the pool that you also have to make reservations for. They do offer classes and personal trainer services. I didn't get the cost, but I can't imagine it being more than competitors. Thank Brian , good job!!!

I went to Waverley Oaks Athletic Club for a little over a year and really loved it. I had a family…read moreplan which makes the price much more reasonable. I loved the included classes and the variety of classes. I just couldn't make the class times work for my with my work schedule anymore. The space was clean and the front desk staff was helpful. They have a locker room with a sauna, three workout class spaces. I wish they had a track for running and walking somehow.

Amazing little studio in Waltham. I took the blue barre bounce class with Grace and loved all the…read morejumping that was involved. It was a small class with 6 people in it. Grace helped me set up the barre on the trampoline, which is around your waist area. This is a cardio-centered class with lots of jumping up and down and side to side. We used weights for as part of an arm workout and barre section after each cardio portion of the class. Grace was great at keeping the energy up and the playlist was very upbeat and bouncy to go along with the class. The only thing I found weird was that you're facing the back wall and not the mirrors. The studio itself is in great shape. There are two rooms and they offer a variety of classes from barre, to spin, to a surf class. There are lots of different options for purchasing packages from a 5 or 10 pack class as well as membership options. I will definitely be back to try their surf class in the near future. The bathroom has lockers and showers (with towels and amenities). If you check in on Yelp, you can purchase 3 pairs of barre socks for $20!

I recently started to go to classes at this studio and have taken Barre + Cardio, Pound, Piloxing…read moreand my favorite Barre TRX. I love TRX and haven't found a lot of places that offer it. Combining it with barre is such an interesting concept and adds some extra intensity to the workout. I love that the classes are challenging, but not intimidating. I've wanted to try Piloxing (pilates and boxing) for a few years now and was super excited to see this being offered. All I can say is "Wow." I was dripping in sweat and my upper body was sore for days (in the best way possible.) All the instructors have been great, but Grace in particular, who is also the owner, is funny, approachable and has a great teaching style. At my very first class, even though she wasn't the one teaching it, took a minute to notice that I was a new face she didn't recognize and introduced herself. I'd definitely recommend this studio for some interesting and different classes to mix up your normal routine. There's also plenty of parking, which is a plus!

I have been a member of WAC for 5 years, and I couldn't imagine being a member of any other…read moreathletic club. The staff is always friendly and helpful. The facility provides a clean, friendly, and easy going atmosphere. The gym is never too full, which is good for me because I am coming of an injury. The pool, hot tub and steam room are always available at all times of day, which is a huge plus for me. I highly suggest WAC to anyone looking for a all-in-one health club membership. It has everything you need and is very fairly priced without having lengthy contacts.

I have been a member here for a few years and would recommend that if you are looking for a gym,…read morelook elsewhere, such as Planet Fitness or Waverly Oaks Athletic Club. This place is affordable for the area, but the fitness area is lacking. They have the basics and some machines, but the area is not maintained, and things often go unfixed for many months at a time. It is clear that the club makes all of its money from the Tennis and Pool centers and caters to those areas. On one occasion, one of the cable machines was broken, and a member took the part home to weld it back together, knowing that management was never going to fix it. On another occasion, the hammstring curl was broken and out of order for more than 8 months. There is a sauna and steamroom in the men's lockerroom that have not been turned back on since the pandemic. Overall, the fitness area is serviceable but dated. The positive is that there is a small group of members, so there is almost always space available. The membership is very nice and welcoming for the most part; there is one unstable person who slams equipment, and management has not held him accountable.

Representative from Burlington location reached out in a timely fashion. Nicole was professional &…read morecharming. All concerns were addressed well, and service exceeded my expectations.

If your looking for an amazing environment full of outstanding amenities, Lifetime is the place to…read morego. It's a bit pricey BUT given everything they offer, it's a good bang for the buck. Amazing classes throughout the day & evening with knowledgeable instruction for all levels, Pickle Ball, Racket ball, Indoor & Outdoor Pools, Daycare, Free Family Events, Super Charming & Helpful Employees, Sunny/very nice Cafeteria, Basketball Courts, Sauna, Whirlpool, Beauty Salon, Massage ***, Pilates Tranformer($), Personal Training($), Massage Chairs, Compression Therapy, Lounge Areas to Chill & a quiet place to work ($). So, get rid of those 10 subscriptions, get off the couch & come to this amazing venue to exercise & chillax! You will LOVE IT! Hope this is helpful!

I'm a really big fan of Turnstyle. They actually recently merged with The Handle Bar, another spin…read morestudio in the area. This specific location is really convenient, as it's located fairly close to the Kendall Square T stop. I will say that I think the layout of some of the other local studios I've been to have been a bit better and felt more spacious, especially because the classes are usually pretty packed. From my experience, all the spin instructors have been great. The spin studio is dark and the music is loud. It's a very specific vibe, but I find it fun!

This studio is small and in a dingy basement, but the instructors work with it and generally…read moredeliver a solid class each time. 3 stars for: (-) *weights (especially the 3-pounders in the bin by the instructor's bike) are getting worn and nasty *BO, as others have mentioned *inconsistently good teachers (though it seems they've just turned over a lot in the last 6-8 months and it's evening out (in a good way) again) (+) *very accommodating staff *free shoe rental *generally good music/playlists

An extraordinary place to regain, strength Endurance, and confidence! Ray, James, Ashley, and…read moreBrittany focus more on style and technique. They care more about you doing the exercise correctly than pushing out reps. Transformation begins with one muscle at a time. I recommend Rayfit (Burnin' By Ray)to anyone who wants to live their best life. Patricia

I must have driven by BodyBurn about a billion times before finally giving it a try. I remember…read moreseeing that it was a personal training gym for a while and then suddenly it looked like a club from the outside. A friend of mine became a fan and convinced me to give it a try too. One class and I was hooked! The BodyBurn 1.0 class utilizes motorless cardio machines and strength sets to get you sweaty and basically just want to lay down and die at the end of the class. The cardio machines range from your basic bike and row machine to the coolest climbing wall and ski erg. If you are a new to fitness and this sounds daunting, don't worry. You don't have to be an Olympic athlete to be able to do this stuff. If you are super fit and want a challenge, you can get that here too. There are ways to tailor it to make it a great workout for whatever level you your fitness level. And the best part? The instructors don't make you feel like a big ol' baby when you get nervous on the climbing wall and decide to take it to climb up it rather than run up it like the dude (my husband) that was on it before you. As a matter of fact, they are just encouraging (and not in that really annoying way that some group fitness instructors can be). There is also a BodyBurn 2.0 class that focuses less on cardio and more on strength using weights and TRX. I haven't had a chance to take those classes but it is on my To Do list. In addition to a good class they seem to be interested in building a whole community. They are active on Instagram, have unique sections on their app and seem to remember every client's name. The *only* critique I have of this studio is the price/class packages. Drop-in classes are $30 (first class is $15) and they have some X number of class packages and monthly memberships. If you want to go several times a week, you are looking at almost $300/month. I don't know why, but once you get over the $225 range for monthly membership, I can't justify it in the budget. This critique isn't enough for me to give it 4 stars though. I'm sticking with the 5! Note: I've never had any pressure to sign up for a membership. I've taken 2 other people with me and they haven't had any either. (FINALLY a place that gets it!) Go. Sweat. Enjoy!

I had a solid experience at Handle Bar! I've taken a lot of cycling classes and this was my…read morefavorite one in Boston so far. Lots of class options at different times and a good variety of music and themed classes. The coach (Alexander) was great. The workout was well-structured and had a lot of options to modify and challenge yourself during the workout. The inside of the gym was clean and they have complimentary shoe rentals that you can wear if you don't have your own cycling shoes. I really appreciated this, unlike other cycling places that charge ridiculous fees for them. I loved that there were smaller class sizes (like 20 people) compared to other cycling classes I have been to that cram 40-50 into the room. The smaller class helped me feel more connected and present. The instructor can actually see everyone in the room too, so it helps feel more friendly in my opinion. I really enjoyed my experience here and would come back to Handle Bar over other cycling classes in the area. They also have discounts on classes and memberships for students, teachers, medical workers, and military, which is a great perk too!

The winter weather has been cramping my ability to run outdoors, so I decided to try HB! I've been…read moreto spin studios in the past and I was glad that this place met my expectations! Definitely a fantastic cardio option in Fenway! My first class was a Sunday morning class, and along with the sensory experience of the music and the light changes, the energy of the instructor and the class goers was CRAZY - definitely woke me up! I was surprised at how full the studio was (only 3 empty bikes). The 45 min class is choreo style, meaning you have a leading leg, ride to the beat of the music, and there's movements (e.g. 4 corners, tap backs), with about 5 minutes of arms using a weighted bar (it seems like everyone has the same bar) and stretching that begins 1.5 min until the end. The bikes don't have a monitor on it, nor a numeric number for resistance, so you follow the instructor's cues for how many turns to add on / go by feel. Pros: - Some of the most hype instructors I've seen recently! A++++ - The studio provides the cycling shoes! A++++ - Every bike has a towel on it! - Riders don't have to wipe down their equipment after (I think the staff does this), so it makes it easier to leave the studio. - Water fountain, ear plugs, hair ties, bobby pins, etc available Cons (minor): - For first-timers, it was hard to flag down a staff to help with setting up the bike because the studio was so packed and busy. - The studio is sort of small - the bikes are very much packed against each other and the hallway where people change their shoes and put stuff into lockers is narrow and gets very crowded. - Only two classes on Saturday and Sunday. Note: masks optional but vaccination required, so ride at your own risk

I've gone to a few classes at B/Spoke in Wellesley and it's such a great studio!!! (and have also…read moretried their Southie and Eastie locations) I actually first found them through their monthly free community class, which I'm not sure if they still do but should bring back if they don't! They have a great variety of classes and times. my favorites are Strength: Full Body and Yoga Sculpt. At Wellesley I've only gone to Kate, Carolina, & Cams classes but they've all been incredible instructors. Love the dark, color-changing studio, comfy mats, and well-stocked bathrooms. Front desk staff is always SO nice too! Highly recommend!!

4.5 - so close to 5 if not for the painfully blasting music. Another day, another way too detailed…read moregroup fitness class review! PRE-CLASS: I booked via ClassPass and they automatically slot you into one of the four front-most bikes closest to the instructor. Thinking that the spots would be way too close to the speakers, I opted for something a little further away in the first row. Shout-out to the wonderful girl working the front desk on Saturday morning, who helped me set up my bike to the right seat and handlebar height and also got me a pair of shoes when the pair I brought (SPD-SL) turned out to not be compatible with the pedals. CLASS: Pretty standard cycling class, heavy on the choreography. It took me a good chunk of the class to be able to follow along and try to match the moves with the beat, but it's also totally fine to just pedal without the moves. (That said, if you're more accustomed to outdoor cycling with greater resistance, the super high cadences where you're essentially bouncing up and down in your seat is going to feel extremely silly.) A much bigger issue: the music is SO loud. Like painfully, blasting loud. Next time, I'm going to bring ear plugs. INSTRUCTOR: I liked the playlist and I thought Allie did a good job of mixing up the various cadences. Also seriously impressed by how much time she spent on the bike with us while shouting encouragement and cues - I was out of breath just following along. Lots of regulars. I was a newbie and not expecting her to go out of her way to say hi, especially when the class was crowded, but at one point she asked, a few minutes into class, if anyone was new and one person raised their hand and ... that was it. COMPETITIVE: Nope. The bikes don't even have the monitors showing RPM, time, or distance, so you can truly zone out. On the other hand, if you're into stats or tracking progress other than by feel, this was an obvious absence. FACILITIES: Lockers, with cubbies to put your shoes. I counted four showers with toiletries. However, the place on a weekend morning was an absolute zoo with multiple classes starting/ending at the same time. I imagine there would've been a line for a shower and opted for a stinky, sweaty car ride back home. PARKING: Lots of street options and, right behind the studio, the Waban Street parking lot, with dirt-cheap parking. Download the Passport app so you can pay w/o quarters. OVERALL: 9/10. Good for beginners and regulars alike. If you're at all self-conscious of the dance moves, the bikes in the back row are a good idea (but more importantly, no one is paying attention to anything except themselves so you might as well have fun).