I'm currently doing a 10 week beginners Yoga course at Gertrude Street Yoga, and I'm really…read moreenjoying it. The Yoga instructor, Lila, is incredibly attentive and is really focussed on tailoring each movement to the individual needs of each member of the class. She also gives a bit of a running narrative as you are going through the Yoga positions, so you get a sense of exactly what health benefits each movement has, which I find helpful (if I'm going to go through pain and discomfort, it helps to know why). The classes are a really good workout, but not overly strenuous. They are actually quite relaxing, as Lila finishes each class with meditation or breathing exercises, so you leave with a zen feeling that you take all the way home. I couldn't speak highly enough about this class, particularly for beginners.

There are things that I really like and really don't like about Equilibrium. It has the personal…read moretouch of a small business, which I really appreciate, in comparison to the faceless, money hungry machines that I have found a couple of other corporate gyms to be. The staff at Equilibrium are really nice and attentive (but not pushy), and really took the time to assess my fitness strengths and weaknesses before recommending a plan for me. What I found to be frustrating about Equilibrium is the fact that it's virtually impossible to access a treadmill or much of the equipment at the peak hour times that I would most like to be able to work out (ie. Between 5 and 7pm weekdays, Saturday mornings, etc.). They also significantly cut down the Yoga sessions (to only 1 or 2 a week now I believe), which is a shame, because that's easily my preferred exercise option. So whilst Equilibrium is definitely preferable to a corporate gym, I'd still investigate local community gyms or YHA's first.

Big enough to have everything you need (and more), compact enough for that lovely, friendly…read moreatmosphere, and run by an absolute champion (Dean) who's willing to help his fellow fit-fanatics out. I had a mere 30min to hammer out a training session and the facilities, layout and staff of Equilibrium North Melbourne ensured that workout was the best I've had in months. Plenty of bars, benches, dumbbells and iron to go round! :) Highly, highly recommended.

Yoga Flame has a range of classes including Hot Yoga, Yoga Basics, Power Flow, Vinyasa Flow, and…read moreYin Yoga. Hot Yoga, their signature class, is NOT Bikram. It's based on Jimmy Barkan and Hatha styles and the room is heated to 34 degrees. You will sweat, you will challenge yourself and you will feel fantastic afterwards. I've tried other hot yoga studios but I personally prefer Yoga Flame as the the heating can be adjusted for the cooling poses. I felt like a fried egg at another studio and couldn't wait to get out of there during savasana as the floor was so hot!

None of your fancy shmancy #InstaYoga crap here. A simple, clean and comfortable studio with great…read moreclasses on offer both early and late, seven days a week. This isn't where the pretty people come to Instagram themselves doing yoga, this is where you come to work hard and yoga like a mindful b*tch. Where you can feel comfortable to strip your sweat-sodden t-shirt off mid-practice, where you can fall on your face in Crow pose and laugh, and where there's just enough of the "weird" spiritual side of yoga to keep even the hardcore yogis happy. Recommend the Sunday morning 90m Hot class if you're not too hungover. Yoga Flame is my happy place.

Since my accommodation in Melbourne didn't have a gym I hopped on Yelp in search of nearby exercise…read moreoptions and found Barre Body. The studio's wide timetable coupled with the fact that it was literally steps away from my hotel made it an easy choice for me. I took advantage of the $50 unlimited two week class pass. During my four night stay I made it to six classes at Barre Body. Each visit I found the studio to be clean and inviting, the instructors warm, friendly and competent and the other students to be of varying ages and abilities. (Note to men: I never saw another guy at Barre Body except the one I brought with me on my first visit. This is a very female centric studio.) I sampled all of Barre Body's barre classes during my stay. Each is a bit different but all include a bit of a yoga/pilates mat aspect. Here's a more simplified breakdown of each: Barre Moves = more dance focused than the other classes, a good one if you like/miss ballet Barre Body = weights + yoga Barre Tone = weights + pilates Barre Cardio = weights + faster movements than any of the other class. expect to sweat more too. You need not bring anything with you to Barre Body, except maybe a water bottle. All mats, weights and balls are provided and in good condition. The two week pass is great value and definitely a good option to sample this studio.

I'm always keen to try new things so when I heard about this class that is a mix of yoga and barre…read moretraining I was certain I had to give it a go. The studio is at the back of Endota spa on Flinders Lane and is beautifully clean and serene. I attended a lunchtime class which was taught by the owner (Emma) and it was lucky I got a spot, as the class was full. The barre body class uses weights and mixes yoga with it. I'm not going to lie, it was a hard class, especially because I've never been to a gym before. My body is so sore now, but the sorer the better right?! I must say I'm looking forward to going back and trying the other types of classes. They also support One Girl (a charity dedicated to providing education scholarships to girls in Sierra Leone). I have signed up for the 2 week unlimited pass for $50. What can I say I'm a sucker for punishment.

Just over 1 month now and it's been a brilliant experience! Very welcoming and helpful community…read more My fitness level is improving as well as my flexibility, strength and balance. I even manage some Karate as well ;) Thanks Sensei Darryl and all your team. I couldn't be happier with my overall experience and my kids are the same.

Great friendly staff that keep the little ones interested and excited to come back for more.read more

Align is a great studio for classical pilates, barre and clinical pilates sessions. Catherine runs…read moremost of the classes and is sweet and knowledgeable, focusing on form and technique to make sure everyone gets the most out of each class - I leave with burning quads, glutes and triceps every single time. The space is well lit and thoughtfully designed, and the equipment (reformer beds, resistance bands, balls, blocks etc) are all brand new and spotless. I appreciated the inclusion of lots of different pieces of equipment to keep reformer class interesting and challenging for both beginners and those with more experience. There's a small selection of activewear for purchase, along with some spiky balls and grippy socks. A drop-in class will set you back $27.50, but if you're coming in for the first time there's an intro offer of 5 classes for $50 (at time of writing) - great value and a good way to try a few different types of classes.

First time here tonight. I felt really unfit but the instructor was really nice! They encourage you…read moreto take things at your own pace. It's a relatively small studio and it's right on Lonsdale Street. Very convenient. Only downfall is there is a little road noise. Will return!

I'll start by saying that I really like the concept of barre body & it's a great workout. The…read morereason for the lackluster score is twofold- 1. I think the price is utterly ridiculous & 2. There's no good 'beginner class' options which means people are more prone to injuring themselves due to lack of knowledge or technique. I did about 3 weeks of classes (and intro 2 week deal and a week afterwards) and went probably 9 times so I got a great overall view of the classes. The teachers were really lovely but a few moved far too quickly through the yoga components of the classes & I could see people struggling to keep up & rushing their poses to do so (which will lead to injury eventually). There was no explanation to newbies about the poses and no real extra attention paid to them. For those in the know the workout is excellent - it's quite lower limb heavy but different classes are varied and it is hard work- my butt & legs were killing me for days after each class!! The price. Woah. It's so expensive. Over $200 a month for unlimited classes! That's too much by anyone's standards. Their overheads are not that excessive. So what's my summary - eh, if you can afford it, do some yoga classes somewhere else first so you get to know the poses and then go nuts. You'll get a great workout with lovely teachers in a truly gorgeous space.

I admit I was pretty intimidated about the idea of doing a Barre class. I always thought it would…read morebe some kind of ballet show-off session with super toned chicks in impossibly skimpy outfits making me feel fat and frumpy. After some friends and my Pilates teacher filled me in on what REALLY goes on here, I thought I'd bite the bullet and give it a try with the two week $50 pass as a way to shake up my exercise regime. I'm really glad I did and can confirm a few things for anyone else wondering if they should take the plunge. 1) There's women of all shapes and sizes here. I once also saw a guy, but usually it's a women only affair. 2) Apart from the Barre that you use for some exercises and a couple of ballet terms, it's not very ballet/dancy at all. 3) The teachers are very kind and super lovely. There's none of that "look at me I'm so great" attitude you might get elsewhere. 4) The Barre Tone classes will make you sweat and work muscles in small but excruciating ways. 5) Your arms, legs and bum will look and feel better in just a month! I'm now attending two or three classes a week (mostly Barre Tone and Barre Body ones) and really love how it has improved my fitness, flexibility and strength in just a couple of months. The online booking system is very easy to use, though I wish you could book more than a week in advance as I like having my schedule organised a fortnight at a time. I also really like that I can use class credits in any of the Barre Body studios around Melbourne and Sydney as this gives me more flexibility when travelling.