My Barre 60 minute class with Haley was intense and satisfying. It was a mix of yoga, pilates and…read moreBarre. There was a lot of cardio involved. The playlist was amazing but the music was too loud. It's hard to hear the instructor when there's loud music playing. Haley checked in on me and other students regularly to make sure we were all doing ok. She encouraged us to do the best we can. For a cold Friday evening, the class was full which is amazing. The studio is clean and has plenty of room to lock up your stuff. They have those code based lockers. They have two restrooms and a shower. They provide with hair ties, spray deos and dry shampoo to refresh after the workout. There's also a water filling station to refill your bottles which is a nice sustainable touch.

Love visiting barre3 for their wide variety of barre classes!…read more Always a good sweat and feel more energized after

I have been taking classes at InStudio since it opened in September and so far it has exceeded my…read moreexpectations! Offering a range of 1 hour classes such as pilates, zumba, latin dancing, and beginners ballet I opted to sign up for 2 dancefit classes: Dancefit Barre and Dancefit Cardio which are both instructed by Kate Kernaghan. Kate is an incredibly enthusiastic and talented instructor. She is very good at teaching beginners like myself dance choreography and fitness techniques and she also does an excellent job in challenging her students every class. Dancefit Barre classes are a combination of pilates inspired floor exercises as well as ballet based barre exercises that help strengthen and lengthen the lower body. This class requires the use of weights which I find helps in the development of arm strength. We also do exercises using the barre which helps improve balance and posture and gives your leg muscles a good work out. Note: yoga/pilates mats are available for use for dancefit barre classes. Dancefit Cardio is an intense sweat producing workout that really gets your heart rate up! Kate does a great job in using a wide range of dance moves that targets different areas of your body. I really enjoy this class a lot as I find it is a great way to burn off those calories I consumed the night before. Great song selection and easy to follow choreography. I would recommend this class for beginners and those who are looking for a fun cardio workout! Overall, I think this studio is a great find. It offers class packages at $150 for 10 classes, $80 for 5, or $280 for 20 classes which I think is an excellent price especially in comparison to other fitness studios that offer similar classes in the downtown core area. I like that the studio is easily accessible by TTC and that the classes are held on weeknights and weekend mornings which is convenient for my work schedule. I would definitely recommend this studio for those who live near the area and are looking for a good fitness class!

InStudio has stepped up its game since it started back in September 2013. I've been with InStudio…read moreliterally since day one of the program and I'm still here taking classes consistently. I feel like Kate, my main instructor, has nursed my journey in ballet. Two biggest reasons as to why I highly recommend InStudio and will continue to stick with them: 1. It's become more affordable AND convenient for post-secondary students! They introduced a student rate of $13 per single drop in spring 2014. Then in January this year they made student class bundles available to purchase in advance (in person only)--no longer do I need to spend extra time at the register to pay each time I want to take a class or feel guilty for not going to at least one class a week because of my lack of self-discipline. I understand that not everyone can take advantage of the offer but for me it's my biggest incentive to keep going there instead of other studios that don't have a student rate. I attended one term at NBS but ultimately couldn't keep going because $370 a term is just too much for me to shell out (don't be mistaken, NBS is top notch). 2. More classes, more levels = more flexibility. There used to be one Beginner Ballet, then two, then levels adjusted and a higher Beginner II came to birth, then another one. You get my drift. Within a year time their client base rose and they adapted to the demands. They even introduced a beginner pointe workshop this year, however my concern is that *anyone* can sign up for the workshop even if they have no dance experience. Hm, shouldn't there be an assessment to allow students to go on pointe? That aside, if you're an adult looking for beginner pointe options, InStudio's got you covered. Adult beginner pointe classes are almost non-existent in the city. ---- Based on my experience with Kate and Jonathan, I can say that the quality and style of teaching still hold true to my first review: accommodating, reassuring, thorough. It's challenging but lots of fun. I've already brought 3 friends to try Beginner Ballet I, none of them have any dance background but they all enjoyed their experience. Since classes are held at the rehearsal spaces of the National Ballet of Canada, studios are without a doubt spacious, bright, and fully equipped. I believe the only ballet classes that don't have a live accompanist are during daytime due to lower attendance. Speaking of attendance, I wish they'd cap it off at a certain number! There's been more people coming to my regular Saturday Beginner Ballet II, and that's fine with me as long as that everyone has enough space to stand and move about. I recall one particular day it was so packed that I couldn't even do a proper jeté at the barre or a ports de bra in the centre without fearing that I'll kick someone or intrude into their space. So there you have it, 4 stars to InStudio for its accommodation, flexibility, and bonus affordability for poor students like me but 1 star off for overcrowded classes and the no-no of not assessing students' readiness for pointe.

2 rooms for reformers- one upstairs and one downstairs. 5 reformers in the room, it's a tight space…read morebut it's great for beginners as it's a small class so the instructor can correct your positions and assist you. Overall it was an ok class just not my favourite reformers studio. The music also wasn't my vibe.

If you are a fan of non heated yoga practice or really into pilates, you would have love Core…read moreStudio. As a stand alone yoga studio, the yoga classes does lack varieties or the "Hot" factor. But personally I think Core Studio is trying to use Yoga to compliment their Pilates and bootcamp classes instead of the other way around. It is good for Core Studio in a way as it differentiate itself from all the other yoga studio that doing mostly yoga and have one or 2 Pilate classes a week or some yogalates class?? I do love the spaces...high ceiling... you don't feel like you are in a cave looking out to the windows... The brick walls does add some rustic charm to it. The Sunday late morning Yin/Restorative class I attended using my Passport was both relaxing and energizing at the same time. I love how the instruction gave my lower back and my neck/shoulders a little massage...using topical muscle relaxation cream.. it was just this numbing sensation... Then when we were in the final savasana a lavender head massage! :) The change room is small and no where really for your valuables... but they do let you bring your wallet into class. The prices for reformer class can be pricey but I might give it a try!

If you like convenience and are shopping for a one-stop shop, YOGAthletix conveniently combines…read moreinterval training, HIIT, Barre Fit and yoga all in one studio. Even if you're unsure, YOGAthletix very generously offers a 1-week unlimited free trial promo code when you sign up for their newsletter. REGISTRATION All administrative work happens online via MINDBODY's platform/mobile app. If you're comfortable navigating other apps and webpages, it's superbly easy to sign-up and cancel classes. Personally, I've tried to cancel classes at least 24 hours in advance, and have signed up for classes as late as 30-minutes before class start. Obviously the earlier you sign-up/cancel is ideal, because it helps the instructors plan for numbers and any group/partner work. As for what to expect when you arrive, there are no reception staff and you simply find your name on a tablet and check in. CLASS SCHEDULE With classes as early as 6:30AM during the week and as many as 3 classes on a week night, another bonus of YOGAthletix is its flexibility to offer something for diverse schedules. On the weekend, it has 3 classes each day, with a 8:30AM start on Saturday and 9:30AM start on Sunday. Many of these classes are also consecutive, with no extended breaks in between, making it easy to stack your visit with multiple classes. As well, the classes are scheduled in a way that you do get a break, i.e. HIIT right before yoga, followed by Barre Fit. Most of the classes are 50-minutes each, with approximately 5 minutes dedicated to warm up at the start and 5 minutes to stretch at the end. The 10-minute buffer is great to allow traffic to flow in and out and to allow adjustments in the set up. CLASS FORMAT In terms of the format of the classes themselves, GETnFIT and GETnRIP'D are both interval based training, where FIT is focused on cardio and RIP'D, as the name suggests, on strength and toning. Logistically, GETnRIP'D will move you through various stations in groups of 2+, and GETnFIT is all mat based---but don't be surprised if there are some partner work thrown in for fun like punches. In all the class offerings, GETnRIP'D is the only class where you'll need athletic footwear. All other classes are done barefoot with the option of keeping your socks. For tips on what to bring and what to expect, be sure to refer to YOGAthletix's FAQ page. In terms of yoga, I'm personally not as experienced, but having the 1 week trial definitely gave me a greater appreciation for yoga. Previous to YOGAthletix, the form of yoga I've tried to practice consistently---read once a month a few years ago, was Kundalini---not something usually offered in most studios. As a result, I was never convinced I would like yoga, but after trying YOGAthletix's Yogasana and its nameskae Yogathletix classes, I feel like I "get" the appeal of yoga. EQUIPMENT For both FIT and RIP'D, YOGAthletix has no shortage of equipment, from rowing machines, to punching bags and boxing gloves---from the looks of it, it might be because they share a space with DTS Fitness Education. As for their yoga classes, there's ample supply of straps, bolsters, and beautiful cork yoga blocks, but do bring your own mat! What I was not used to, were Ugi Balls. For weight training, I'm more used to barbells, free weights, and medicine balls, so using Ugi Balls felt very awkward. If you haven't heard of them either, it's looks and feels like the love child of a medicine ball and a bean bag. For the record, there's nothing wrong with using these, just a personal adjustment. If you need to hydrate, all restroom faucets have filtered water and there is a gender neutral washroom available. INSTRUCTORS Whatever your fitness level, YOGAthletix instructors will give you modifications to help you scale your movements to either heighten the intensity or lower the impact, which to me, signals expertise. During my 7-day trial, I had the opportunity take classes with various instructors and really appreciated different aspects of each instructor, i.e. from learning proper form for and how to scale my Chaturanga to my level of strength, to learning different poses to help me approach YOGAthletix's pose of the month--Bakasana/Crow Pose. Out of all the instructors and based on my previous experience, I enjoyed Barb's and Tricia's class the most. I loved Barb's class because she's the only one who's default burpee is chest to the ground, which is how I've learnt them. I love Tricia because she surveyed the group for feedback on both her GETnFIT and Yogasana classes (thanks to a small class size). Based on our feedback of wanting to target our abs in GETnFIT, Tricia ensure we worked our abs plus our backs to fully exercise the core. For Yogasana when I asked to stretch our quads, she did so and also included and emphasized poses that would stretch our piriformis, which I have a lot of trouble with in relation to my quads and IT band---a holistic approach!

I have tried both the barre fitness (with Sydney and director Jamie) and GETnFit class (with…read morefounder/director Glenn) here because there was a free 7 day pass special they were offering over the holidays. I first heard about the studio via social media because they were doing free classes at the Harbourfront during the PanAm Games. I was interested because they offer barre classes. While there are a zillion yoga studios in Toronto, there are far less options for barre. The studio: Great location in the heart of Leslieville (i.e. good post-class brunch/coffee options), easy to get to by the 501 streetcar and there is metered parking on Queen St. as well. The studio is on the 2nd floor. There is a spacious lobby, changeroom (with mat storage), big main studio, and a spinning studio at the back (that I never actually saw). The lobby doubles as an art gallery with rotating displays -- a nice touch. The exposed brick and high ceilings make this a really enjoyable place to work out. No showers or lockers, but most people bring their purses into the studio since there is a lot of room. Everything is clean and looks new. I think there are a lot of regulars here, because a lot of people seemed to know each other. It's nice to have that sense of community. One minor thing, for the fitness/barre classes, in addition to the yoga classes, you need to bring your own yoga mat. Not a huge deal, but most barre studios (e.g. barre3, barreworks, extension room) provide mats so you don't need to carry it around -- more convenient if you are running around before/after the class or coming straight from work. The classes: They have a wide variety of class times, which busy people will appreciate. I found even the weekday morning classes to be very busy, but it may have been the new year resolution crowd;) I enjoyed the barre fitness, which was more fast paced than other places I've tried. You'll definitely feel the burn in your lower body! It was less precision/alignment oriented than slower classes, so just make sure you have proper form from the get go. I liked that we used the UGI ball (a weighted ball that looks kinda like a small beanbag chair) after to really tone the upper body. It definitely feels more like a fitness class than a dance class, no fancy footwork required. The GETnFit class was more of a circuit/HIIT format and Glenn was awesome at providing encouragement the whole time. We used the UGI ball for most of it. I definitely got a challenging full-body workout here, and the yoga-inspired stretches at the end were a nice cool down. I've never seen UGI balls at other places, so I would come back to take this class again and switch things up from my usual weights/resistance bands. It's a place that seems accessible regardless of fitness level. There were definitely some super-jacked ladies in the classes I went to, but also many "beginners". Options were always given to dial up or down the intensity of the moves. If you're interested in checking Yogathletix out, follow them on social media because they sometimes have promotions or special events/workshops (e.g. bootcamp series, free women's self defense, outdoor yoga). They are also part of ClassPass.

EM Barre 101 is more ballet moves than what I am accustom to. Barre3 & Physique 57 and Pure barre…read moreis what I was expecting or some variation to that. Nice space, but no a/c today... a very humid day. No cardio. Basically, coordination and a few balance moves with many plies. Let early. I suppose if you are used to this type of barre class it would be fine, but this was not want I had expected.

Love taking class here. This place is perfect for those who used to dance back in the day and still…read moremiss it! If you have taken a lot of dance in your youth, it can be tough to find the right fit amidst the whole ballet-fitness craze. There are a lot of adult beginner ballet classes out there (Extension Room actually offers some, so does the National Ballet School adult program, Dance Teq, City Dance Corps, InStudio) but if you have already done a lot of ballet before, the pace can be a bit slow/basic. Then there are intermediate ballet classes at serious ballet studios, but if you aren't dancing regularly anymore, it can be intimidating or too hard! Or the other students will all be really young! Finally, there are barre fitness studios like barre3, barreworks, barre beautiful, etc., which I enjoy for the workout, but they are not that "dance-y" if you are craving that. They are more like fitness classes that use the barre as a tool, but there isn't much choreography and most moves are done with feet in parallel, as opposed to proper ballet positions. Enter the Extension Room -- the barre 101 class is like a legit ballet barre but with weights for an added upper body challenge (think plies, tendus, degages, adage, grand battements in the same sequence one would expect from an "real" ballet class) and the allegro boot camp made me feel like I was really dancing for the first time in ages! I talked with some of the other students and many were like me, people who had studied dance recreationally and were looking for a way to keep dancing in an accessible and fun environment. It helps that all the instructors are/were dancers, often at major ballet/contemporary companies. Watching them demonstrate with beautiful technique is inspiring and they have good eyes for form and give useful corrections. I do think it would be really helpful to have some dance background for these classes, even though they are supposed to be for anyone. That being said, if you have no dance background at all, the barre 101 class is a good place to start (slower pace, barre helps with balance). I found the allegro bootcamp quite challenging (in a good way), and I think it would be hard to keep up for those less familiar with common ballet steps. It is also way harder to do certain steps without the support of the barre! I haven't tried their yoga, mat pilates, or bosu ball classes yet but it looks like there's quite a bit of variety in their schedule. Facilities are stunning and make it a pleasure to come here. High ceiling, chandeliers, nice sprung floors, etc. It's not a surprise that the space can be rented our for parties/weddings/corporate functions... I also like that they provide mats and weights, plus there are energy balls and juices/smoothies available for purchase. The change rooms have showers and small lockers. The location is a bit random, but actually easy to reach by the 504 streetcar and there is free street parking in the area too. Plus, for Yelper bonus points, it is in close proximity to a number of good snack/coffee spots like Roselle, Tandem Coffee, and Odin;) Very important!!

Great studio with a lot of variety of classes. Their room is heated with far-infrared heater. The…read moreplace recently changes owner (I did not go before they changed ownership). The new owner Colleen is nice and warm. You always feel welcome walking in the door. The place is nice and clean. They offer Yoga, Barre, HIIT, Boxing and classes run from early morning through evening. Awesome place!

My experience at the Loft was incredible. I was apprehensive at first, as I felt like I wasn't the…read moretypical clientele, but they made me feel comfortable and welcome right away. After trying out several classes, I worked with the instructors to determine what would work best for me as I was recovering from a back injury. Sean Waldie's Eldoa classes became my go to. His knowledgeable and passionate approach to his craft made the difference for me. He made sure we all knew what the exercises were that we were doing, why we were doing them and how to get the most out of each class. He even filmed me performing my personalized stretches using my phone while explaining each step, so I could do these exercises at home. Sean is an inspiration, and I can't recommend his classes enough... no matter who you are. The Loft is one of the things I will miss most in the Junction when I move. If you are curious, drop in and I promise you won't be disappointed.

I have been doing pilates around the city for a couple of years now and I totally love it. Then one…read moreday I signed up for a class at Loft. And it changed EVERYTHING. The instructors are amazing and every class that I have done has fundamentally changed my approach to Pilates. They are so excellent, and can detect the minute corrections that you need to make to have the biggest impact on your practice. This studio exposed me to ELDOA, which I am sure will be the next big thing in Toronto. Check them out, challenge yourself to get in tune with what is happening with your body and believe me, you won't regret it. LOVE this studio and all of the instructors. Sean and Riikka are super fantastic!! I totally love their approach. They do group (mat and reformer), private and semi-private.