The teachers at Excel really know their stuff. This isn't a studio that offers a zillion different…read moretypes of fitness classes, they focus on what they do best: pilates classes and pilates teacher training. Part of becoming a certified teacher at Excel is completing student teaching hours. I was able to train with individuals going through the program at a reduced rate because they were not certified teachers yet. It was completely fantastic. Having the one-on-one instruction was so helpful and it gave me an opportunity to train on the apparatus. Excel teaches the traditional pilates method and really wants the students to learn how to do the movements correctly. If you only have done pilates at home with a DVD, I definitely suggest taking a class here. The teachers corrections and attention to detail are amazing. The mat classes are by registration only, and are usually six weeks long. This is not a drop in type of place, the teachers want you to progress each week. The studio is a converted warehouse and is very spacious. It is very nondescript on the outside, and I am sure some people have passed by it unknowingly. There is a small parking lot right in front of the building and ample street parking in the vicinity. Also, the CUA/Brookland metro stop is about a block away. When you get there for class, hit the buzzer to get in, then enter the pilates oasis and enjoy!

I stopped by here today. I know nothing about Pilates but I was curious and had a minute. I walked…read moreup to the door where a woman inside who worked there (and seemed to be expecting someone who was not me) stared back through the glass door. I pulled on the door- it was locked. It's a pandemic, I get it. But she stared for a few more beats from behind the glass, our faces a two feet apart, looked me up and down, and then reluctantly opened the door and said "YOU are looking for the hardware store. It's 'OVER THERE' ..... there's a *SIGN*" and in a passive aggressive tone that was really unnecessary gestured toward a big sign on the door that directed people looking for Ace Hardware to go nextdoor. I said "nope, I'm actually looking to learn about Pilates," but it was such a turn off that I turned and left. I assure you, lady, I can read the sign. And your judgments about who you think and perceive to be a potential customer was very disrespectful. It says a lot about the biases and prejudices you don't mask very well. Good luck!

3 of us took Lara's hot yoga class. Yes, it's beginner-friendly with advanced options for growth,…read moredeeply sweaty, and you don't need to be flexible to start. Just bring water and a mat towel!

I had a beautiful experience today. It was my first time taking a hot yoga class. Alexandria was…read morethe instructor today. She was encouraging, spoke clearly, and instructed very well. Especially as a first timer...this was great.

Fuse is an incredible studio, full of amazing humans. I was in DC for a work-cation and really…read morewanted to get back into my Pilates routine. Fuse's location is close to where I was staying so I thought I'd give it a try. It was beyond my expectation. I went to 6 classes (facilitated by Rachel and Dani) over the span of a week. Rachel's classes were dynamic, fun, and upbeat. Dani's classes were detailed, deep, and challenging. I appreciated them both so much and it speaks volumes that each instructor here took the time to cultivate their unique styles. I left each class feeling more of myself. I also had the pleasure of meeting Saba, the owner, who was so friendly and gave me incredible recommendations for local restaurants. My love for Pilates & my practice were restored by the end of the week. Will definitely return when I'm back in DC. Thank you, Fuse!

I'm a huge fan of Fuse and am excited that they were able to open a second location. While the…read morerooms aren't huge here either, and it has a similar look and feel to the Dupont location, it is slightly more modern and brighter. I took a class here with Addie, and she is fantastic. I'm sad I haven't taken a class with her before, but I highly recommend her, even if you are brand new to Pilates. The other staff I interacted with were friendly as well. If location is not a concern for you (as it's not for me), you should definitely check out Fuse's second location.

More like 4.5 stars…read more If you're unfamiliar with bikram, 90 minutes, hot box, 27 poses 2x each. I've only gone to the 6am class Mon, Wed, and Fri. I had a 6 pass Groupon, which I plan to use for another week of 6am classes. This is a great studio. The instructors are unique and I've yet to had a bad one. They are prompt. Their tips are helpful. Like all bikram studios it does stink during (and you stink after). Why? Go to a class and find out for yourself. The instructors do what they can to help... I wish they had watermelon after the 6am class cuz let me tell you, they don't! While the changing area is clean, the women's only has 2 showers and a very tiny little area in front of a mirror. I just go to the office and shower/get ready there.

Arrived to my second class at Haute Bodhi studio. The first time was a great experience, however I…read morearrived at 11:32 for an 11:30 class and the doors were already locked. No one answered the door and no one answered the phone. Extremely disappointed as it took me an hour to get there. They do not have any policy about late arrivals posted when most studios allow students to show up 5-15 after class starts.

I love this place!! I started going a few years ago. Everyone there, the staff and gym-goers, were…read moresuper friendly. The gym was like going to a night club. Down a long, narrow corridor, you enter a dark room with neon florescent paint. The dumbbells are neon, spaces on the floor are neon, paint on the wall is neon. The you notice the best playlists you can think of blasting in the background. This place works for me because I kinda hate working out but I do it out of discipline and for my health. The workouts here are fun and with the lights down low, I can move this jelly with no reservations. (not belly, jelly, you know the lose parts from the neck down? ) The environment is motivating and I see results from the workouts. However, I moved and since I had been missing this place but I always keep in touch with Coach G via stalking on IG because he's so sweet. Well Coronavirus hit. I was home. All gyms are closed. And I was thinking dang- how will I survive without any exercise?!? Boom! That's when I saw Coach G's post about "Sweat Anywhere. No Gym. No Problem." I quickly reached out, signed up (small monthly fee), and just like that I had access to live workouts with the same great trainers at the gym (shouts to Aaron, Sarah, Nazinga, & Stephen) and the lovely people who go there. 30min-40min classes of all kinds are available: HITT, boxing, strength, yoga, Barre, hip-hop step, etc. If I can't make the class live, no problem I have access to the video anytime. Instantly, I was hooked taking multiple classes per week and looking forward to actually seeing someone for a change. Fast forward a month on Sweat Anywhere and Coach G has added more items to this platform: guest trainers, doctors to answer questions, food discussions, happy hours, etc. This has become an all around health and wellness platform for me during this time. It's also given the me the chance to take classes I haven't tried before like Barre. I can take the fee classes from the nationwide companies but Coach G and his employees live in my community. I'd rather support this local business during this tough time. Besides the support they are giving me has exceeded what I expected when I signed up for access to classes. So looking forward to going back to their night club studio some day.

I signed up for the one week trial and had a great time! I was only able to attend four classes,…read morebut enjoyed each one. The instructors were really helpful and gave me some modification options. It would probably help to have some background knowledge of common lifts, but the instructors show the movements and they play on video screens if you need it. Everyone attending was generally in their own zone, so there isn't a lot of chatting because you really focus on getting the exercises done in the set times. I will say that the classes go by super quickly because you're always moving. Cons: The programming is set for the whole month. So each day of the week has its set program and you do that each week for the whole month. For me, this would get old (I really need variety). On the plus side, it does mean you get to see active gains throughout the month. The membership plan is a little pricey. I get why it costs so much, since they do have to cover rent and you only really attend during the class sessions. It isn't a type of gym where you just drop in when you want to use certain equipment. The unlimited monthly membership is $299, but in reality you are getting 30 or 31 classes depending on the month. Since the classes are the same all day, it is unlikely you would do two classes in a day, right? So the pricing is about $10/class if you do the unlimited monthly pass and you go every day. Some of the equipment was pretty smelly. I was at one station that honestly made me gag a little... I think the bench or maybe the dumbells had never been thoroughly cleaned with a bleach solution.

In my quest to find fun cardio dance classes, I found my way to Work It! Armed with a 7-day free…read moretrial, I signed up for 4 Zumba classes throughout the week to see if they fit with my schedule and if I liked the instructors and the studio. Here's what I found: --The Zumba instructors are great. I took classes with Margo and Tonya, and I really liked both of them. I signed up for a class with Petra, but they cancelled the class because they were having some event. I took a class with her at a different studio, though, and she is also great. Lots of energy and fun dance moves that make you forget that you're getting a workout. --The studio itself is wonderful. Located just a block from the Metro and a couple of bus stops, it is just upstairs from Lee's Flower Shop. The layout is perfect, although it is narrower at one end than the other. Tons of windows for light and fresh air, a nice waiting area and the nicest staff. They also have a water cooler so you can fill up your water bottle. The only thing I would add is a changing room. There are two bathrooms, but no space just for changing. --The price for a membership is probably the best deal in DC. About $40/month for an annual membership (and if you sign up by the end of May, they will waive the $40 enrollment fee) or about $50/month for a 6-month membership, and you can take unlimited classes. If you don't want the commitment, a 10-class pass is $130. But the membership is a total steal. I felt like I found the perfect place in DC, but there is one problem that I can't get over that is the only thing stopping me from becoming a member - the timing of their classes. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, their first evening class (the one I want to take) starts at 6pm. That is usually the time I leave the office, but sometimes I have to leave later than that. I wish their classes started just 30 minutes later. It would make it easier to actually make it to class. In all, Work it! is a great place to get your groove on and get a workout if you can make it to class on time. It's a little gem on U Street.

I'm interning in DC for the summer and was looking for a fun way to get fit and stay healthy. I…read morebought the Groupon with 10 classes for $29 and figured "why not"? I've taken six classes and now I wish the summer wouldn't end! I've tried WandaWoman dance (twice), tai chi, the weekend bootcamp, bollywood dance fitness, and pilates mat fusion. The WandaWoman dance class is my favorite, with its hip-hop dance party vibe. There is always a diverse crowd -- you can even find a fly 60+ year old (or three) giving the younger participants a run for their money! Overall I have really enjoyed my time at Work It! Studio. If I'm back in town next summer I will definitely buy another 10-class pass.

This is my 3rd class here everytime I have done beginner Pilates classes. Each time has been…read moresomething different today was the jump board low body focused class. It was a great experience. Some teachers are more hands on than others which is helpful when you new to Pilates. But no complaints just have to figure out which teacher fits your style/needs

I am only giving one star for the initial vibe of the place, which was quickly ruined by the rude…read moreinstructor. This was a Beginner class and at the start he even asked who was new to Pilates. Many of us raised our hands, which should have been his cue to adjust and guide us patiently. Instead, the instructor, a man who I later heard was not even supposed to be our teacher that day, was impatient, rude, and unclear with instructions. At one point he said "The back row is from a different class" in a way that implied they were very bad at following instructions. It was truly embarrassing for those students and uncomfortable for the rest of us to witness. His presence felt heavy from the start, like he was having a bad day. After failing to clearly explain the plank position on the machine, he abruptly said in a frustrated tone "We will not do that anymore, we can go straight to cool down." This was less than halfway through the class. The session ended after only 48 minutes instead of the full hour. At the end, he told us that instructors have limits and that we have to listen to what they say, then added that he was excited to see some "interesting reviews" after the class. It completely ruined my Sunday morning. I had planned to sign up after this intro class, but after this experience I will not be coming back.

A beautiful Pilates studio with two levels and amazing paintings hung everywhere. Came here with my…read morefriend for a chair Pilates class and it was challenging in all the right ways. The instructor made sure or form was proper to avoid any kind of injury. This was our first chair Pilates class but the instructor made sure we understood all the movements to be able to have the most efficient class possible. Definitely give this place a try!

Coming back with an update to confirm I became a regular. I'm now into intermediate Pilates. I…read morestill frequent Zaina's class! She challenges you to your limits which is what we want from a workout class. I also love Alexandra Ambrico! She is super friendly and offers a balance of complex moves with good stretches. I come here about once a week!