This is the real deal. A brilliant riff on an old school style gym mixing no-nonsense timeless core…read more"core" excercises with directed and smart "personal" training and coaching. F.I.T's emphaisis on strength training was a revelation to me as is the class model: six or so clients work out in a session and are encouraged/ coached/inspired/congratulated/trained and under the watchful eye of several of the terrific staff: Max, Sarah, Analise and Luke. Can't say enough about the deep accessible professionalism of everyone there. Seriously: this place is life changing.

I joined FIT in June and love it. I keep coming back, which says a lot!…read more On numerous occasions my PT has mentioned what a great job they do with exercise substitutions. She also recently said, "Those are great exercises." and "They really know what they are doing". My chiropractor has told me I'm in the best shape he has ever seen me. The coaches are great and the atmosphere is welcoming. I really am enjoying getting stronger with my new "gym friends"!

Barrecode is one of my favorite studios to go to in the Madison area. I love how there are so many…read moredifferent classes from HITT, Total Body Conditioning (TBC), Brawl, Classic Barre, and Barre Restore. With such variety, no two classes you take during the week are the same which keeps all the classes interesting and engaging! Studio and all the equipment is always clean, the barre room is really large, and there's always hair ties, dry shampoo, etc. if you need it. All the instructors are really friendly. Also the classes vary in time so you are are daring enough to do a double, they will be 2 different types of classes. During the class, the instructor is guiding you the whole time and coming around to check on form, which was extremely helpful for me when I first started doing barre. A lot of the positions aren't regularly done so form is important to get your best workout in. Even after class, I always appreciate the community Barrecode fosters through their social media, sending the message of encouragement and support to everyone no matter where they are in their fitness journey and taking these goals beyond their health to their everyday lives.

Let me start by saying I have NEVER taken a barre class before and was actually pretty nervous…read moreabout it. That all went away as soon as I got there. The ladies at check in did everything they could to make me feel comfortable & confident: showing me around, helping me grab the stuff I would need for class, and answering all my questions. The class I went to was a classic barre class, so there was a focus on core, glute stuff, some upper body stuff, then more legs. The music was upbeat, as was our instructor, and that helped keep me going for the 50 minutes. I was surprised how challenging these little moves could be and as I type this my right butt cheek is feeling it. I was also surprised to not be dripping sweat by the end. Anytime I run or spin, it looks like I just got out of the shower, so this was a pleasant surprise. However, I still appreciated that the lights were dimmed during class. I am not great at doing things in time like leg lifty things, so I appreciated being able to retreat to the shadows. At the end, a really friendly stranger (who clearly knew what she was doing because I noticed & envied her on-time leg lifts/lack of shaking legs) came up and said she'd only been there a few months but it gets easier. She also said that none of the classes she's been to have been the same, so it stays challenging/interesting. Overall, positive experience! I would especially recommend it if you were interested in starting barre classes, but didn't know where to start.

Highlights/Lowlights…read more 1) tough workouts 2) some really friendly staff 3) deals available on groupon occasionally We did the groupon for two which was an incredible deal! We thought the groupon was for a six week membership to the gym, however upon arriving for our consultation we found out that it was actually just for the boot camp classes. Th boot camp classes are offered 4-ish times per week. The staff person who helped us out at our consultation (required) was just ok. Not overly friendly and seemed annoyed by the questions I was asking. However, the trainer who led our classes during our short membership at Monkey Bar was great! She really pushed all of us to do our best while maintaining great form. The classes themselves are really challenging but a great work out! The workouts change so you only do the same workout 2X per 4-6 week period. I know that sans groupon Monkey Bar is pricy. Unfortunately we found that the gym equipment wasn't super nice and the space itself could use a refresh. Good workout by quite pricy compared to what you would get from other gyms in the area for the same price. Overall, definitely worth a try but maybe try and find a deal to see if you like it first!

I bought the groupon for Monkey Bar Gym and I was extremely nervous (as I am not a particularly fit…read moreperson), and now I am definitely going to get a membership. When you first sign up they require you to come in for an initial consultation. They will show you around and give you information about how the classes work and what to expect etc. This is a great time to ask any questions you may have and learn how the facility runs so you don't feel so lost on the first day. The trainers recommend a plant-strong diet and encourage all participants to log their workouts. I had my initial consultation with Raquel. She was amazingly helpful, and encouraging. It was nice to know one of the instructors before I had even taken a class! They post the daily workout on a whiteboard so you can check it out before class starts. They also have a binder that has all the workouts for the month, if you like to look further ahead. The workouts change all the time so you're never bored. Monkey Bar does a wonderful job of explaining/modeling how to do each exercise. They make it a point to go over every exercise you will be doing before participants begin the workout. The whiteboard also has a section that is divided into "stability" "strength" and "power". Here they have suggestions for modifications/challenges for participants who want to tailor their workout. The trainers are always helpful when it comes to finding an alternate exercise. The trainers and members at Monkey Bar are very friendly. They ask you to get with a partner for some exercises and I have had no trouble finding a partner and striking up a friendly conversation with them. Members often say encouraging things to one-another during the workouts as well. One day after the workout I was getting a drink and a man (who I believe is an owner, or at least another trainer I hadn't met) asked me if I had recently joined. I told him yes and he enthusiastically welcomed me. Overall, Monkey Bar is great. The workouts can be very intense but I always feel invigorated afterward. Great experience! :)

Got tired of going to the doctor for severe fatigue with no answers and decided to start proper…read morediet and exercise. Best couple weeks I've had in years and years! The review stating they don't care about their clients is literally lies, they are the most invested in their clients out of any business I've ever seen. A lot of us small business owners have not known how to approach the covid situation. They have spent more time consulting and planning a personalized diet and exercise program than anyone else in any business I've ever been to. Hours past what is normally expected and the care for their clients is very evident.

This is the best gym! The owners and trainers are all very caring and great to work with. First…read moretime in my life I've looked forward to working out. Great community!

Wonderful Pilates studio in the heart of downtown Madison. I have worked with Vanessa and Catie for…read morethe past 2 years. Amazing workout. Catie keeps each workout customized to your needs and works the muscles I did not know I had! Her approach to Pilates is very fresh, yet keeps traditional methods on the forefront. She really made me reach a potential I did not know I had! I recommend anyone needing a great work out, a good mood boost and just a magnificent Pilates stretch, don't wait to reach out to them!

Vanessa and Pilates Central are fantastic. The studio is beautiful and the instructors are…read moreknowledgeable. I have done classes and private sessions and both have been effective and fun.

The Yoga Co-op has some amazingly talented and knowledgeable teachers and offers classes at many…read morelevels--something for everyone. Classes are fairly small, so there is plenty of individual attention, and the studio is truly beautiful and serene, with a great supply of useful props to help students attain their ideal poses. Give it a try, and I'm sure you'll fall in love with it!

I recently travelled to Madison for a work meeting and had the opportunity to take four yoga…read moreclasses at the Yoga Co-op of Madison with three different teachers. This is an outstanding Iyengar Yoga studio. The instruction is expert, the classes are small, and the atmosphere is quite friendly. The studio is bright, clean, and attractive. There is a bathroom and a changing room. They have mats and props for students to use. This is a co-op so you pay the instructor directly (cash or check). There is a reduced fee for members of the co-op (anyone can join) and you can also get a ten class pass. If you haven't done Iyengar yoga before it would be good to take a level 1 class or a beginner's series. Also, you will probably be asked if you have any injuries or issues when you show up for class. Don't be put off by this; it is not meant to be intrusive! The teacher will modify postures specifically for whatever injures or limitations you might have to prevent any further injury and to help you recover. The instructors here helped me work on my handstand! I am looking forward to my next work trip to Madison so I can visit the studio again.

I have used iGO Fitness for their youth athletic programs and yoga- both youth and yoga for…read morebeginners. As a non-athletic mother of a middle-school athlete, I know that I needed to pay more attention to an area I often ignore: fitness but I was very intimidated. First, Cari and Cory made me feel SO comfortable and they weren't judgmental at all. (Embarrassment of my body kept me out of many yoga classes before). I took yoga for newbies. Even though I had actually taken 2 other yoga classes, this was the first time I actually UNDERSTOOD what I was doing. Cari was so patient and has a knack for describing the poses and breathing in non-Sanskrit terms! I enjoyed my experience so much I signed up for another class. My daughter has taken many classes from iGO Fitness. At first I wondered if the camp curriculum was too "loose", meaning I didn't recognize that they were doing lots of "drills". Then, when this was the only camp my daughter was EXCITED to go back to, I realized that Cory knew the secret sauce: kids have to have fun before they want to learn. Upon closer inspection, I can see how he hid the lessons inside games and activities. They thought they were playing when they were actually learning! Cari and Cory know how to work with kids and are great role models that you'd want your kids to look up to (no eating-disorder/steroid-using gym rats here!) If you want your young athlete to gain a competitive edge, they offer excellent development programs. They also offer general classes if you need to get your couch potato a little more active in the winter. (And definitely check out the yoga for yourself! Cari has classes for women and men!)

If you're looking for a personalized yoga experience, this is for you. Cari is a wonderful yoga…read moreteacher; she's very attuned to an individual's needs and abilities. The prices for classes are a steal and they usually have a deal on packages. I look forward to yoga all week and I leave feeling relaxed and rejuvenated!

Ether wellness is a studio in Madison that focuses on woman's health. This class was focused on…read morepelvic floor and core strengthening, healing and wellness. Kari focuses on connecting with yourself and focusing on self care. Her guidance directed us to more mindful balance in mindful movements and breath. What a wonderful and grounding experience.