Frank, the instructor from Rathdowne Yoga, is a total champion. He was so encouraging and patient…read morewith me when I was too inflexible to do the most basic movements. Even the resting poses felt like a work out to me! Having said that, by the end of the 12-week beginners program, I had significantly improved. That's all thanks to Frank, who knew to push me a little harder than I wanted to go and to give me little bits of encouragement when he could see my muscles shaking and the strain on my face, when the rest of the class looked as though they were peacefully meditating. Having now done two beginners courses at two different Yoga centres, both of which I have thoroughly enjoyed, I think Rathdowne Yoga's course was a little more intense than the one that I'm currently doing at Gertrude Street Yoga, so if you're looking for something a little more cruisey and relaxing I might suggest the later. But if you want to push yourself a little more (and are less interested in the meditative aspect of Yoga), Rathdowne Yoga is the place to go!

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.

Beautiful and welcoming studio! In Melbourne for a few days and signed up for two classes. Small…read moreclass size and judgement free zone!

Ok, so you tried Bikram once and you passed out from the heat and awoke to an auctioneer-style…read moreinstructor barking orders at you and not even noticing your distress. You thought, 'bugger this hot yoga thing' But wait: not all hot yoga was created equally (only bikram yoga studios were) Fear not! There is another style which is practised in various locations. Often called 'power flow,' this vinyasa style which is often paired with yin, is in my opinion far more accessible, exciting and fun than any other type I've tried. I've sampled most studios in this area and Yoga 37 is my pick of the bunch. Here's why... It's laid back seeing and layout is far less pretentious than nearby studios. It has showers which are an essential for sweaty yoga (duh right?) but are missing from some competitors. The feeling of a neighborhood yogi family is created by the staff's willingness to have a chat before and after class. And I don't mean those chats where they tell you to get anal irrigation or to align your chi flow or generally make you feel like a clumsy incompetent yoga poser. Rather they will joke and share plans for the weekend. Personally I was shocked by the owner Penny, remembering my name after I only came along that one time! Another plus is that all classes are only 60min long. This means they are significantly more achievable for newbies and much easier to fit into your schedule compared to the 75-90 min sessions offered elsewhere. Thankfully they provide mats and all equipment, and if you get a trial offer online it will be far better value than others. So what's not to love? A word of caution though: your likely to commence a life long addiction to increased flexibility, clean skin and strength.

A few months ago my gal pals and I decided to ignore the boys in our friendship squad and head out…read moreon what was affectionately referred to as Ladies Day. Where did we go, you ask? Why the Princes Park Bowls Club! We run around the Princes Park track every weekend as it is so had always seen it in the distance, a beautiful bowling mirage, right next to the extravagant fountain. Nothing had prepared us for the awesomeness that lays inside though. Firstly, it's a bowls club and they are often renowned for having the cheapest drinks around. We elegantly devoured several bottles of sparkling there over the day and didn't reach the $100 mark. Winner. Secondly, we were introduced to a lovely lady bowls member who kindly took the time out of her day to teach us not only how to play, but how to WIN. She knew all the tricks of the bowling trade and generously gave them up to us. Finally, the Princes Park Bowls club would make an ideal, albeit slightly quirky location for the next big event in your life - birthday, anniversary, or maybe even a wedding? It's gorgeous, with a vintage feel and an absolutely heart-warming atmosphere. We spent at least a few hours there, laughing, chatting and bowling and had nothing but smiles from the more serious bowlers next to us. So. Much. Fun.

The Brunswick pool is probably my overall least favourite of the clutch we have in the inner north,…read morebut that's not to say I don't like it. Pluses: It's in a prime location and is close to trains, trams, bike paths and there's plenty of parking; it is awesomely deep at the deep end, like five metres, so you get this crazy kind of claustrophobia when crossing the threshold from shallow to deep; it's pretty rustic and there are decidedly fewer poseurs and weirdos than the rest, though there can be a pretty annoying teen element that gets a bit wearisome. Minuses: Too may shit-brained teenagers; more expensive than Fitzroy and shitter resources; staff culture does not seem good, lots of blank expressions and general unhelpfulness. Overall it's a great asset for the area, but it could be a lot better.

Run by the YMCA, this community fitness facility is an affordable way for the whole family to keep…read morefit and healthy. The centre boasts a fully-equipped gymnasium with free weights, toning machines, stretching area with mats, exercise bikes, treadmills, steppers, rowers...the whole shebang. Friendly, professional trainers are always around to give you fitness advice and guidance. There is also workout room for group fitness classes like Zumba, yoga and pilates, and the well-known 'Body' range of classes (Pump, Balance, Attack). If jumping around isn't your thing, then perhaps you'll prefer a bit of splashing around in the indoor and outdoor pools. Afterwards, relax those tired (and perfectly toned) muscles in the sauna and spa area. Bliss. Take note though, the centre is undergoing major renovations at the moment and therefore pool and spa facilities are currently unavailable. It will be several more months before the new centre is revealed, but if the plans I've seen are anything to go by, it will be worth the wait. The centre's temporary address is 9 Phoenix Street, Brunswick, just behind the original building. Get updates on the progress of renovations on their Facebook page.

Had some extra time in the afternoon of one of my last days visiting Melbourne so I decided to…read morecheck out the zoo as I wanted to see some local animals like koalas, kangaroos, and dingos! It was a pretty average zoo and I was able to get through all the animals in the last couple hours they were open. They had some insane (and terrifying) birds. My favorite was seeing the adorable dingos, sleeping red panda, and seeing a baby kangaroo pop in and out of its mom's pouch!

First zoo visit in Australia, was definitely worth a visit! You can take public transit which drops…read moreyou off at the "northern" entrance. Plenty of animals native to the country and beyond are here. Maps and signs everywhere make it easy to navigate.

This is a great small pilates studio, small but beautifully laid out with great equipment. Both…read moreregular teachers Donna and Sarah are very friendly and adapt classes to suit each person, making sure that it remains challenging. Lots of variety too and very good working with any limitations/injuries. Very easy to book and change classes.

From the owner: Fluid Pilates is a fully equipped Pilates studio in Collingwood. At Fluid Pilates we offer…read morepersonalised Pilates instruction addressing specific goals, postural deviations, muscle imbalances and strength and flexibility. Custom designed programs are created to address the individual needs of each client to achieve their Pilates goals whether it be injury management and rehabilitation, pre and post natal Pilates or general fitness and body maintenance. Choose from either small group Pilates classes or perfect your Pilates with private Pilates classes. Contact Fluid Pilates for further information or to make a booking.

Are you sitting down? Good. Because what I'm about to tell you may cause your legs to buckle and…read moreyour heart to palpitate with excitement. The Fitzroy Bowls Club is: * Very Cheap Beer * Greasy burgers and sandwiches that are oh-so-delicious * Barbecues and BYO beef if you prefer that instead * Sunny afternoons * Absolute hilarity with your besties. Bowls is not just for old people, you guys! In recent years Barefoot bowling has become increasingly popular with the twentysomething and thirtysomething crowd. On any given weekend you will find a truly bizarre gathering of people all brought together by their love of the game (or of the beer.) Bowls is not a difficult game to understand, however it is a difficult game to master, and I assure you that the cheap jugs of beer will not help. Hanging out at the Fitzroy Bowls club is an original and fun way to spend your lazy summer weekends, having a birthday with a difference or even a quirky bucks or hens party. So grab your mates together, dress in your whites and hit up the bowls club, you won't regret it.

Three words, barefoot bowls and beer. During the summer Fitzroy Bowls Club plays host to barefoot…read morebowls on Tuesdays. For $15 you get a beer, all you can eat barbeque and of course a bowls competition. What more could you ask? Well, upon second thought, you could probably ask for some more beer. But then I will have to tell you that Fitzroy bowls has this covered too, with cheap beer aplenty. In fact, just so you can understand that THEY understand where the priorities lie, I will tell you about the time I went up to one of the staff and asked for a jack (the small ball in bowls that everyone tries to bowl their balls close to). Instead of getting me the 'jack' the guy started pouring me a jug of beer. It turns out he had misunderstood my New Zealand accent and thought I was asking for a jug. My team didn't complain that I returned with more than I was sent to get it must be said. These guys expect you to drink beer and they expect you to have fun. And with astro-turf lawns there isn't the same stress of drunken buffoons destroying the venue like other clubs that have grass turf. Fitzroy bowls is a great place to hang out on a sunny afternoon to play bowls and drink beer. The only thing I have against this concept is the fact that everyone seems to agree with me - this place can get packed.

OMG I LOOOOVE this studio!! I normally live/practice in NYC, but I was on vacation in Australia &…read moredecided to check out the Fitzroy studio. First of all, I have to say that the quality of the studios I visited down under were far superior than most that I've seen in NYC. I spoke to the owners of this studio (a friendly American couple who have lived in Australia for years & years), and they said that rather than competing with each other, the Bikram studios in Australia have an agreement to keep all of their studios beautiful, clean, and impressive. Very cool! I loved a lot of things about this studio. The atmosphere was very friendly... I think that's something about the Fitzroy neighborhood and great owners. And the studio itself was very cool... They had sort of "Bikram graffiti" decorating the studio... quotes from Bikram, a funny chart about each posture, etc. The yoga room was nice & clean as well. I truly have no complaints about my experience here! Definitely a worthwhile Bikram studio to check out!

This is a great studio if you love the incredible health benefits of hot yoga and is one of the few…read moreremaining studios in Melbourne dedicated to Bikrams original series. The studio owners/teachers Michael and Susan are an inspiration.

"I can't. I can't get up." - Me. Two days after my first F45 session in Brunswick East. "The pain…read moreis real". I like to think of myself as pretty fit but this class really kicked me on my butt. F45 Functional Fitness was born in Australia by a couple of footy players with a pretty good idea. At it's base, it is simple circuit training - you work really hard for a few minutes and then rest for a minute to catch your breath - for a round total of 45 minutes. I did a 'Romans' class, which focuses more on strength (think tricep dips, weighted squats and suspended pushups), while the 'Athletica' class is more cardio-based. On Saturdays they do 'Hollywood' which is a mixture of both PLUS a DJ! Party workout! What makes F45 different to other workouts is the team-focus and technology used. There are multiple plasma screens on the gym walls, showing a countdown timer and a video of someone doing the exercise you are to follow. There are groups of 4-5, with each group doing a different exercise and eventually you rotate. I was given a partner and placed in to a group and we genuinely all bonded by the end! The instructors seemed young and a little nervous (this particular F45 only just opened, so I suspect they are still finding their feet) however I felt fully supported and motivated throughout the class. They help you with your technique and throw out a helluva lot of high fives when you're on your one minute break. If you're looking to make a real difference to your bod AND your fitness, you really need to give F45 a go. Grab a pal and get along.

From the owner: Group Functional Personal Training High Intensity Interval…read moreTraining Weight Loss Athletic Performance