I bought a 5 class card from livingsocial for $50.
Location & Parking: the buckhead location is very good. Parking is abundant; they also have a small lot at the back of the building.
Studio environment: the studio is clean and nicely renovated. Bathroom is clean also. Super friendly environment. The classes are quite small, ranging from 6 students to 13 students in the classes I have taken.
This is basically a female only studio, although I think they do not say that explicitly, I have only seen women in this studio. I guess for men, if they would feel comfortable taking the class in a room full of women, they could come also. I have taken the folllowing classes.
-West Coast Cardio Yoga: do bring your own mat; I do not think they provide the mats. This class is very similar to power yoga classes provided elsewhere, I feel people can save their class cards and take instead some of the signature classes.
-West Coast Interval: one of their signature classes, plus exercise your upper body strength using a small ball (3 lbs?), plus some lower body strength exercise using the barre. Very demanding class.
-West Coast Barre: one of their signature classes, this class was also shown on TV. Mainly lower body strength exercise using the barre, plus some exercise using weights, I feel this class is a little less demanding than the Interval class. Definitely my favorite class. I feel the instructors could add some leg stretching at barre (by placing one leg up onto the barre); otherwise it is easy to develop massive calf muscles after exercise. Mattea Jones' Barre class is more cardio based, while Stephanie Johnson's Barre class puts more attention on stretching, they follow different routines.
Cost: if you are new to this studio, you could wait and buy class cards from livingsocial (5 class card for $50) or gilt (10 class card for $100), those class cards are for new students only.
If you buy the cards from the studio directly, one drop in class costs $28 (way over priced), 10 class card costs $200, 20 class card costs $350(not sure though). For $10/ one class, I will come back, for $20/ one class, I will think twice.
Note 1: do register for their West Coast Sweaty Saturdays 2 for 1 class; it is a 90 min class for the same price, so you get more out of your money.
Note 2: after you went there for the first time, you could register for classes online in advance; this could save your time after you arrive at the studio.
Note 3: it is best to pick one class and stick with it, so that you get familiar with the routine and could get the most out the class. read more