The Hit List: NYC Workouts
my top 5 favorite workouts & trainers in New York, from a true class junkie
As a certified workout class snob, I’ve done the work and been around town when it comes to boutique studios. There’s a lot that can go into a rating for some… the studio aesthetic, amenities, clientele, location, etc. And while all that is good and fine, my take is truly that amenities aside - if I’m not leaving either very sweaty, very shaky, or feeling very accomplished, I’m not going back.
Alas, I give you my top 5 workouts down to the details, all in NYC.
1. AARMY: Cycle & Bootcamp w Sophia Nichole
Long long ago I was a young 17 year old frolicking about the downtown area, working the SoulCycle front desk, (aka taking advantage of all the free classes) and I accidentally stumbled into Sophias class at the NoMad studio. 7 years later, and I can still be found in her classes roughly 6 days a week.
Now at her family business AARMY, located in NoHo at 636 Broadway, Sophia delivers what I’d call the holy grail of a spin class. Her energy is contagious and her music has you both in the club but also your childhood bedroom screaming out One Time by Justin Bieber.
No matter what kind of day you have, you walk into Sophia’s class at AARMY and enter a room full of badass people. Experts in their fields, leaders, and hard workers. I never played sports growing up and was never on a team, but the AARMY community is as close as I’ll get.
2. SoulCycle w Karyn Nesbit
As a former Soul employee I can tell you a lot about instructors classes in New York. I’ve been uptown, downtown, to the burbs and back and can give you recommendations no matter which studio your popping into.
But I won’t be able to describe the feeling of Karyn class until you try it for yourself. The master instructor teaches downtown between NoHo, the West Village and NoMad with an occasional appearance at 19th street and does not come to play whether its 8AM on a Thursday, or my personal favorite class of the week 12:15 Friday.
Karyn is one of those instructors who can read a room so well that she just gets exactly what the room needs most that day. Her music ranges from loud beats, to old throwbacks, some rap, and even Tate McRae (if I’m lucky).
The thing I take away most each time I clip in with Karyn is how fulfilled I feel after. The class as challenging as it is, is equally as therapeutic, and is the perfect way to reset.
3. TERA Pilates w Georgia Wood Murphy
In the early part of 2024 I was introduced to reformer pilates by my mother (the queen Janice) naturally. And upon some investigation I made it an effort to find the right studio to add into my routine.
Insert Georgia Wood Murphy opening TERA Studio & Pilates Club - a referral only pilates studio in a location that remains privy to its ever so chic members.
My first class at TERA I left and booked the next in the elevator down. In the past, any reformer class I tried was relatively snoozy, especially for a gal like myself who prefers Rufus du Sol to be blaring through the room in a high intensity environment.
Yet the flow of Georgia’s rather advanced reformer class had me begging for more. You are shaking just 2 minutes into each class, and it never gets easier in the best way.
You can join the waitlist for an in studio membership or immediately try Georgia’s class wherever you are in the world via their online membership at the website.
4. SolidCore w Conor Janda & Sydney Lo
Right before the holiday break in 2024 SolidCore had a challenge called “solidays.” I didn’t really need the rest of the details - I heard challenge and said sure I’ll sign up… little did I know what I was in for.
Here we are wrapping up Feb ‘25 and as a now unlimited member of SolidCore, I can officially say I drank the kool-aid.
Let’s put it this way, the mega former is like a death machine for your abdominals. The low lights and loud music of the studio had my hooked from the first plank series I held in Conor Janda’s sold out Sunday class one Sunday morning.
I pretty religiously take both Conor’s class and the fabulous Sydney Lo’s class. They both teach an intense but empowering class and their playlists are both 10/10.
5. Tracy Anderson Method
For all my girls who used to be competitive dancers, please rise and join me at Intermediate Muscular Design. Otherwise known as the most common class recommended at the Tracy Anderson Method.
Here is the only studio on this list where I’ll say I am not instructor dependent. I’ve taken a variety of instructors, and do to the fact that the instructors are silent through the whole class, I don’t find myself drawn to one specifically.
The class is a combination of dance, light weights, and a repetitive mat flow - oh and did I mention the class is heated, typically with steam machines blasting in the corners of the room.
I find myself craving TA Method when I want to disassociate and essentially sweat out everything I have. It’s a wonkier class that isn’t for everyone, but if you can relax and let go - I really think there is nothing like it.
So there ya have it. Try them, don’t try them, up to you - just don’t take my spot each week & let’s at least get a matcha after if you decide to join my weekly rotation.
x
YAY!!!