So last month in an effort to find fitness activities I could do without aggravating my hip injury, I decided to check out a free month trial of Class Pass and got to check out a number of different fitness places in the Pittsburgh area. Class Pass is a cool app based fitness platform that allows users to pay for credits each month that can be redeemed at a large number of different fitness places around the country, including a large number in the Pittsburgh area. I really enjoyed the variety the Class Pass allowed for at an affordable price and the ability to check out several places before joining any one place as a member. Since I got to check out a bunch of cool new fitness places, I thought I'd share my experiences here!
Ascend Climbing Gym and Yoga
As a climber, this was probably my favorite place on Class Pass and one of the best deals. It has a little steeper price at 5 credits to try it out, but it offers a lot for those 5 credits. You sign up for a two hour time slot which dictates what time you arrive, but what you really get for it is a day pass that can be used any time for the entire day and allows you to come and go if you please. Ascend is mostly a large bouldering gym with three different large bouldering structures, including a top-out wall and some cool overhangs, but it also offers a small top rope area that has both top rope and auto-belays on it. In addition to climbing walls, Ascend also offers cardio, weight lifting, and recovery equipment along with climbing training walls/hang boards etc. The coolest part about this pass is that in addition to access to climbing and fitness equipment all day, you also can sign up for a yoga or fitness class as well for no additional charge. I tried a "restore" yoga class and also the Kin Stretch "Mobility" class. The "restore" class started with some guided tennis ball rolling to loosen up the back and then moved into holding long poses in relaxing positions for the remainder of the class. The class was more of a mental "restore" class and relaxing than anything, but was nice after a hard day of climbing. The Kin Stretch "mobility" class was excellent and one I highly recommend after a hard climbing session. The instructor led us through a series of active stretching that loosened up different muscles that are stressed during climbing and improved mobility in different ranges of motion.
Mereki Studio: Bounce, Strengthen, and Tone Class
This was my first ever class I took on Class Pass and boy did I work up a sweat here! Mereki Studio is a small, boutique fitness studio that uses mini trampolines for various cardio fitness classes. The interesting thing about the trampolines is that we didn't use them to jump up and down high into the air, like you probably did as a kid, instead, we tried to absorb the bounce with our legs and stay low which turned the trampoline into resistance and made it a tough workout! The workout was an hour long and was conducted to upbeat music and led us through a series of trampoline bouncing, dumbbell/band exercises, and core exercises using the trampoline to create instability. This class was fun and a good workout, but was a little intense for my bad hip and adductors, so I'm not sure this was the best class for me, but I would highly recommend it for those who are healthy with a baseline of fitness already established.
Pittsburgh Circus Center: Adult Aerial Silks Newbie Class
This is one of the more unique classes offered on Class Pass that I made sure to try. It's only offered twice per week and fills up quickly, so be sure to sign up in advance at the beginning of the week if you want to try this out. This class introduced us to aerial silks and took us through a variety of moves hanging from a silk cloth from the ceiling. This was fun to try, but I was surprised how uncomfortable the pressure from standing on the silks was on my feet. Since this was an intro class, it wasn't a super hard workout and was more just trying different moves, but it still worked my shoulders a lot and was a decent core and upper body strength exercise. If you're looking for a tough full body workout then this might not be the class for that, but it was fun and unique! A good amount of upper body and core strength is required to even do basic moves on silks, so I would recommend trying this after you've acquired a basic level of strength in those areas through regular working out first. Verdict: I probably won't be taking up aerial silks as a hobby anytime soon, but am glad I tried this at least once.
As a climber, this was probably my favorite place on Class Pass and one of the best deals. It has a little steeper price at 5 credits to try it out, but it offers a lot for those 5 credits. You sign up for a two hour time slot which dictates what time you arrive, but what you really get for it is a day pass that can be used any time for the entire day and allows you to come and go if you please. Ascend is mostly a large bouldering gym with three different large bouldering structures, including a top-out wall and some cool overhangs, but it also offers a small top rope area that has both top rope and auto-belays on it. In addition to climbing walls, Ascend also offers cardio, weight lifting, and recovery equipment along with climbing training walls/hang boards etc. The coolest part about this pass is that in addition to access to climbing and fitness equipment all day, you also can sign up for a yoga or fitness class as well for no additional charge. I tried a "restore" yoga class and also the Kin Stretch "Mobility" class. The "restore" class started with some guided tennis ball rolling to loosen up the back and then moved into holding long poses in relaxing positions for the remainder of the class. The class was more of a mental "restore" class and relaxing than anything, but was nice after a hard day of climbing. The Kin Stretch "mobility" class was excellent and one I highly recommend after a hard climbing session. The instructor led us through a series of active stretching that loosened up different muscles that are stressed during climbing and improved mobility in different ranges of motion.
Mereki Studio: Bounce, Strengthen, and Tone Class
This was my first ever class I took on Class Pass and boy did I work up a sweat here! Mereki Studio is a small, boutique fitness studio that uses mini trampolines for various cardio fitness classes. The interesting thing about the trampolines is that we didn't use them to jump up and down high into the air, like you probably did as a kid, instead, we tried to absorb the bounce with our legs and stay low which turned the trampoline into resistance and made it a tough workout! The workout was an hour long and was conducted to upbeat music and led us through a series of trampoline bouncing, dumbbell/band exercises, and core exercises using the trampoline to create instability. This class was fun and a good workout, but was a little intense for my bad hip and adductors, so I'm not sure this was the best class for me, but I would highly recommend it for those who are healthy with a baseline of fitness already established.
Pittsburgh Circus Center: Adult Aerial Silks Newbie Class
This is one of the more unique classes offered on Class Pass that I made sure to try. It's only offered twice per week and fills up quickly, so be sure to sign up in advance at the beginning of the week if you want to try this out. This class introduced us to aerial silks and took us through a variety of moves hanging from a silk cloth from the ceiling. This was fun to try, but I was surprised how uncomfortable the pressure from standing on the silks was on my feet. Since this was an intro class, it wasn't a super hard workout and was more just trying different moves, but it still worked my shoulders a lot and was a decent core and upper body strength exercise. If you're looking for a tough full body workout then this might not be the class for that, but it was fun and unique! A good amount of upper body and core strength is required to even do basic moves on silks, so I would recommend trying this after you've acquired a basic level of strength in those areas through regular working out first. Verdict: I probably won't be taking up aerial silks as a hobby anytime soon, but am glad I tried this at least once.
Millenium Dance Complex: Beginning Hip Hop Class
So other than doing a one week dance day camp that sampled introduced a few different styles of dance and trying out a musical theater dance class in sixth grade, this was my first experience taking a dance class as an adult and my first ever in hip hop, so I had no idea what to expect. Those who know me can attest that I am not the greatest dancer, so I thought I'd try this to see if I could learn some moves to bust out next time we're at club and my favorite hip hop song comes on. I was a little nervous being the only new hip hop dancer in the class, but it turned out that everyone in the class was a beginner and majority of us all looked super dumb and awkward together (except for the instructor who was a very talented dancer and was very welcoming and encouraging to all!) Since we were learning everything as we went, the class had a lot of stop and go as we learned a routine and was only a moderate workout, but provided great skill instruction for those wanting to learn new hip hop moves. I have to say, I felt really awkward the whole class and decided this isn't really my thing, but it I was fun to try it out and I'm glad I tried it at least once. Pro tip if you go: wear tennis shoes (I wore jazz shoes and was the only one in real dance shoes) and dress "hip" so you can feel more like a hip hop dancer. I wore old shorts and a t-shirt with jazz shoes and felt like a dork. Next time, I'll throw on my longer basketball shorts and tank top and some cool shoes.
Yoga Factory Pittsburgh: Fusion Class
I originally signed up for this thinking it was a fusion of yoga and some type of cardio strength workout as was described in the class description, but it turned out to be a Bikhram yoga class instead, which I still very much enjoyed. The class was a hot yoga class with a good mix of strength and stability challenge combined with restoration and mobility. This was probably my favorite yoga class I've taken. The room this was in gets very hot, so I highly recommend wearing minimal clothing, preferably spandex shorts and a tighter fitting tank of breathable material or sports bra (or shirtless for men) or you will easily over heat. I would also recommend bringing your own yoga mat, yoga towel, and a water bottle. If you don't have those, you can rent them at the studio for a small fee. You can buy both at Five Below for only $5 each, so if you're going more than once then it's cheaper and cleaner to just get your own stuff and bring it with. They require the use of a yoga towel which is different from most places, so either bring your own or bring $2 to rent one. They also offer a locker room with showers and cubbies to leave your stuff in which is a nice perk if you're coming to class from somewhere else or want to wash off before going home.
One Point Yoga: Ease
I signed up for this class hoping to do some restorative yoga to stretch out my tight muscles, but it ended up being more of a relaxing guided mediation with some light stretching than regular yoga. Despite this being more restorative for the mind than the muscles, the class was extremely relaxing and I did really enjoy it. The instructor was very nice and welcoming and helped make adjustments for anyone who needed something a little different. If you need to clear your mind after a stressful day and just relax, this is the class for you. Go elsewhere if you're looking for something more physical or a workout. The one downside of this studio was that the air did not feel very clear and was kind of stuffy with a slightly toxic smell to it which was unpleasant to do breathing exercises with. Improved air ventilation would have been a nice improvement. If you come here, be sure to bring your own yoga mat or you will have to pay to rent on there. Also, be sure to arrive early so you have time to find street parking and get into class on time as they lock the doors once class starts, so late arrivals aren't permitted. Class pass charges you if you miss a class, so it's important to be early for this one!
Umberger Performance: Fusion Fit Class
I went here hoping for a strength training session and that is what I got. The class consisted of me and three other people being guided by a coach. We started off with a series of dynamic warm-up exercises, similar to those we do for track and field, on the turf. After warm-ups, the coach demonstrated the exercises we would be doing, then we partnered up and split stations to start at and started the routine with the coach supervising and stepping in to make adjustments or spot people as went went. While the workout we did lacked a clear training theme with a rather random assortment of exercises, it was still a good full body workout for those just trying to gain general strength and fitness. The instructor was very nice and accommodating to making adjustments for my injuries which I appreciated. This class is geared more towards beginner/intermediate level people looking to get in shape and rotates the type of training each day of the week. While I think I would have gotten more out of just lifting on my own and picking exercises that catered more towards my specific needs, I think this was good class for those who want more guidance with a coach guiding them through a group routine. The one downside to this gym was that a large dog and elementary aged child were running around the gym unsupervised in areas people were lifting heavy weights in which was very unsafe and disruptive. I believe both the child and the dog belonged to the owner, so I would guess this to be a common feature of this gym. The child was on a big wheel tricycle speeding around very fast near people lifting and his parents did nothing to stop him, even when he was running over people's clothes and clearly bothering people who were working out. For this reason alone, I will probably never join this gym, but if you don't mind dealing with that, it was a nice gym for serious lifters and offers a number of different group classes.
So other than doing a one week dance day camp that sampled introduced a few different styles of dance and trying out a musical theater dance class in sixth grade, this was my first experience taking a dance class as an adult and my first ever in hip hop, so I had no idea what to expect. Those who know me can attest that I am not the greatest dancer, so I thought I'd try this to see if I could learn some moves to bust out next time we're at club and my favorite hip hop song comes on. I was a little nervous being the only new hip hop dancer in the class, but it turned out that everyone in the class was a beginner and majority of us all looked super dumb and awkward together (except for the instructor who was a very talented dancer and was very welcoming and encouraging to all!) Since we were learning everything as we went, the class had a lot of stop and go as we learned a routine and was only a moderate workout, but provided great skill instruction for those wanting to learn new hip hop moves. I have to say, I felt really awkward the whole class and decided this isn't really my thing, but it I was fun to try it out and I'm glad I tried it at least once. Pro tip if you go: wear tennis shoes (I wore jazz shoes and was the only one in real dance shoes) and dress "hip" so you can feel more like a hip hop dancer. I wore old shorts and a t-shirt with jazz shoes and felt like a dork. Next time, I'll throw on my longer basketball shorts and tank top and some cool shoes.
Yoga Factory Pittsburgh: Fusion Class
I originally signed up for this thinking it was a fusion of yoga and some type of cardio strength workout as was described in the class description, but it turned out to be a Bikhram yoga class instead, which I still very much enjoyed. The class was a hot yoga class with a good mix of strength and stability challenge combined with restoration and mobility. This was probably my favorite yoga class I've taken. The room this was in gets very hot, so I highly recommend wearing minimal clothing, preferably spandex shorts and a tighter fitting tank of breathable material or sports bra (or shirtless for men) or you will easily over heat. I would also recommend bringing your own yoga mat, yoga towel, and a water bottle. If you don't have those, you can rent them at the studio for a small fee. You can buy both at Five Below for only $5 each, so if you're going more than once then it's cheaper and cleaner to just get your own stuff and bring it with. They require the use of a yoga towel which is different from most places, so either bring your own or bring $2 to rent one. They also offer a locker room with showers and cubbies to leave your stuff in which is a nice perk if you're coming to class from somewhere else or want to wash off before going home.
One Point Yoga: Ease
I signed up for this class hoping to do some restorative yoga to stretch out my tight muscles, but it ended up being more of a relaxing guided mediation with some light stretching than regular yoga. Despite this being more restorative for the mind than the muscles, the class was extremely relaxing and I did really enjoy it. The instructor was very nice and welcoming and helped make adjustments for anyone who needed something a little different. If you need to clear your mind after a stressful day and just relax, this is the class for you. Go elsewhere if you're looking for something more physical or a workout. The one downside of this studio was that the air did not feel very clear and was kind of stuffy with a slightly toxic smell to it which was unpleasant to do breathing exercises with. Improved air ventilation would have been a nice improvement. If you come here, be sure to bring your own yoga mat or you will have to pay to rent on there. Also, be sure to arrive early so you have time to find street parking and get into class on time as they lock the doors once class starts, so late arrivals aren't permitted. Class pass charges you if you miss a class, so it's important to be early for this one!
Umberger Performance: Fusion Fit Class
I went here hoping for a strength training session and that is what I got. The class consisted of me and three other people being guided by a coach. We started off with a series of dynamic warm-up exercises, similar to those we do for track and field, on the turf. After warm-ups, the coach demonstrated the exercises we would be doing, then we partnered up and split stations to start at and started the routine with the coach supervising and stepping in to make adjustments or spot people as went went. While the workout we did lacked a clear training theme with a rather random assortment of exercises, it was still a good full body workout for those just trying to gain general strength and fitness. The instructor was very nice and accommodating to making adjustments for my injuries which I appreciated. This class is geared more towards beginner/intermediate level people looking to get in shape and rotates the type of training each day of the week. While I think I would have gotten more out of just lifting on my own and picking exercises that catered more towards my specific needs, I think this was good class for those who want more guidance with a coach guiding them through a group routine. The one downside to this gym was that a large dog and elementary aged child were running around the gym unsupervised in areas people were lifting heavy weights in which was very unsafe and disruptive. I believe both the child and the dog belonged to the owner, so I would guess this to be a common feature of this gym. The child was on a big wheel tricycle speeding around very fast near people lifting and his parents did nothing to stop him, even when he was running over people's clothes and clearly bothering people who were working out. For this reason alone, I will probably never join this gym, but if you don't mind dealing with that, it was a nice gym for serious lifters and offers a number of different group classes.