Body R&D

Great workout to mix-​up the routine. Wasn’t cardio, but I was still dripping sweat trying to get the proper moves down. Found this place through classpass and I would definitely go back!

I LOVE this class! Harry is awesome! I have never liked anything related to Pilates or Yoga due to the fact that I never felt worked out after those types of classes and got very bored. In this class you feel like you are doing good for your body while also building tighter leaner muscles. I am not saying you are going to leave here drenched in sweat like a cardio class, but you do leave feeling like you accomplished a lot and definitely toned your body, and you aren’t bored because Harry creates a very chill casual atmosphere. I think its a great class to do a few times a week. I definitely see results!

I came to the studio through ClassPass yesterday. Let me preface by saying, I’m a group class junkie and have tried just about everything for extended periods of time — HIIT, boxing, bar/​barre, traditional reformers Pilates, running clubs, etc. However, I had only taken 3 reformers Pilates classes prior to coming to Body R+D and was a little intimidated by the Megaformer. Within 10 minutes of the class, I was shaking from an oblique set and sweating. Today, I have that good kind of sore in my abs when I sneeze, turn my head, or cough! If you’ve never done a reformer class before, the instructor and owner Harry said there is usually a 3 class learning curve. I love that the workouts are only 50 minutes. The studio is light-​filled, airy, clean and beautiful. This is a great, butt-​kicking, efficient work out for sure.

Wow! Loved the workout on the Megaformer. It’s a reformer, but bigger and more bad-​assed. Unlike a traditional Pilates class, you move at a cardio pace using props, weights, and a lot of your own body control. All my muscles were shaking after just a 45 min session. Must try if you like a new and challenging workout!

I tried this place yesterday after signing up through ClassPass and I have to say it is one of my favorite workouts to date and can’t wait to go back next week! I’ve never tried a reformer-​type class and was extremely nervous but when I arrived Tina greeted me and another newbie warmly and showed us how everything worked. She was very friendly and informative as to how the class ran and walked around throughout the class correcting technique and offering tips. The studio was very clean and spacious. I’m so sore today after a great total body workout and love it!

Awesome class! I had Harry as an instructor and he was very informative, kept the class interesting and gave a great workout! Even had some comedic relief! The class was intense but didn’t feel like a full 45 minutes! I will definitely be going back. Remember to bring grip socks or they will charge you $ 10! I was lucky enough to happen to wear mine that day.

Glutes still shaking from Tina’s class over 24 hours ago! Thanks for the ass-​kicking.

No thanks. My friend and I tried this studio on a Saturday morning. We went up to the trainer to check in and told her this was our first class and we were greeted with an unenthusiastic «oh no» with an underlying tone of dread and annoyance. Well if that doesn’t make someone feel welcome I don’t know what will.
The rest of the class was equally as amazing. My friend and I took spots on two machines and the instructor then told us we needed to move inwards so we would be in the middle of the others who had been there before. Ok, fine. However I soon came to learn she had no intentions of actually instructing the class– and instead wanted to rely on the other students to show us what to do. Too bad they were all doing different things.
After going through the 50 minutes of boring, monotone commands from said ‘instructor’ the class was finally over. Im not sure if she was hungover, just broke up with her boyfriend or had a migraine, but that was the least motivating class taught by someone who clearly didn’t want to be there or instruct proper movement.
In a city of a bazillion pilates studios, you’d have to pay me to go back.

Came in with a friend on the introductory class special… I believe one of the co-​owners was the instructor.
Pluses: felt that good kind of pain in the core the next day, which means that it did definitely do the trick of working those muscles to fatigue. The studio, housed in a store-​front window shop was clean and airy… and though it didn’t have towels, there was a bathroom to change and freshen up.
Not Pluses: As a cardio junkie who has had some exposure to pilates classes, I wished the instructor had spent a little more time on proper form and breathing during class… All the equipment was new to me and I felt a bit rushed and apprehensive that I wasn’t exactly getting the form right when she called out each of the moves in quick succession. She did go over a quick tutorial 3 minutes before class, but it felt a bit rushed.
I would revisit this place again only if it was with a different instructor’s class. I think like any class, regardless of the wonder of the machine touted, really depends a great deal on the instructor and his or her level of knowledge, communication, and enthusiasm.

I’ve been coming to Body R&D since April after buying a Gilt City certificate for 7 classes. Wow. As a group-​exercise-​class-​junkie, these classes are just perfect. The 50 minutes goes so fast and while the slow movements are tricky and difficult, the results are fantastic. I noticed increased tone in my arms, abs, and seat, especially. The routine is never the same and the music choices are fresh and fun. The studio is gorgeous with exposed brick and a great location (for me) on Lincoln and Wellington-​ish.
Now that I live, and work, in the area, I’ll be back with a new package ASAP!

bootcamp pilates…
it took me a while to write a review because i wasn’t sure how to rate R+D. the workout itself i give 5 stars. i’ve never done reformer and have only done a handful of «big box gym» pilates classes, so going straight to the MEGAreformer was a bit intimidating. i enjoyed my first class as the instructor gave me a quick orientation of the machine and paired me up with a buddy and assured me that i would be just fine if i just looked at my neighbors for help. i walked away feeling strong and thirsting for more!
i tried 2 other instructors’ classes and i really enjoy how motivating they always are reminding you that this is no average workout! i enjoy being pushed «bootcamp style»! what i don’t enjoy, however, is when an instructor seems annoyed that she has to help correct your form because you are still getting used to the terminology of some the moves as well as the parts of the reformer. i get that part of the routine is to quickly move into the next position/​move but i’d rather take 2 extra beats to make sure i’m doing it correctly so that i get the best workout/​am not hurting myself. i’d say she may want to check her head at the door before teaching class.
otherwise, an extremely effective class that i’d highly recommend to someone looking for fast results!

An AWESOME workout! I love this place, in fact, when I’m at the gym and doing a crappy workout on my own I WISH I was at Body R+D.
The owners Harry and Tina are SO nice, lovely and fun to talk to, and all the teachers are great too. Shout out to instructor Lauren, her classes will make you sore for days (in the good way)!
Can’t wait to do another membership here! Love all things Body R+D!

Congratulations gentlemen, you’ve taken the first step by reading this review. My wife has been doing Pilates for years, and I’ve never thought twice about going. I mean, I’m a gym dude by nature, weights, interval training, jump rope, swimming, treadmill and some yoga on the side (which I also scoffed at years ago before trying it out.) About a month ago, I noticed a deal at Body R&D for three sessions, so I said what the heck and snagged it. I figured that if I tagged along with wifey that I’d at least get a couple ‘easy workouts’ in during the holiday crush (which tends to be calorie and alcohol heavy due to numerous family gatherings which must be managed appropriately for sanity purposes.) After purchasing my package, I congratulated myself on my masterful plan to stay fit, even though I’d be doing a ‘girly’ workout. I felt so clever.
Here’s the long and the short of it: after a couple sessions at Body R&D, you’ll realize that everything that you thought about Pilates is completely and absolutely wrong. It’s FAR more of a workout than you think. It’s probably one of the most overall ‘body intensive’ workouts that you will ever find, since you literally use all your muscles from head to toe. You will shake. Things will burn that don’t normally do so. And when you first go, just accept that the ladies are going to absolutely crush you because they’ve been in on the secret for years. But don’t let that dissuade you, because if you stick with it, you’ll see and feel results that would take a lot longer with the usual gym routine. You’ll feel tighter and better overall, and after about 4 sessions you’ll notice that clothes fit a bit differently, in a good way. Trust me, if someone told me this a month ago I’d have laughed, but I’m cool with admitting when I’m wrong, and I was wrong about this.
Now you ask: so why Body R&D? For starters, they don’t have any bad instructors, and that’s a tall order. Every single teacher is outstanding, and they will push you to excel. There’s also a dash of comedy as they roam about the room shouting instructions, which adds some levity to the entire situation, considering that you’re mildly inverted with ropes wrapped around your ankles and you like it. The music mixes keep class moving, and Flashback Friday is always a crowd-​pleaser with great 80’s tunes. The complete workout is 50 minutes long, but very intense. Plus, what does 50 minutes at the gym really get most people? A few sets, 17 text messages, 2 trips to the water fountain, and one ‘suck in your gut in front of the mirror when you think nobody is looking’ moment that is disheartening in its own right. We’ve all been there.
So for you non-​believers out there, all I’d say is that if a Pilates workout at Body R&D is so easy, then stop scoffing and go give it a shot yourself. I scoffed. But I went. And now I believe.

10 hour cancellation, $ 15 dollar charge, crazy policy. Most have 2 hour cancel, no fee.
Management wasn’t customer service friendly either.
Taking Pilates & yoga at another studio now, much happier.

I love Pilates, and have always wanted to try a reformer-​style class, so I was excited to see a deal on LivingSocial for Body R+D. I’ve been to four classes so far, and holy cow are they tough. I think I’m in good shape — I regularly run races from 5K to half marathon distance, I do strength workouts at few times per week, etc. But these classes are intense! Prepare to be humbled. The instructors are very encouraging and helpful in explaining the moves and correcting you if necessary. No two routines are the same, but you will always feel a burn. My only wish is that the classes were a little bit cheaper, but I still think they are worth the money.

This is an incredibly effective strength-​building workout while maintaining safety and preventing injury. This is a must for anyone looking to build strength but preserve their joints. It’s an excellent substitute for weight lifting.
The space itself has a great energy and the machines are kept clean. The instructors are all friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive.

Intense workout! Love it! This place has great music, great instructors and the workout keeps you moving, toning and keeps your heart rate up. The Mega reformer is the way to go! I’ve tried other workout studio and found this place to be the best.
They also have great pricing. Monthly unlimited is quite a deal!

Let me start this by saying I usually don’t like fitness classes. I always feel stupid in fitness classes, because other people can see how out of shape, uncoordinated and unflexible I am. Body R&D has changed that for me! I am now a believer!
The benefits of Body R&D: It is more affordable than a trainer. You get a full body and total work out every single time. The staff are super nice and don’t pressure you for tanning packages like normal trainers at gyms do. The class has a «do what you can» mentality, so even if you’re new to pilates, you can still do the same class as somebody who has been doing this for years. It totally works. You definitely feel it the next day, but that’s how you know it’s working. Also, there are visual cues to let you know that it’s working, like more defined muscles. Also, the fact that you can now finish a class without taking a break, lets you know that this is doing something!!!
The negatives to Body R&D: I can’t really think of any.
Honestly, that is how awesome this class is. Zumba and yoga are cute workouts. If you honestly want to get fit-​then you need to try this studio.

I’ve been coming here since January and I am half way through my second monthly package. when I started out I really was very out of shape, but I definitely have made lot of progress and can not fit into clothes I haven’t work in over a year. I feel stronger and it good for you mood to work out regularly.
I’m not into crazy workout and this is like doing Pilates on the reformer, but this workout is like a more intense version of that and doing it in a group is more fun too.

Now THIS is a pilates class I can get into! I guarantee that Harry Shelley’s Megaformer classes are like nothing you’ve ever tried before. Planking and lunging to Pitbull and the Foo Fighters? All I know is I want more! I have a feeling this gem hidden along Lincoln Ave. in Lakeview isn’t going to stay hidden for long.
I consider myself a somewhat fit individual. I workout with a trainer lifting weights and doing circuit work 2 – 3 times per week and I can put up quite a bit of weight. All that weight lifting background goes out the window at Body R&D. 10 minutes in and I was already feeling the burn. This class had me working muscles that I never knew existed; after the class I was feeling every single one of those muscles for the next few days (but don’t woryr, it was a good sore)!
Strength, endurance, flexibility, and balance training are combined into one engaging, 45 minute workout led by Harry himself or one of his equally fantastic staff members. Beginners feel more than welcomed. This workout is new to almost everyone and Harry’s guides the class through every single movement and provides individual assitance if you have any questions.
When the class was over I had no doubt in my mind that if you were to come to these classes on a regular basis you would see some serious changes in your body. Obviously I loved the class and I can’t wait to return!