The Allongee Technique

I was new to the city and I was looking for a place to practice yoga. I walked past this place more then a dozen times before I went in and I have not regretted it once. Since the first moment they have always been welcoming and instructive. They have a multitude of classes that one can take to work out different muscle groups. The teachers are extremely competent and I am impressed by the level of skill I see in their teaching.
I continue to go there twice a week every week for the past year and I am sure that I will continue to do so. Not just for the classes but for the great people and the instructors adorable dog.

I signed up for the $ 99 newbie special and immediately purchased a 3 month contract when the month ended. All of the classes are unique and are a blend of strength and cardio– something I think many other studios lack– they are either one or the other. Jillian is an excellent instructor and when there are new people taking the class, she takes the time to explain why we are doing what we are doing. Alone is a great addition to the Old City neighborhood!

The owner was late, and made many excuses for being late without taking responsibility. My first mistake was simply waiting for this class and studio owner who has no respect for people’s promptness and time. Second, the socks she had to rent she pulled out of her purse and stated «they aren’t used or sweaty» which seemed unprofessional, especially if you are charging me 2 dollars for them. She then proceeded to talk badly about dance companies in NYC when I asked where she trained. Extremely uncomfortable for people just visiting the studio. The mats in the studio are the poorest quality of mats and you slide right off– which could cause major injury. She needs to purchase mats that stick to the ground. The bulk of her cardio choreo was jumping– over working the calves for a non dancer client. I saw her make 0 hands on corrections in a small class. She showed safety/​injury modifications by the time the movements were almost over. She did not ask anyone prior to class if they had any injuries she needed to be mindful of during class. The cues she used did not match the movements. The studio itself needs attention, electrical outlets are exposed and junk was all over. Also– in a fitness studio– I would prefer the owners large dog to not crawl all over the studio before the workout. I really expect more out of a business that charged me and my friends 25 dollars for this experience. Take your business to any other studio in Philly.

I get the sense that this studio is still trying to find their footing, despite being told by the instructor that they opened in April. I signed up for an Allongee Vinyasa class through ClassPass, which I took this morning with Jillian. This was my first time at the studio, so Jillian walked my cousin and I around, and I was surprised to see that while there was a finished room on the ground level, there was a completely under construction basement level that she claims will be done soon to create better facilities (that said, she also commented that the construction has been going on for a while, and it looked like there was a LOT left to do with unfinished flooring covered in paper, concrete walls, hanging wires, etc.). She showed us a couple of showers and said one of them works, but there was no door or shower curtain, nor was there a private changing area of any sort, so I’m surprised to hear that people actually use it.
As for the class itself, there were only 4 of us, and rather than having us face the mirror, she had us face out toward the window in a staggered fashion. I felt like I had a hard time seeing her and I didn’t always know what moves she was asking us to do based on her commentary, so I found myself consistently coming out of my poses to look up at her and try to distinguish what I was supposed to be doing. I also thought it was interesting that Jillian never left her mat to check our form, provide corrections, etc. Rather she stayed on her mat the whole time, primarily with closed eyes, so it actually made me chuckle when she’d say things like «nice ladies» or «good work» because it was clear that she couldn’t actually see what we were doing at all!
I’ll also say that based on the ClassPass description, I was expecting something out of the ordinary. It was described as including «classic bodyLOGIC core strength work on the mat, our unique bodyLOGIC barre work and a lengthy repertoire of our new bodyLOGIC stretching sequences.» But really, it was just plain old yoga. We never used the barre and I didn’t think we did any special core exercises or out of the ordinary stretches. Given that my cousin paid $ 23 to attend a class, it felt overpriced and poorly described for what we actually received.
If you live in Old City and are just looking for a neighborhood yoga studio, I would say give this place a shot. But I live in Center City West and came all the way down for this class, which I wouldn’t do again. I’d also be careful with those ClassPass descriptions, as you may not actually be attending what you think you are!
P-​S: One final note. The instructor had her gorgeous husky with her, and when my cousin and I walked into the studio he charged right at us. Thankfully he’s very friendly and I love dogs, but if you’re afraid of dogs or simply don’t like the idea of a dog hanging around where you’re about to work out, be forewarned. He routinely came up to us for licks and pets, and even sat on the mat with one of the girls for a while. Jillian even started the class with him in the room and only locked him out when he wouldn’t sit still. :)

Allongee is my new favorite studio! They just opened in Old City a few months ago, and the downstairs is still under construction, but the current upstairs space is perfect for every class I’ve taken. They have a ton of different barre style classes from upper body to core cardio, yoga, and even a Bey (Beyoncé) interval class! The routines are similar to Lithe, but the cardio isn’t as intense (which I prefer!) and much easier to follow. Jillian is a great instructor/​motivator, and super friendly. I’ve been going through Classpass, but they currently have an add-​on special if you’re looking to go more often. Highly recommend taking a class here!

I really love everything about this place.
The new studio is so beautiful. Its still under a little bit of construction so be mindful. When I went into my first class through classpass I didn’t really know what to expect. I used to dance in high school and did gymnastics so I was hoping for the best. There were women of all ages and all body types. There were about 10 people in the class. Everyone was given their own mat, ball, and a stretchy band. You also have your own section of the ballet bar. The class moves quickly and works parts of your body that you don’t know existed. We were moving the entire time, but the hour flies by.
Personally I loved the class. If you once danced, did gymnastics, or heck want to dance, this is the class for you. I didn’t get that pretentious vibe that I get every time walking into Lithe.
Prepare to have a girl crush on Jillian. Shes a great instructor!