Exhale Flatiron

Things are heating up at Exhale Flatiron!!!
This was my best barre class in seven years! There are so many terrific barre teachers on the market, many of whom I’ve been honored to take classes with. But, at some point the show leads you in the direction of a homerun and her name is Gabby Muzzarelli. This is how it’s done at the barre and Exhale, the barre powerhouse that has had women pulsing and squeezing with their Core Fusion classes for years, hired the best barre instructor. Congratulations is in order to their talent scouts for recruiting Ms. Muzzarelli and to their development team for training her. Gabby Muzzarelli delivered an outstanding class which landed her nothing short of barre teacher gold. If I could nominate one barre teacher to set the standard for the rest, I would point to her.
Exhale Flatiron is tucked quietly into a beautiful Manhattan neighborhood where many competing boutique fitness studios call their facility home. Throughout the last 20 years, I have been fortunate to explore many group exercise classes and it has been my personal experience that nothing compares to the intensity and support of a group environment. As such, I currently take a large number of group fitness classes throughout the city and must immediately recognize the exponentially outstanding customer service that will greet you at Exhale Flatiron. During my initial visit, I was received kindly in an immaculately clean studio by Daniel and Nina, two stellar front desk employees who personally escorted me around the studio so that I would become familiar with their facility. I was made to feel comfortable and happy as they smiled and treated me respectfully upon meeting me. On a subsequent visit, I received similar service from Toria and April who worked the bustling Saturday morning. The energy at Exhale Flatiron that Saturday did not deter them from delivering great customer care. This is what sets Exhale Flatiron apart from any other facility in NYC. I was deeply impressed from the start because the front desk staff is truly how studios can distinguish themselves from the competition in this oversaturated boutique fitness explosion. Customer service was nothing short of A+++.
The class taught by Gabby was safe, challenging, fun, and filled with musicality throughout the hour. Every single minute was perfection. Upon meeting Gabby, I mentioned that I had taken years of barre classes but I would be working with a few pre-​exsisting injuries. She immediately showed interest in helping me come up with modifications BEFORE class so that I would implement them throughout my workout hour. She was generous with her time and showed a deep interest in making my experience a safe one. During class she personally helped me with modifications and asked how I was feeling. She provided me with great care and this was the first time that I had such wonderful experience at a barre studio. I was pain free throughout class yet physically challenged. I really appreciated her efforts to help me stay safe yet inspired to participate meaningfully.
The class was just fantastic. We opened with a series of planks to heat up our tired, winter bodies and followed up with arm exercises utilizing dumbbells. Once at the barre our thighs were on fire as Gabby programmed an outstanding sequence to sculpt our gams. Fun music inspired this busy room full of hard working barre devotees. New individuals received ample attention from Gabby and everyone appeared content. My muscles were definitely quivering and loving every moment. I got through the toughest sequences with her immaculate cuing. What a teacher! After a tough glutes section, we moved onto our side leg series with a tight green exercise band which enabled us to create resistance to carve out that great side body. Goodbye saddlebags, hello toned physique. Abs completed the energetic hour and stretching was injected throughout class. Gabby remembered client names and encouraged everybody.
Gabby’s class was appropriate for all levels and I would highly recommend her. Her positive attitude and barre knowledge is refreshing. She currently teaches at various Exhale studios throughout NYC and this the one barre teacher to look out for in 2016. If you are seeking a form focused and content filled class with amazing instruction, expert cuing, musicality, and great support from a master-​level teacher, take Gabby’s class. You will sweat. You will work hard. You will be kept incredibly safe and truly appreciate Gabby’s gift for teaching fitness classes at an extremely elite level. I was highly impressed with her overall and if I could rate her with more than five stars I would because she is deserving of many more. I am delighted to have discovered her classes and to share her incredible talent with others.
Explore Exhale Flatiron-​this studio has gone down to basics: people matter. Thank you Exhale.

Julie B.‘s class will change your body and will likely change your life. She has amazing energy and is so personable. She will correct your form in a very hands-​on way so be prepared to be seen in her class and be prepared to work, there’s no hiding! If you’re slacking off she will notice you and (politely) call you out in a totally sweet, «I care about your workout» kind of way. Incorporating her class into my workout routine has helped me achieve the body I want, lean, long, and strong.

I think I’m becoming a barre person. After taking a few more classes here, I’ve changed my mind: the classes are legit, and I’m now a fan. The Core Fusion Express is only 45 minutes, so perfect for a quick workout without breaking into a sweat. The forearm planks in the beginning «warm up» are always hard. Always. I like the arms portion because it’s simple but challenging, and people tend to lift heavier than I’m used to in a barre class (⁴⁄₅ lbs vs. ½). The thigh portion at the barre is absolutely insane, and my glutes burn like crazy afterward. Finally, the ab section against the wall. Ugh! It sucks. I love it. It really works your lower abs, which regular crunches just don’t do.
I really enjoy Emily’s classes and find her to be especially tough but friendly/​warm at the same time.

Ok. I’ll admit it. I like weight lifting and boxing and HIIT and never took the barre classes seriously.
Well… I took my first one today.
Two things:
1– I am humbled
2– F@*K the green ball
Great class. Amazing instructor. Bright clean studio. Locker room is a bit on the small side but fully stocked and there are showers.

This is one of the few Exhale locations which offers Core Fusion Extreme.
Oh. My. Goodness.
I vaguely remember some reference about being relatively physically fit before taking this class. Before Core Fusion Extreme, I’d say I was of average physical fitness, but afterwards, I’m deeply questioning this conclusion.
The class is awesome. It is an excellent workout. The first ¹⁄₃ of class consists of the typical Core Fusion movements (minus the barre). The remainder of the class. .. was awesome in the most terrible way imaginable. There were basically 5 circuits/​stations, each with two exercises and you did two rounds of each for 30 seconds, for a total of 2 minutes (I think, or it could have been a minute each and 4 minutes total, but it felt like an eternity). There were some stations that were just straight up hard. Especially one that involved planks and sliding on your knees. I don’t know if it was my weak abs (:-() or my weak knee caps, but I was simply awful at it. There was lots of jumping, a few squats/​lunges, and movements involving bursts of energy.
The pace of the class is challenging, but great. You’re able to endure each circuit, knowing that it will be over in two minutes. The instructor either did an excellent job of memorizing names or called names out with motivating phrases at random (including my name at least three times when I was on the verge of giving up until the next circuit). Overall, she was very engaged and motivating, and took time to provide individual feedback and praise.
I burned approximately 525 calories in the one class I have subject myself to (so far), and I probably had endurance sufficient to do 65% of the workouts at pace. So I imagine full throttle would be in the 700 range, which is pretty awesome for a studio class.
When I summon up the courage, I’ll be back!

I’ve only taken the cardio fusion extreme here with Madison through class pass! It was a serious class but made you feel sooo good after! Madison is a great instructor and very encouraging! I’ve only visited this exhale so I can’t compare it to any of their other spas/​studios. The showers/​changing rooms are nice! There is a water cooler and little shop up front!

The barre classes at Exhale flatiron are challenging and excellent. Madison is a great instructor and is able to adjust exercises if you have an injury.
1. Bring water bottles– they have a filtered water machine.
2. They have lockers with electronic locks.
3. They have 2 showers in the women’s bathroom, as well as lotion, hairspray, and hairdryers.
4. They have towels.
— Noga Delshad

I came here for the Bicoastal Biathlon NYC event hosted by well + Good a few Saturdays ago. I joined the Team HIIT and Chill and the first session was Exhale’s Core Fusion Extreme class.
This class is not for the faint at heart and you need to be fit to endure this class. Well, even if you are fit (which I am), it still kicked my ass, but in a good way.
There are 5 stations set up, with include gliders, plyo boxes, heavy hand weights, TRX suspension training. You are at each station for about 2 minutes, repeating one exercise twice. You are doing push-​ups, jumping back and forth, lifting balls up and down, bridge poses and gliding exercises working your core. This class will work you until you are dead, but it feels oh so good.
I am so glad I got to try this workout and I will definitely be back to try this class again. The next time, every single muscle in my body hurt (I didn’t even know certain things could hurt like that in my body), and well I know that meant I got a really good workout.
Thanks for an awesome Saturday working my body and sweating out all the toxins.

To be fair, this will be a review of this location, not necessarily on Core Barre Fusion, which has its fair amount of praises and critics…
So, Exhale Flatiron is in a GREAT location. I really love the way Flatiron is shaping up (kind of literally). However, I will say, I think that it opened pre-​maturely, and was not a good deal for anyone who bought on Gilt City NYC. I know that CF is pricey, so I was stoked to see a ‘deal’ on there. I called the club beforehand to ask some questions, mainly to be sure the facility would have a shower, as I planned on trying to make some before-​work classes.
Well, when it opened, and till the day I left, there was no shower, as promised, and it has something to do with permits. Great, but that completely limited my usage of the gym. I was able to take classes with a number of instructors, and for the most part, they were pretty awesome, but Bergen’s HIIT class is definitely the win for this studio. For any other CF practice? Go anywhere but here. The other locations are more luxe, offer more products, some have showers, and some have massage/​spa services in them.
I’m absolutely so glad I did not pre-​purchase a membership to this location, as it would have been extremely limiting. For just the one class, I would have paid out of pocket, but I wish I would have known you could get a 1 week unlimited at 40 dollars. For the amount of time I was able to go, due to the lack of shower facilities, and the schedule, I definitely wasted money on the month-​unlimited. A week would have given me an adequate taste!
If they put in showers, it will be an improvement — so I’d check it out just to see.