SLT

SLT doesn’t need my 5 star review. They don’t even need a Unilocal page.
Their studios are legit. So good. Best pilates/​reformer/​low impact-​high intensity work out.
I. Love. SLT.

«This makes Soulcycle seem like rugby»
I’m pretty open about trying new and different exercise classes in the city. Bikram, Barry’s, CityRow, etc.
It’s pretty intimidating though to walk into a room where you are the only guy.
The basics: SLT means using a machine called a Megaformer. Like Transformers, during the workout you must continually adjust the machine, changing pulleys, cords, wheels, and mechanized weapons (ok maybe not weapons). While doing this you are also performing Pilate Yoga like moves.
Net result is a good workout for your abs, core and legs. I didn’t feel the chest or arms work was so challenging because dough weights at the gym I think is more challenging. I didn’t hate it, but the machina is more distracting that empowering.
Caution for guys: it’s kinda of a feminine workout.

I’ve been a long time devotee of SLT (aka strengthen lengthen tone) and its truly the most transformative workout i’ve ever done. The class is 50 minutes, on the «megaformer», set to awesome playlists in a small group setting.
OK… so why is this workout so special? Simply because it works your whole body and focuses on the core, that part of the body that keeps you up straight. Since I started SLT a couple years ago, I never get injured anymore, and despite never doing a cardio workout… I never have problems doing stuff like elliptical at the gym.
Get ready to be sore. The combination of planks, leg exercises, and other moves on the machine are not for the faint at heart but it works. The con of the workout is that its expensive. A single class is $ 40, but hey its a lot cheaper than a personal trainer. Book early as the classes fill up quickly.

I would give this workout 5 stars for the workout classes and 1 for customer service. I settled in the middle. AWESOME workout and fun class. TERRIBLE customer service. If you put yourself on a waiting list note that if you are taken off the waiting list you are registered for a class automatically. You therefore cannot sign up for a less favorable time and hope to get into a time that better suites you schedule. This policy is unclear on the website and you will get charged for 2 classes on one day. When I made this mistake, honestly made the mistake. I was told I should take both classes or lose the 40! I couldn’t believe no courtesy was given for an honest mistake due to a poorly written policy on their website. If you go to the classes you will love them but be cautious about dealing with their customer service.

I am completely new to this whole fitness thing — looking back SLT probably wasn’t the best class to start with. Given everything I’ve heard and read about the Megaformer I knew it would be challenging but whatever I was ambitious.
As someone who’s never really worked out I can’t comment on how effective/​good of a workout this was. I did sweat a lot and I’m sore so I’m sure it did something. My class was mostly newbies like myself and everyone seemed confused. The instructor was energetic but not very helpful — she kept chanting on even though it was obvious we weren’t following (everyone was doing something different!). The torture machine kept slipping away and I spent most of the class trying not to fall off.

I’ve decided to go try SLT after a friend recommend and said it got her ripped in 3 months! I was recovering from a major knee injury and was desperate to get in shape and work out but couldn’t do any high intensity cardio (aka running, jumping). SLT was just right up my ally! It is really hard and now that I’m almost done with my 20 classes package, I am sure I want to continue. The results are real. I can clearly see definition on my abs, arms and my legs are much stronger. I have yet to complete an entire class without collapsing out of breath on the megaformer (best torture device ever!!!). It’s nothing like its predecessor, the reformer so do not get confused. The megaformer works you (you work it?) much harder and targets and reaches literally every single muscle group in your body. There’s a reason all the instructors are shredded to perfection. My favorite instructor is Yoo Soon Park. She’s very much into proper form and her warm up alone will leave you gasping for air. She will also come by and correct you and make sure you’re sucking in your stomach!
I’ve done a ton of other classes in different gyms and NOTHING compares to SLT. Also worth noting, I truly enjoy the after burn and imho if it doesn’t hurt, it doesn’t work and I’ve been getting sore muscles after every single class without fail.
The cancelation policy is 12 hours, pretty standard across the board in most NYC studios and gyms so I don’t know why people get so cranky over it. Some instructors get booked faster than others and also certain time slots are trickier to get but check every few hours and you might get lucky. I’ve gotten to every single class. It’s really not that complicated once you familiarize yourself with the website.
I highly recommend SLT to anyone who wants to get in shape and listen to great music while doing so.
Trust me, there is nothing out there that beats it!

After a prolonged period of exercise hibernation due to surgery and work, this fattie decided to throw herself head first into a new class to get her body together… and that new class happened to be SLT!
(yeah at first glance I thought it was spelling something else too… whoops)
SLT stands for «Strengthen Lengthen Tone» and focuses on making your body do those tiny quiver and shakes that really activate your slow twitch fibers. This class is great for those of us that need that harder something extra to get our tummy muscles (as well as every last effing muscle strand in our body) stronger and tighter. The teachers know what they’re doing and I love that they come around to make sure we are doing proper form to help prevent injury. I am five classes in at this point in time and even though I still suck, I’m starting to notice I suck just a tiny bit little less each time.
One of my favorite things about this class is that you can buy packages of classes and you just need to use them up within a certain amount of time. You can make your own schedule (depending on availability) online and their website makes it so easy to book or cancel. With classes maxing out at 11 people in most cases, you will need to plan ahead but it’s not that hard at all. All classes for the following month will open up for reservations on the 15^th of the month before. For example, for June classes I will have to really be on top of my schedule on May 15^th to get the classes I want since they have high traffic.
Now I admit, I’ve never done any kind of specialized Pilates-​reformer-​thingamajiggy type class before so when I first walked into the studio, I thought I was entering Christian Grey’s fun room. I mean, come on… crazy bed-​like devices with springs attached and straps for your wrists and ankles? Whose mind wouldn’t go there?
Oh… wait… I’m the only one? Alright then, good to know. Too late now. You’re thinking it too.
And remember, better sore than sorry!