Good Vibes

I love Good Vibes! Seriously, I’m here at least 5 times a week.
I was looking for a yoga studio to join after I moved to London from San Francisco… and thank god I found Good Vibes because it was everything I wanted (and more!) Ironically I seldom go to the yoga classes here, only because I love spin, pilates, and power plates so much more! The instructors are awesome, the classes are challenging, and you always leave feeling a little bit better than when you came in. Oh and there’s also a student discount for memberships which is awesome for poor student folk like me.

This is a review for their spin classes and facilities only. I got the 5-​class Time Out voucher for this place and I must say I was not impressed.
I took classes from three different instructors. Sam was the only instructor where I felt like I was getting my money’s worth. He led a very good workout with a great playlist and had an upbeat attitude that made it easy to stay motivated. I’d say if you’re going to try this studio at all for spin, Sam is your guy.
The other instructors were mediocre at best. I would leave not feeling like I worked out at all. One guy didn’t address the class in any way other than barking orders at us in an annoyed tone. The other lady had mentioned she never spins and would probably be taking a lot of breaks. It’s hard to feel inspired in these environments.
The spin studio itself was fine. Well set up and intimate with decent bikes and lighting. I would say it isn’t cleaned as meticulously as other places I’ve been to.
What really got to me though were the showers and changing areas. For such a small studio, the showers were not kept well at all. They always seemed dirty and I ended my voucher going to night classes just so I could avoid the studio showers and just shower at home.
There are a lot of upcharges as well. £1 for a shower towel, £1 for a small sweat towel, £1 for locker use, £1.50 for a basic water bottle. Given the fact that I already don’t think you get the value for your money for the rate of a spin class alone (except for Sam’s classes), the upcharges that are associated with this experience just don’t justify the quality you are getting back.
The front desk people are very nice and helpful, which did impress me.
All in all, I would say this isn’t worth your money. I would go to Cyclebeat or my home gym (Gymbox) over this place any day.

I like Good Vibes Fitzrovia. I don’t like it QUITE as much as I like the Covent Garden location (see my review for that location), if only for the fact that it’s just a little smaller and the common spaces don’t have quite the same vibe. That isn’t to say that the space isn’t nice; it is. Anyway, be that as it may, the classes and the instructors are still just as amazing at either location, and the front of house staff is just as cheerful, welcoming and helpful.

This is where I conquered my fear of Spinning.
I finally did it. Took the plunge. Jumped on the seat. Spinned my a*s off.
The Friday lunch class with Cris is a great intro. As its a shorter class, you won’t be wanting to die for quite so long. (kidding). He’s super high energy, and plays great music (Whitney!) that made everything feel not so terrible.
A few things I had to learn:
*you do not need special shoes. Athletic shoes are fine.
*have the instructor help you adjust your bike if you are new.
*bring some water.
*bring a towel.
*don’t freak out, push yourself.
I did this as part of the 30 day new client special (includes both GV studios, 30 days for 30 quid!) — and did two spinning classes. Really great way to burn calories quickly, in a fun way and super high intensity. The class fitness was mixed so it never felt like a bunch of hardbodies (though there were some of those too!).
This studio also has the Power Plates classes. It is housed in a basement, and is a bit more dated feeling than the Covent Garden studio. All of the lockers are out in the open (which is great) and the reception staff were always kind and friendly.
Very close to Goodge Street Station.
If you are freaked about spinning — try this! The intro offer is stellar and you can try it for a fraction of the cost to see if you like it, and the studio is convenient for you. Unfortunately for me it’s just a bit too far from work or home to make it a permanent part of the workout, but I have Good Vibes to thank for getting me out of my 10 year Spinning aversion!

If you’ve read the reviews of the other Good Vibes studios, you’ll realise that I am a big fan of Good Vibes’ Power Plate classes. The new studio at Fitzrovia has both Power Plate and spinning classes, and while I can only comment on the former (and they are indeed the best of all of the Power Plate classes I’ve been to across different gyms), the spinning classes seem quite popular. I could go on and on about how the receptionists are friendly and helpful, and how Power Plate classes are limited to five people per class so that instructors can give you the attention you need, and that these classes do work me out and yet somewhere leave me energised to face the rest of the day, but I won’t. Prices for classes vary, depending on whether you’re dropping in or have a package. If you’re able to come here on a regular basis and can commit to a year, I’d suggest getting a 12 month membership since, for £135 per month, you get unlimited classes Power Plate, spinning and yoga per month across all studios. Alternatively, if you’re not able to commit to that, you could wait for one of their promotions (usually summer and Christmas) when you can get between two and five classes free for purchasing a package of classes.