The Ultimate Guide to Intro Fitness Classes in the Philly Area
Angling for a new fitness routine? Use these 101 classes to learn the basics of everything from spinning to Pilates.
The Intro to Mat class at Urban Front Pilates is just one of many intro fitness classes offered throughout the Philly area. / Photograph courtesy of Urban Front Pilates
Those of you have been spinning or reforming or executing barre’s killer isometric movements for years could probably do these demanding workouts with your eyes closed (and we know instructors sometimes ask you to, as if you weren’t already working hard enough). But at some point, you, too, were a rookie. And, if you’re the type of person who likes to dabble in the latest fitness trends, you’re learning new exercises all the time. Plus, literally everyone could benefit from a form refresher every so often. (Just ask barre, yoga, and weight-lifting instructors.)
Mastering the fundamentals is so, so, so important because it teaches us proper form and technique, so we can build muscle quickly — and, even, more important, reduce our risk of injury. That’s why we at BeWell are going back to basics this week. Here, dear readers, is a *huge* list of Philly-area studios with 101 classes to channel your fitness roots. (All of these take place weekly unless otherwise noted.) We hope it encourages you to try something new.
Barre
Learn proper alignment and integrity at a studio like Barre3. / Photograph courtesy Barre3
The belief at the core of most barre studios is that barre is for everybody (every! body!). It’s why many of them offer classes that break down basic movements, allowing both beginner and advanced clients to strengthen their muscles and confidence.
Class to take: B3 Basics Workshop
Where: 1500 Sansom Street (Rittenhouse); 970 Dekalb Pike (Blue Bell); 1149 East Lancaster Avenue (Rosemont); 579 Lancaster Avenue (Berwyn); 1721 South Easton Road (Doylestown); 2875 South Eagle Road (Newtown)
Cost: Free for members; $10 for non-members
Extra Details: This class is offered quarterly.
Class to take: Barre Basics
Where: 1102 Baltimore Pike (Glen Mills)
Cost: $19
Class to take: Mixed Level
Where: 510 West Lancaster Avenue (Haverford)
Cost: $22
Class to take: The Barre Essentials
Where: 2001 Green Street (Fairmount)
Cost: $17
Class to take: Pure Foundations
Where: 1701 Walnut Street, 4th floor (Rittenhouse); 50 East Wynnewood Road (Wynnewood); 501 West Lancaster Avenue (Wayne); 1745 South Easton Road (Doylestown)
Cost: $23
Class to take: SoulBarre 101
Where: 2832 Audubon Village Drive (Audubon)
Cost: $17; first class free.
Extra Details: This class takes place monthly.
Class to take: Y2Barre & Stretch
Where: 7101 Emlen Street (West Mount Airy)
Cost: $18
Boxing
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Never put on gloves before? Don’t know what a right hook is? No problem! These boxing studios will train you in the basics so you’re ready for the ring.
Class to take: CKO Form Focus
Where: 1616 Walnut Street, lower level (Rittenhouse)
Cost: Call studio; first class free.
Class to take: Boxing Body Bootcamp
Where: 1810 Grant Avenue, lower level (Bustleton)
Cost: $10
Class to take: If it’s your first time in the gym, coaches will show you the ropes for a full 30 minutes before your scheduled class.
Where: 2101 Market Street (Rittenhouse)
Cost: $30
Indoor Cycling
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There are few things more terrifying than walking into a dimly lit room full of stationary bikes for the first time. Luckily, some indoor cycling studios offer 101 classes to teach you how to set up your bike, clip in and out of your shoes, and understand the difference between first, second, and third position.
Class to take: Intro Ride
Where: 500 West Germantown Pike (Plymouth Meeting); 1460 Bethlehem Pike (North Wales)
Cost: Free
Class to take: The Ride
Where: 1632 South Street (Graduate Hospital)
Cost: $25; first ride is $20.
Extra Details: Offered once a month.
Class to take: SoulRide 101
Where: 2832 Audubon Village Drive (Audubon)
Cost: $17; first class free
Extra Details: This class takes place monthly.
Class to take: Spin 101
Where: 328 North Lewis Road (Royersford)
Cost: $17; first class free
Extra Details: This class takes place monthly.
Pilates
Whether you’re looking for classic mat exercises or guidance on how to use reformer machines, these Pilates-based classes help you learn and hone essential postures, alignment, and equipment use.
Urban Front Pilates offers two different introductory Pilates classes: Intro to Mat and Beginner Equipment Series. / Photograph courtesy of Urban Front Pilates
Class to take: Reformer (level 1)
Where: 224 South Broad Street, eighth floor (Avenue of the Arts)
Cost: $35
Special note: Centerpoint Pilates also offers a free, 30-minute Intro to Pilates class for new clients.
Class to take: Beginner Reformer Series or Mat Fundamentals
Where: 1420 Walnut Street, fourth floor (Rittenhouse)
Cost: $40 (reformer); $20 (mat)
Class to take: New to Reformer series
Where: 918 Fayette Street (Conshohocken)
Cost: Call studio
Evolving Bodies Pilates Studio
Class to take: Book a private session.
Where: 1331 South Second Street (Pennsport)
Cost: $65
Class to take: Reformer Flex I
Where: 1430 South Street (Rittenhouse)
Cost: $26
Class to take: Sculpt Fundamentals
Where: 777 South Broad Street (Graduate Hospital); 27 North Maple Avenue (Marlton, NJ)
Cost: $28
Class to take: SLT – Essentials
Where: 1625 Walnut Street (Rittenhouse)
Cost: $32
Class to take: Full Body – Beginner
Where: 2116 Chestnut Street (Rittenhouse); 725 Chestnut Street (Old City); 925 West Lancaster Avenue, Suite 102 (Bryn Mawr)
Cost: $32
Class to take: Pilates Mat I/II
Where: 2016 Walnut Street (Rittenhouse)
Cost: $22
Class to take: Intro to Mat Class, then Beginner Equipment Series
Where: 1700 Sansom Street, second floor (Rittenhouse)
Cost: $20 (mat); $38 (equipment)
Class to take: Newbie Pilates
Where: 10 Penn Valley Drive (Yardley)
Cost: $25; 1st class free
TRX
TRX sculpts your entire body with the help of gravity and your own body weight. / Photograph by Cherina Jones/courtesy of Freehouse Fitness Studio
Total resistance exercise, best known as TRX, relies on gravity and your body weight to give you a total-body workout. These studios provide TRX classes that’ll get you acquainted with those straps and bands, so you can focus on getting strong.
Class to take: Bandit
Where: 1430 South Street (Rittenhouse)
Cost: $18
Class to take: Beginner TRX Training
Where: 606 Haddon Avenue (Collingswood)
Cost: $10; first class free
Class to take: Personal training session
Where: 1923 Chestnut Street, fourth floor
Cost: Contact studio
Class to take: TRX Suspension Training
Where: 1700 Sansom Street, second floor (Rittenhouse)
Cost: $28
Yoga
With correct posture and breathing, yoga can both strengthen and ease the mind and body. / Photograph courtesy Yoga Habit
These yoga classes are designed for those unfamiliar with the practice, returning after a hiatus, or seeking to re-engage with the basics. Emphasis is on building and maintaining safe, proper alignment and breath, with verbal cues or hands-on adjustments by experienced instructors.
Class to take: Back to Basics Yoga
Where: 3025 West Germantown Pike (Collegeville)
Cost: $13
Class to take: Yoga 101 or Beginner Hot Flow
Where: 1204 Frankford Avenue (Fishtown)
Cost: $17
Class to take: Beginner Vinyasa
Where: 2926 Richmond Street (Port Richmond)
Cost: $10
Class to take: Beginner Yoga
Where: 2101 South Street (Graduate Hospital)
Cost: Membership costs vary; a free seven-day pass is available for new clients who are Philadelphia residents.
Class to take: C1
Where: 1616 Walnut Street (Rittenhouse), 921 Haddonfield Road (Cherry Hill), 1460 Bethlehem Pike (North Wales)
Cost: $23; a free seven-day pass is available for new clients only.
Class to take: Non-Heated Beginner Power Yoga
Where: 2220 Frankford Avenue (Fishtown)
Cost: $18
Class to take: Intro to Aerial Yoga
Where: 225 Quarry Street (Old City)
Cost: $20 to $25
Class to take: New Kid on the Block
Where: 2001 Green Street (Fairmount)
Cost: $17
Class to take: Basics 101
Where: 1700 Sansom Street, 6th floor (Rittenhouse)
Cost: $18
Class to take: Beginner Power Yoga
Where: 2016 Walnut Street (Rittenhouse)
Cost: $18
Class to take: Rebel Fundamentals
Where: 8020 Germantown Avenue (Chestnut Hill)
Cost: $17
Class to take: Essentials
Where: 1233 Locust Street (Midtown)
Cost: $18
Class to take: Yoga Basics
Where: 84 Bethlehem Pike (Chestnut Hill)
Cost: Donation-based
Class to take: Basics
Where: 410 Monroe Street (Queen Village)
Cost: $20
Class to take: Yoga Basics
Where: 1150 South 20th Street (Point Breeze); 3400 Lancaster Avenue (West Philly)
Cost: $15
Class to take: Foundational Yoga Practice
Where: 2030 Sansom Street, third floor (Rittenhouse); 2329 Parrish Street (Fairmount); 1839 East Passyunk Avenue (South Philly)
Cost: $17
Class to take: Yoga 101: Beginners Workshop
Where: 131 North Narberth Avenue (Narberth); 240 South Eighth Street (Washington Square West)
Cost: $17; $49 for your first month of unlimited yoga includes the 101 workshop.
Class to take: Power Basics
Where: 1640 Fairmount Avenue (Fairmount)
Cost: $20
Extra Details: Yoga Habit also offers a two-hour Power Yoga 101 Workshop once a month.
Class to take: Community Basics
Where: 424 East Elm Street (Conshohocken)
Cost: $5
Class to take: Fundamentals
Where: 4363 Main Street (Manayunk)
Cost: $15
Miscellaneous
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There are plenty of other gyms that don’t fit quite into the other standard categories of group fitness. Here’s some where you can learn the ropes.
Class to take: Kettlebell Foundations
Where: 1901 South Ninth Street, Room 206B (Bok Building – South Philly)
Cost: $28
Class to take: Ballet Basics or Tap Technique
Where: 1301 Locust Street or 1624 South Street (depending on class)
Cost: $18 (ballet); $13 (tap)
Class to take: Sculpere Basics (yoga and ballet)
Where: 209 Poplar Street (Northern Liberties)
Cost: $23
Class to take: Barbell Fundamentals
Where: 1229 Chestnut Street, lower level (Midtown)
Cost: $25
Do you offer an awesome 101 class that we missed? Let us know at mfischer@phillymag.com.
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