Before last weekend, I had not tried a pilates
If you’ve never tried [solidcore] before or pilates and are interested, check out this review to see if it’s a workout you should consider!
What is [solidcore]?
[solidcore] is a high-intensity, low-impact strength training pilates class. The instructor guides class and gives you clear instructions on which pieces of equipment you should be using on the reformer and walks you through specific movements. The exercises throughout class can be modified for any fitness level.
The class targets muscle fibers with small movements pushing your body to failure. During class, the instructor doesn’t give you designated breaks, but encourages you to take them as you need them, since it differs per person.
What to expect?
Expect to fail. This is the whole point of the workout, apparently. You want to push yourself so hard with these small movements that you completely burn out whatever muscles you are targeting
Although it’s not comparable to a HIIT class where you are doing intense cardio and are constantly out of breath, it’s definitely challenging. [solidcore] kind of reminded me of pure barre, if you have ever tried that. This is mostly because both classes focus on really small movements, pushing you to feel the burn.
Expect to be feeling achy the next day. I woke up the morning after with major soreness in my abs, and slightly in my inner thighs and back.
Each class has 15 people or less, which gives it an intimate feel. The instructor I had was really
You can take a beginners class if you’d like, although I took a normal class for my first time and didn’t feel overwhelmed.
Length
All classes at [solidcore] are 50 minutes. The first 10-15 minutes are the hardest part of class.
Props
No props needed, not even your athletic shoes. You either do the class barefoot or with grippy socks.
The only prop you will use is the pilates reformer, or machine, which is provided at the studio.
Locations
[solidcore] has Chicago studio locations in Boystown and River North, although they have locations in 14 other states.
Atmosphere
The people at [solidcore] were the kindest I’ve ever met at a workout studio. Not only was the instructor sweet and
To be honest, I’ve never been to a studio before where everyone is so nice. Many times, the
Gimme the quick details
Difficulty level: 8/10
Sweat level: 5/10
- I wasn’t sweaty leaving class, but that is because it wasn’t a cardio based class. Don’t let this fool you thinking the class was easy. It. Was. Not. Easy.
Intimidation factor: 3/10
Vibe: Super friendly
Interested?
If you are interested in trying [solidcore], consider doing a free trial of ClassPass or signing up for their new client package, which gets you 2 classes for $39. This is basically two classes for the price of one.