I used to do Barre classes in San Fran so I was stoked when I heard that Marysa was opening a…read morestudio here. Located above Richmond Road, the studio is open and light with a gorgeous view out west. As for the class itself, don't let the description fool you - it's hard! I'm always amazed at how such small movements can make your legs (or arms) shake so uncontrollably. As for co-ordination, you don't need it....well, not really. You do use a ballet barre but it is surprisingly unballetic bar the pointing and flexing of toes. Marysa is doing a 2 for 1 offer at the moment and also an introductory $150 unlimited month so if you looking for a new regime heading into Summer I'd definitely recommend giving this a go

I was so lucky to have the chance to join in on a studio class recently, meet Marysa who is so…read morefriendly and made me feel excited and happy. The class combines, yoga, Pilates and barre work, and from the warmup to the workout and finally the relaxing stretch out at the end, your heart is pumping away and your body reaping its toning rewards. I along with my good friend, glanced over at each other, not knowing what we were in for, but never daring to slow down. I really love the tempo and movement of the class it was as though we were in our very own dance routine workout. I always like a good music soundtrack, and I definitely approve of the song choices, all very current dance tracks. The studio is very easy to find up some stairs from a well signed Barrefigure at 166 Richmond rd. Parking was not hard to find at all across the road. Inside the studio, carpet lines the studio floor which faces floor to ceiling mirrors, and to the other side is Marysa sign in desk/reception and a block of cubby holes perfect for storing away your bag etc. Views out the window, to glimpse as I noticed during workout a beautiful church up on Ponsonby rd. This is the definite winner of a class for women, it targets all those areas we want toned up and perky- abs,thighs,and bum of course! I want to be back in soon for this amazing class as the feeling of revival and stamina I got from just one class I am actually begging for more!

This review is for Edit. She instructs yoga classes three times a week. She calls poses by their…read moreactual name, she describes how various poses will benefit various complaints (headaches, sciatica, etc), and she throws in new poses regularly. I've had various instructors over the years, and she is easily the best. As far as the rest of the gym, I've done spinning classes and pump. Both instructors were genuinely helpful and passionate about the classes. I buy 10 trip tickets rather than a membership. Tips: Look out for deals on GrabOne - I got 10 classes for ~$70. They also did a deal prior to Christmas last year which I imagine they'll repeat - 10 classes for $100 instead of the regular $150.

Although St Heliers and Glen Innes are completely oversaturated with expensive gyms and fitness…read morecentres, Contours Glen Innes is one of the few that are women-only. I'm not advocating that sex segmentation is the, erm, best way to work out or whatever, but I'm definitely sure that the environment at Contours was much more enjoyable than that of my previous gym 5 minutes away, which was crowded with pungent-smelling, slightly narcissistic young males who would frequently lift massive dumbells in front of their mirror with their friends (obsessive, much?). Contours is much smaller, and although I had to pay a little bit more than I did at my old gym, it was well worth every penny. All of the classes are well-organised and a lot of fun, and the gym itself is always really clean and tidy, so I always felt like I had motivation to pop down here at least a couple of times a week.

This great wee studio is located right in the middle of the city, above CityFitness. I recently…read morecame here with a friend who is an avid fan to try their 'body beautiful' class, which is a mixture of pilates, yoga and ballet barre work. We had a first time instructor but she did a fantastic job of making sure we all had the technique down whilst still making the class challenging. Halfway through the class my legs were shaking and I swear I was using muscles I didn't even know existed! Not sure if they offer this all the time but I got an unlimited pass for a week for only $10 b/c it was my first time. Looking forward to going back and trying their Yoga classes.

Very clean and professional gym. Really appreciate that the locker rooms have shampoo and soap…read moreprovided in the showers as well as hair dryers and electronic lockers. Really nice to not have to deal with providing your own lock. The real unique point of Bodytech is the well-staffed floor and the supervised circuit workout. This is part of membership and is like getting free mini-personal training sessions. When you factor in those features it is reasonably priced and good value for money. I have been a member for 6 years, I think that says it all, right?

I can't say I have experience in gyms seeing this is my first, but I'm definitely glad I picked…read morethis one after a recommendation from a friend. Firstly, the thing that sold me was they have a 2 lane private pool, and surprisingly it's hardly ever busy, usually I'm the only one in there, because I can't stand sharing a lane with 5 other people at a public pool. The gym also has a spa pool, steam room, sauna, and showers with shampoo and shower gel provided. The main feature of the gym is the supervised circuit, a set of 8 different weight machines to work out your whole body. It isn't full blown personal training but the trainers are there every step of the way to setup the next machine and push you till failure to get the most out of your workout. I've definitely seen a good improvement in strength and muscle gain from this. The trainers are also super friendly, and always offer advice and help with learning to use other machines in the gym. The only downfall is obviously all this comes at a price, which is a fair bit higher than a gym like Jett's, it's around 90-150 per month, depending on the term you select. But in my opinion, well worth it, especially for new gym-goers like myself, for the supervised circuit and the amenities. Only other thing is being a highly staffed gym, it's not open 24/7. I think currently it's about 5:30am to 9pm during the week. PS, keep an eye on their website if you're looking at joining, they usually have a decent joining offer.

I was thoroughly impressed with my first experience here. I came with a friend for the introductory…read morecourse, a level 2 Vinyasa class. I do practice yoga and while I do it at home I find classes are much better, you just get more out of practicing. I had been going to Bikram yoga classes for several months, I wanted to mix things up a bit and get more into the poses and building up strength in other parts of my body. This seemed like a good way to do it. The class was fun. The instructor Steve was fantastic. Very charismatic, he provided equal does of instruction with humour and personal stories throughout the session which made it way more fun. Steve both does the poses and walks around ensuring that everyone is in the poses correctly, readjusts where necessary and provides encouragement throughout the class too. Steve understands why you come, to relieve stress and to find balance and the breathing exercises focus on detoxing yourself from the negativity in your life, what ever that may be. A great class and needless to say I will be adding this to my Bikram classes and cycling.

I have been to around three different yoga studios in Auckland. I'm not an expert but then I'm not…read morea full on beginner either. The Yoga Sanctuary is my favourite of the lot. I think it's a combination of the tutors and the comfortable surroundings. I don't feel like anyone is looking at me in a weird way like I do at East West (bikram yoga) and everyone seems to be really friendly and relaxed and accommodating to your needs. I did the align and flow class one time, which I thought was a little bit boring, or easy or something. The next day I was in more muscle pain (the good kind) than I've had in years, so obviously I was wrong. Usually I go to the Level 1 Vinyasa class and I feel pretty happy about it. They mix it up a lot, which is cool for me because as soon as I start getting bored during exercising I want to go home. One other thing I think is cool, is that the tutors seem to be pretty 'normal' - they do go through a lot of the spiritual stuff when they talk, but not in a way that makes me feel like, 'oh my god these bloody hippies let's get on with it', if that makes sense.

I have reached the stage in my life where in order to push myself to the limit physically I need to…read morebe watched like a rebellious teenager. That is why Les Mills is so great. Not only do they have super knowledgeable P.Ts, but for those on a budget, their group fitness classes and instructors are brilliant. From Body Balance (tai chi, pilates and yoga) to Body Jam (dance workout), they literally have something for everyone. On the topic of classes, new and noteworthy is their GRIT Series, a 30 minute workout that is based on High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). The series is made up of three different workouts: strength, plyo and cardio. What is it like? Well, a friend recently described GRIT as 'Body Pump on steroids' and I would have to agree. You will not find a more effective way to work out and get in shape in 30 minutes. Doooo it! On top of their world-renowned group fitness classes, Les Mills Takapuna has a large weights area, a cardio room and bathroom and shower facilities. Hot tip: when you sign up to one location you can use any of the four Auckland locations at no additional charge. What are you waiting for? In short, I love Les Mills and the only thing stopping me from giving it 5 stars is that they don't provide sweat towels for members. Oh, and they don't have an app. Heck, they don't even have a mobile browser!

Oh how I love Les Mills. That might sound weird, but it is true, and I am sure there are plenty of…read moreworse things to be addicted to than a bit of cross-training. Let me clarify, I am not an excersize addict. I do not wake up, wherever I am in the world, and decide I need to go for a run. In fact while living overseas for four years, I struggled to make it to the gym at all. But Les Mills gyms, and particularly the Takapuna branch, must put something in the air conditioning as from the moment I walk in I'm amped for a workout. It's probably just some simple psychology; the brightly coloured walls, upbeat music, machines all lined up to a movie screen in the cardio theatre or the view of Rangitoto from the RPM room. Whatever it is I'm hooked!

Not until my last morning in Auckland did I discover the 06:30 Ashtanga class (your first is $10;…read moreone month membership for $99 if purchased on the same day). Had I known how much I'd like it, I would've definitely headed there as soon as I arrived in NZ. The Yoga Academy is the sort of place I'd love to live in walking distance of - it's super chill, there are classes throughout the day, you're made to feel at home as soon as you walk in. Mats, blankets, bolsters and such are all available to borrow and they're in good condition. I'd recommend the Yoga Academy for those brand new to yoga and seasoned practitioners alike.

Repeat after me: I will try Helen's Hatha class. I will try Helen's Hatha class. I will try Helen's…read moreHatha class... Yoga Academy is that rare blend of yoga studio where the instructors take the practice of yoga seriously, without taking themselves too seriously. There's a meditation room and a statue of Ganesh in the reception area, but you never feel like you're about to be brainwashed into a cult (hey, you know those places, right?). Aside from the wonderful Helen and her Hatha class, there's Ashtanga (the sweaty, weight-loss kind of yoga), and various workshops and retreats on offer. And as you might have guessed by it's name, the Academy also does yoga teacher training, and the professionalism of the instruction on offer is undoubtable.

I've been coming to the yoga classes here for over 10 years. There used to be Thursday and Tuesday…read morenight sessions but now there's a class on Monday morning at 10.45 and Tuesday evening at 7.35. Both are taught by Diana Radcliffe and have been for as long as I can remember. The style of yoga is simple Hatha yoga in the Satyananda style and what this means to you is that it's suitable for all levels. Diana provides alternatives for beginners and takes an individual approach when needed, keeping an eye on the newbies. Each class starts with a gentle warm-up followed by floor postures before moving into standing poses, usually incorporating a series of movements into a flow. There are variations each week so you don't get bored and every session finishes with 10 minutes of breathing and relaxation. Yoga doesn't have to be a weird thing you have to go to a hippy place to do; it's for everyone and I would highly recommend starting here with Diana.

I went to the gym at the YMCA in Mt Albert while I was in high-school and it was perfect. As a…read morestudent at Mt Albert Grammar the YMCA actually offered me a discount, so not only did I have access to all the equipment and classes, but at a cheap price! It is things like this - providing local students with cheaper rates - that always impresses me about the YMCA. It is a business that really looks after locals - it's very community oriented. An example of this community spirit is the YMCA used to rent out one of their rooms to my dance school at a cheap rate so we had enough room to have proper rehearsals and practices. Without their help we would have been at a loss! Offering great school holiday programmes, hosting kids birthday parties, before and after school care, special youth programmes that promote leadership and creativity - the Mt Albert YMCA is fantastic.