New space so I thought it'd be helpful to do a new review, especially now that I'm maybe considered…read morean OG in the class (wuhaha)! I was having a bad day at work earlier this week but went to class and was reminded why I continue to love Major Body Fitness. It is the people & because I have fun every time! It seems like Melissa & Chloe's (owner/instructors) purpose is to make every single one of us in class laugh, smile, & let loose each time! I feel re-energized, more centered, powerful, & feminine every single time. I also usually feel sore the next couple days which means I'm workin it. You'll learn a lot about different exercise moves, stretching, & even some dance moves. I honestly doubted I would ever be able to twerk but one day I shocked myself (& Melissa lol) by finally learning how & if I can, then it's within reach for everyone! About the New Space: Major Body is no longer in its stand-alone studio. All classes now take place at the Oxford Community Center. This means the instructors spend less time on building maintenance & more time in designing our classes. The building has a free and open parking lot & locker rooms that we are able to use. Note that there aren't single stall showers tho and are instead like middle school where there's a bunch of spouts in one room. The class is on the second floor. You don't need to sign in at the front desk, just go up the stairs on your right when u enter & follow the music and flashing lights. To get in the locker room, just tell the front desk ur with Major Body & they'll buzz u through the doors. Go to Major Body's website for the latest class schedule. Right now the classes are weightlifting (Major Power) on Mondays, Major Bounce on Wednesdays with a follow-up class that differs from week to week, & strength-building at 10am on Saturdays. It's super easy to sign up for class online. You can pay for classes in a bundle online too which is a better deal than paying for a single class. You should also follow Major Body on Facebook & Insta. This will be your best bet in knowing about any free classes or special events they offer once in a while. The instructors still love what they do & that feeling is infectious. If you're looking for motivation to workout while loving your body & having fun, you've got to try these classes out! Thanks Melissa & Chloe & the whole fitfam for creating this unique space! Here's to more health & healing & loving ourselves and each other in the new year!

Took the BUTI Yoga class and man was it a great work out. I'll be honest, it was intense,…read moreexhausting, and I was watching the clock the entire time. However, when it was done I had a jolt of energy. The class fused dancing (like Zumba) to Caribbean, Latin, Hip Hop and Dance music, with yoga stretches, and moves like planks and pushup to build muscle. While it may seem like a lot (to some), it all came together well and with the intense dancing, the other moves provided a bit of rest...while still working out. The instructor, who had lots of energy, had us kicking high, whining our waist, jumping...and for some of us nearly crying (feeling the burn). It was a fun, impactful class and a lovely studio that I would DEFINITELY recommend. A few things to note: -there is a parking lot attached -bring your own yoga mat, but if you forget there are rentals -bring your own water bottle...already filled as there's no drinking fountain, but they sell water -there isn't a locker room (or I didn't notice one), but if you need to change there is a bathroom -come with a positive attitude as it really help(ed) make the experience that much better -they also offer spin class (and other workouts) which I heard is fun

Happy to have my first review this year go to one of my fav places in the twin cities!…read more Where to start? When I decided to try powerlifting back in Nov 2016, I knew I needed a coach to help me with my atrocious form problems. I did a bunch of Google/Yelp searching to find a gym with a coach that catered to this particular sport. There were a few, but American Strength stood out. I sent a message through their contact page on their website and got a response fairly fast from Ken, the gym owner. I called him and set up a time to talk with him about my goals and check out the gym - also your first session with a trainer is free, and you get a week pass to try the gym out for free as well. The rest is history! The gym itself is great and has everything someone who lifts weights would need. Multiple power racks, 3 squat racks, a strip of track for sleds, benches, free weights, cable machine, deadlift platforms, an oly platform, a separate room for stretching and mobility stuff, heavy metal through the speakers. There's even a log and keg for strongman-esque training. One downside perhaps is there aren't a ton of machines for body-builder style training, but this gym definitely isn't geared towards that anyway. There are also showers and a couple changing rooms. There are lockers but I think you need to rent them, but this isn't a place that I've ever worried about someone swiping my stuff. Oh, there's only 5 or 6 cardio machines - priorities! Ken is a great coach - I've been with him a year now training once a week/every other week depending on my schedule. He's very technical, as a coach should be! He basically took me from sitting on a box with no weight over and over because I didn't know how to squat, to squatting 190lbs at my first meet 10 months later, and he writes my programming when needed. He charges hourly and his rate is more than fair! I am not a member of the gym, it's just a bit too far away for me to go to more than once or twice a week (or I totally would have switched already), but the monthly rate is comparable to the tiny Snap across the street from my work, and there are discounted memberships too for military/law enforcement, students, and couples. Aside from all that it's a great environment. All the staff I've met are super nice and helpful. There's a mix of guys and gals in the gym at pretty much all times, so ladies, you never need worry about feeling out of place. The guys can get loud sometimes if someone is going for a big lift, but overall there's a lot of comradery and an energizing atmosphere. If I'm having a bad day I always feel better after an hour or two of training there :) So if you're interested in getting stronger, learning to lift, or even just getting fit in a general sense, this is the place to be!

Best Powerlifting gym in the cities. Great equipment and better tips from the owners.read more

Pilates has completely changed my body. A year ago on a visit to my Grandmother, she showed me…read morethat she could do a plank for at least one minute. She was 86 and I was 38...I couldn't manage 30 seconds. I had taken Pilates with Deb 8 years ago after I had my first child when she was located in Rockford. I realized that was exactly what I needed to get my body back in shape. Deb is an amazing instructor and definitely pushes you but not too far, as she is always cognizant of your movement and body position. Less than a year later, I have lost 35 pounds and gained so much muscle, flexibility, energy and clarity that I feel as good as I did in my early 20's. Everyone should be doing Pilates and a great place to go is the Pilates Advantage!

The studio was nice and clean but Deb the owner wasn't very welcoming. You had to purchase private…read morelessons first, which I was fine with since I had never taken Pilates and one on one is always nice. The lessons were okay but Deb didn't make me feel comfortable enough to ask questions, she seemed stressed and agitated for all three lessons. But I stuck with it and bought more classes because it was close to my job and because I had heard so many good thing about how beneficial Pilates is. The last straw for me was when I asked a question as we were doing an exercise and Deb literally SNAPPED AT ME in front of the other three females!!!! I was so embarrassed. And the reason I was having issues was because the tension of the machine wasn't right- once Deb realized it she fixed it but with a slight attitude. Even the three others in class kind of looked uncomfortable that she had gotten so pissed off for no obvious reason. If your a newcomer to Pilates I wouldn't suggest this place. Pilates isn't cheap and its not worth it if THE OWNER doesn't want to help you to learn!! I'll stick with Core Power Yoga!

Signed a contract with $2,000.00. WILL NOT GET MY MONEY BACK. Came back and was quoted $12,000.00…read morefor 17 Weeks of food and supplements. THEY don't tell you the BIG price till AFTER they have you sign the contract stating you won't get your money back. Very, very disappointed. I can think of a millions things I can spend that kind of money on!! DO NOT GO HERE UNLESS YOU WANT TO GET RIPPED OFF. There is no scientific proof that you will loose weight either. My supplements I buy every month do not add up to this!

Hello, My name is Howard and I have been a client of…read moreSlimgenics for 22 weeks. My local center is in Maplewood, MN and I cannot say enough good things about all the counselors that have helped my achieve amazing weight loss. I would like to start out by giving credit to the Manager of my center, Kari. Kari has been there for me with every visit. She is an incredible person! Always has great advice on getting through a difficult weekend, or an up coming event that might pose a challenge staying on plan. And when we slip up, she is right there with great advice and guidance getting back on plan. She is joined by a great team of co-workers, all of which are very easy to talk to, and always equipped with good advice. I actually look forward to going in and being held accountable for my food journal. If anyone is even considering Slimgenics as a weight loss program, please take time to schedule a visit with Kari, and let her show you how successful this program can be for you. Thank you Slimgenics for helping me improve my life! Howard Lund Maplewood, MN

Todd is exceptionally knowledgeable and thorough as a personal trainer. He uses objective…read moretechniques (FSM) to identify areas you need work and incorporates DNS into his training plan. He is unmatched in terms of quality and has helped strengthen weakness which has made me a faster runner.

Well-let's start with how I found 57FIT in the first place. I had been working out at various…read moreplaces and with different trainers previously, some better than others, but nothing really kept me going back. We (well generally speaking ) know how hard it can be to find the right fit for our workout needs. My first 6 months with Marcus was amazing! I lost about 60 pounds give or take. I wanted to learn how to lift heavy and essentially make that part of my everyday routine. Done. He is incredibly knowledgeable, has a lot of experience as well as degrees in the field. Fast forward to the future after life happens, weight gain, etc. He is still there. Encouraging and non judgmental. He knows life is not linear. Also! If you choose to workout at the gym during times when everyone else is there, the community is absolutely amazing! Marcus has built up a clientele that sticks with him. If the gym setting isn't your jam he also offers online training, which I actually switched to since I moved. There are many different programs to pick from but I personally think the 57fit anywhere program is a great place to start so you don't get overwhelmed!

If you are looking for a sense of community while pushing yourself to your personal limit, 57fit is…read morethe place for you. I do the semi-private training and I love it. Marcus does a great job and teaching core movements and building on them so you don't feel overwhelmed. Pretty soon your body remembers and you will feel great! Try him out, you won't be disappointed.

Michael brings to the training a diverse set of skills, which makes for each session being…read moredifferent; challenging in new ways and fun in new ways. His attitude is infectiously enthusiastic. He shows respect and concern when my physical limitations are encountered, though he isn't deterred from expecting progress, given the right pacing and technique. That's important when you're over 60 like me, because I found out from training on my own that I could incur injury from using poor form. Working with an experienced trainer is safer and more effective. Michael has a special interest in physical activity in the outdoors. Seeing and experiencing how training effects show up in real-world applications keeps my motivation strong. He's helped me to do more, do it safely, and maintain a can-do outlook.

Michael Gayle came highly recommended by close family friends.  In 2008, at 12-years of age, my…read moremother encouraged the onset of my training journey at his former fitness storefront, MGayle Studio.  From day one, I've been extremely pleased with Michael's work ethic, customer service skills, professionalism and genuine care and commitment to me.  He embraces my goals wholeheartedly, via careful listening, and promptly formulating and articulating a clear written strategy.  My intent fascination with exercise -  especially weightlifting - and Michael's mirrored enthusiasm, drove me to work hard with him three times per week and embrace the assigned homework that followed.  Consequently, I began to experience immediate and profound results with my physique and self confidence.  Over the course of three and one half years, we utilized weights, Pilates, agility training, plyometrics, partner drills (e.g. fireman's carry), boxing conditioning drills, running, intense outdoor climbing, distance hiking while carrying a 40-50 pound pack and outdoor small group strength training.   Due to my positive training experiences with Michael, as a freshman, I decided to try out for high school wrestling.  With no prior wrestling experience, my first year, I won thirty-one matches and lost only two.  Michael attended a couple of my matches to cheer me on.  My junior year I made the varsity team.  At 16-years old and 140 pounds, I could bench press 300 pounds.  My senior year, I was made captain of my wrestling team.  Following my graduation from high school, I stopped training with Michael for a few years.  Presently, I'm 21, and have enlisted Michael as my trainer yet again.  Just like old times, I articulated my fitness goals (e.g. significantly increase my muscle mass) and he promptly formulated a clear action plan.  In an astonishing two months, I gained twelve pounds of lean muscle by utilizing nutrient dense whole foods. If you are looking to get back in shape, lose weight, gain muscle or improve upon your current workout program, or lack thereof, Michael Gayle is clearly a five-star choice.

THE SIX-WEEK CHALLENGE IS NOT FOR EVERYONE! I must admit I'm…read morea little concerned with this challenge, for those who do not understand the details of weight loss. It took me only 20 mins to lose all trust in Soul Studio when asked to come in and learn more about this challenge. This challenge requires a predetermined number of pounds to lose. I was eyed up and down when asked if I had that amount to lose (as if I do). I was not sold when then told, "we are here to inspire people to be their best versions of themselves and offer the full package of support through nutrition and fitness". Let me tell you something, 100% of people will not be their best selves losing this much weight within six weeks. This is not where I want to build my trust and fitness community in. First, this challenge requires a security deposit ($$$), and is only given back AFTER you lose TWENTY POUNDS within SIX WEEKS. (great incentive to lose the weight and get your shit together *thumbs up*), however: Secondly, you need to know if you do NOT have 20 pounds to lose or if this is too much weight loss within a six-week duration (THIS IS A TON OF WEIGHT PEOPLE, IN A VERY LITTLE TIME!!!). You're setting yourself up for failure. Soul Studio is not going to let you know if this is too much weight, but will gladly take your money. There were ZERO measurements taken upon meeting with them to learn more about this challenge and if right for me. If they have no basis to create a plan, then there is no validity in what they're trying to sell. A normal starting point would be to figure out your body fat percentage by a body scan or caliper (takes less than 2 mins), you can then have a more accurate idea of where to set your goals. Without this, they're trapping you in to paying a security deposit, knowing it is an unrealistic ask to meet. Remember, this is *free*, so they do not need to recommend what's a healthy weight loss or even possible, BE EDUCATED! I personally would not put trust in someone creating this kind of scam and advocating unhealthy weight loss (EATING DISORDERS in my opinion). Let me tell you why: Some people do not have this much to lose, or don't know that within this duration it is probably unhealthy ('unhealthy' meaning damaging to your metabolism and mentality). You can start to really f*ck up your metabolism when losing more than 1% of your body weight per week. The recommendation is 0.4 -0.8% per week with a 1% maximum of your total body weight. *** Notice how this is a percentage and not a predetermined number? That's because weight loss needs to be customized and is different for every person. *** The more drastic your weight loss, the better your body learns how to be efficient (slower metabolism) in starvation mode. We adapt. It's amazing what our bodies can do for us if we were actually starving and trying to survive out in the wild. If we've lost weight and then regained (yo-yo dieting) our body gets better and better each time in starvation mode, and (assuming weight loss/gain was greater than 1% per week) our metabolism gets more and more efficient/slower each time. So, doing it right the first time is SO IMPORTANT. Slow and steady wins the race, and usually means more sustainable results to uphold after a "challenge". Because remember, once you've hit your goal weight, your goal should also be to maintain it. I'm 163lbs, 5' 7" and 21.7% BF. Losing half the weight of this challenge, would take me 10 weeks to do in a healthy way. That's .6% (between .4-.8%) weight loss of my total weight, which equals about 1 pound a week, therefore 10 weeks total (factoring in activity levels). Within this percentage, this also helps your body maintain lean body weight (muscle). TEN WEEKS, 1/2 THE WEIGHT. Of course, this is different if others have more BF to lose, but my point is to learn what's healthy before signing up for a challenge thats probs not right for you. This is a huge lifestyle change that you're making and need to take slowly and seriously if you're going to sustain after you hit your goal weight. I recommend to those out there really wanting to lose weight (in a healthy way) and keep if off to read Fat Loss Forever By: Peter Baker and Layne Norton. Layne Norton has a PHD in this stuff and knows what's up. It provides literally all the tools needed to customize your own weight loss plan. Formulations that help target body fat (preserving optimal lean body mass) at your current weight and activity level with a given duration of deprivation. Yes, there are many variables, but you will have a weight lose plan in mind after reading his book. Once you have a plan, THEN go find a gym/challenge and build network/community that can help hold you accountable... .....See photo for rest of my lengthy review that didn't fit.

A list why Soul Studio Rocks! 1. Morning classes are 1/2…read morehour and you get a great workout. 2. You can't get bored because each day is a new routine and music. 3. Every single coach is amazing! They are all supportive, help you with your form, friendly, give great workouts ... I could go and on. They are all there for YOU. 4. A greeting every single time you walk in and out the door by coaches and soul sisters. How can that not put a person in a great mood. ‍ You are a person, not a number. 5. An unbelievable support system by the tribe members. My favorite part of the day is Soul Studio and the tribe. 6. Every day I get stronger physically and mentally. With this tribe, you will too. So, what are you waiting for? Contact Vicky and start your journey, you won't regret it.