I am incredibly disappointed with this YMCA location. I moved to Buffalo a few months ago and…read morecalled this location to verify that I could have a Family Plan YMCA membership with my mother in another state. They said yes of course, and so we purchased the Family Plan. I came here to exercise a few times each month (prefer outside when able) and when I went last week I was told I could not exercise due to my Family Plan not being accepted. The lady at the front desk told me they don't allow the Family Plans for individuals long term and "The City of Buffalo prefers to have its YMCA members all paid members to the Buffalo YMCA, instead of a Family Plan" and she then said she would "let me exercise today free of charge as a curtesy but I have to sign up for an individual plan and unenroll in my active Family Plan" To say I'm disappointed is an understatement. The whole reason we enrolled in the family plan was because we were told ahead of time via phone call that that was accepted and then I continued to exercise at this YMCA with no problems up until last week.

I am very pleased my family signed up at the Y…read more It's very difficult finding things for kiddos to do in Buffalo winter. This facility has an excellent "daycare" and playground for kids to enjoy at while adults workout. The only bummer is they cap the number if kids at 30 (which is understandable). But with all the New Year's resolution folks flocking to the gym, this has caused my son and I to wait for more kids to leave before he can enter. My only other complaint is the gym equipment is a little older than say an Esporta. And there isn't enough room near the free weights. Beyond that everything is great. Facility is clean. The pool is nice. Tons of other to-dos like a hot tub, basketballs courts and sauna. It's not expensive to join. I suggest looking at their schedule which is consistently updated to see if the amenities you require are open.

The Jewish Repertory Theater is located inside the JCC. It is a small theater , maybe 100-125…read moreseats. The theater is acoustically pretty good; the seats are comfortable. The play we saw today was a bit offbeat.

The JCC is a clean and family friendly facility, just right for my needs of a winter place to…read moreworkout. It's convenient, there is plenty of parking and the entry is secure. Members are issued a fob to use to enter the facility. The front desk person almost always greets us. There are plenty of machines, and many treadmills and stationary bikes - seldom out of order. Spray containers of disinfectant and loads of white wash clothes abound for members to wipe down equipment. I feel obliged to note that I was duly unimpressed by the group fitness class I attended. On my first visit, the instructor was curt and unwelcoming, barking at me that I wouldn't like the class, in front of the class. She never met me. Knew nothing about my abilities nor interest. The classmates were kind and told me I'd get "used to her". Ah. No. No. No; wrong on so many levels. Especially when a newbie comes to class, who might be self conscious or introverted or scared to attend an exercise class. People will never forget how you made them feel. (Said Maya Angelou) It is a joy to see people of all ages and abilities using the machines. I've seen elders on the bikes and tweens on the treadmills. Wee ones stroll by from the daycare area to play in their own area apart from the adults. There are large tvs and music is also piped in. It feels like a completely non-judgmental environment, and aside from the group class encounter, it's my kind of place.

I have been working out at Terries for the past 2 years after moving to Buffalo. It is a fantastic…read moregym! The front staff is always welcoming and attentive to feedback. The equipment is in excellent condition and they recently replaced most machines with newer ones over the last year. They have a good selection of cardio machines as well, including treadmills, stairmasters, bikes, and ellipticals. There is a regular workout class schedule included with membership, however, I have never attended. There are large dedicated locker rooms with showers that are always clean! However, you do have to bring your own lock. They also recently just added dry saunas to the locker room included with membership as well. Overall, excellent gym, I would recommend it to anyone!

I've been going to Terrie's for almost two years now so I guess it's about time I leave a review!…read moreComing from the land of Good Lifes and LA Fitnesses in Toronto, Terries is definitely refreshing. I used to sign up for women's only gyms because of the sheer amount of people at Good Life and LA - it was just obnoxious - and also everyone was magically already in good shape. At Terries, I think the max amount of people I've ever seen in this gym at once is 15 - which is fantastic. Because the space is sort of divided into different areas, it never actually feels as busy as it may be. Personally I go on my lunch breaks or two hours before closing as I find those are the emptiest times, and who doesn't like having the gym to themselves? Can this gym use some upgrades? yes. Slowly I am seeing a bunch of newer machines make their way into the gym, but the machines they have still get the job done. This is a no-frills gym with great staff. Terry and her husband are also great. My only complaint is that it needs to be cleaned a little more thoroughly, it could use a good dusting.

If you're into unique workouts that get your endorphins going, elite pump-up music, and just the…read moreright amount of dim lighting (so you can sweat without overthinking it), then you have to check out MLC. Honestly, it felt like stepping into an Eminem music video - high energy, great vibe, and seriously motivating. My friend and I took the Strength & Boxing class, and wow - it was such a fun, challenging workout. Coach Mike was incredibly welcoming, and the entire class had a supportive, inclusive feel. Two days later, we're definitely feeling it (in the best way), and already looking forward to going back. Bonus: there's free parking in the lot on Myrtle, and it's super close to Beltline Brewery, so you can plan your post-workout reward accordingly.

A friend (and fellow Yelp Elite!) and I heard about MLC Personal and Group Training through one of…read moretheir friends, so we decided to check it out. We had a great experience! My friend and I came for the Wednesday, 6pm, "Strength and Boxing" class. There are a few parking lots around 500 Seneca so finding a parking spot wasn't a problem. It was a little confusing figuring out where the entrance to MLC Personal and Group Training was, but we were told to park in the parking lot on Myrtle Ave. and use the entrance on the same street. Once inside, we walked all the way to the end of the hall and MLC was through the doors on our right. We were impressed with how spacious it was but we were only on the top floor, the floor below was where the class was. It was just as big downstairs but the vibes here were awesome with plenty of equipment, music blaring, it felt like we found a secret boxing gym! Michael, our instructor, was great! He came right up to us and introduced himself, went over where everything was located (lockers, bathroom, showers, etc.) and showed us around the space, introducing us to our classmates. After that, he explained the warm up and let us go to tackle it. The class was excellent, putting us through various cardio, core, endurance, mobility, boxing exercises. My friend and I finished the class plenty sweaty and tired, but energized and proud. Michael did a great job checking on everyone throughout the class, encouraging us to push ourselves. After class, Michael gave us his card and highlighted the other classes and programs he offers. MLC Personal and Group Training is great! The gym is quite spacious and clean, with two floors, plenty of equipment, and a cool vibe/personality to it. The "Strength and Boxing" class will put you through your paces and make you sweat and Michael does a nice job checking on all the participants to make sure they're working hard and demonstrating proper technique. My friend and I are looking forward to coming back for another class!

Prior to the pandemic I did Baptiste style power yoga for several years, but when my studio closed…read moreI fell out on any exercise except dog walking and just couldn't get it back. I started to feel my age, lots of aches and pains. For some reason, this March I decided to purchase an introductory pass to I am Yoga - a studio I had had my eye on for a while, wanting to try 26 & 2 style yoga. Just shy of 4 months later, I can't get enough of this studio or this style of yoga. The studio itself is very nice - I enjoy the setting in the Williamsville village, there is plenty of room to navigate entrances and exits and they have a nice locker room. The hot yoga room is large and comfortable - never feels crowded despite good attendance. You can either choose a dark corner to really settle inward or put yourself near a sunny window. Everyone is very friendly and low key - you never feel any pressure of any kind. The yoga is HOT, but I love that. I know it's not for everyone. I was surprised how much I like the regularity of the 26 & 2 sequence - strangely I never get bored as there just seems to be an infinite journey in each move - hard to explain. I can't believe how much I have strengthened - old injuries (knee surgeries) seem to be healing, aches and pains disappearing, feeling younger and with increased body positivity. The best result is in the area of mental health - my anxiety is much better. This style of yoga I find very meditative. Teachers are great - I take most of the classes from Madeline, but they're all great - they transmit the traditional dialogue, but oddly it never feels scripted. I LOVE that they have 6am classes - really a game changer for getting me there as I have trouble making it after work. I enjoy the Forrest Flow class on Tuesday nights but have trouble getting there regularly. Another factor - the participants are very diverse - from age, to gender, to "ability" level, everybody can be on their own journey, but together! Highly recommend trying out this studio!

I have a love hate relationship with yoga in general…read more It was trending towards the hate until I tried Bikram in NYC about 15 years ago. I don't know what got me in the first time. May have been as simple as a place opened on one of my regular walking routes. Not sure. But back then they offered unlimited classes for a few weeks for "newbies" for a very reasonable price. That studio was small and cramped, it's NYC after all. The changing rooms were sparse and not very nice, have to say. So I did the yoga for the time I had bought, and even got a few friends hooked with me. It was hard work, but so is living in NYC, so we were ready for the challenge. I didn't re-up when my trial ran out for a few reasons. Not the least of which was I heard about Bikrams behavior even back then. And I just didn't want to support that. But flash forward 15 years. And I'm looking for something to help me stretch more as I clearly need to do. With a shoulder that's been bothering me for ages now I remembered that Bikram had made me stronger for sure, even in the short time I did it. So I came here to try them out for a month. It's a friendly place. The ladies locker room is ok, certainly better than NYC. They have showers. I think you can rent towels too. Bring your own mat or use one of theirs for $2. They have bags in the locker rooms for your wet sweaty clothes after class. Bikram is done in over 100 degrees. It's 90 min. They really ask that you try to stay in the room the whole time. Especially your first few visits. But if you are feeling the heat, you can sit out a pose. This location offers 75 and 60 min hot classes too, which I was not familiar with. I like the 75 but find the 60 min a little fast paced for me. But remember, I find yoga very difficult. The yoga studio is huge. There are some posts that do disrupt views in the room. The mirrors are not aligned with each other so make sure you are aware of that when picking a spot, since the mirrors are important in Bikram classes. This is not a place that's easily accessible for the disabled - up a long flight of stairs to the second floor. They sell various types of water and EmergencE etc. all for reasonable prices. But you can also just bring your own. If there were things to think about - the ceiling lights are harsh to look at, and you are supposed to have your eyes open for the class, and you spend time looking at the ceiling. Another reviewer said it didn't have that "Bikram scent" - but it does. Just be prepared for it. I'm giving 5 stars because the environment is just so welcoming. And the "newbies" month unlimited is a great price. If you haven't tried Bikram, you need more than one class to really "get" it. If you've tried but not here, come try it. Great studio. Street parking, but watch the signs. Or there's a lot in back.

The downtown Barre Centric might be the second location out of the current three, but it's where I…read moretook my first official Barre Centric class (my true first class was at Wilkeson Pointe Park, and I liked what I saw, and here we are). Now that the new year has started, I'll be spending plenty of time at the location that kicked off my experience. This location is at the corner of Main and West Ferry, so it's easy to get to from most directions. There is off street parking, which can fill up quickly, but I've never had an issue with street parking and finding a spot right in front of the building. It's easiest to enter through the back entrance in the parking lot, that door is closer to the storage area and restroom, and there's more room to switch out of your shoes and into those grippy socks. If you forget your socks, never fear, there are socks and other gear for sale, just like the other locations. Downtown is definitely the smallest of the three locations, so classes fill up early here. Do yourself a favor and sign up in advance, especially if you're trying to go to Barre Resist. As always, the taller barre is in the front. Don't fear the tall barre, some moves are just easier on it. I promise, you'll be fine. This studio has all four classes on the schedule, although as of this review, there aren't any Barre Bounce classes at Downtown. I tend to go for standard Barre Centric (also in 45 minute express format) and Barre Resist (for those PT friendly stretches). Barre Bounce originally debuted here, and I preferred it here with the high ceiling, although the chances of actually hitting the ceiling were low. If it's your first time, consider choosing a class with either co-owner, Gia or Rachael. Both ladies are wonderful teachers and truly enjoy what they do, and it's obvious to anyone watching. Now that I'm in the middle of a barre challenge, I know I'll be spending lots of additional time at the Downtown location. Barre Centric is a great place to make big changes with small moves. Take it up an inch and down an inch downtown!

This may be the best run studio business in Buffalo (2 locations, one Buffalo, one Clarence). Ive…read morebeen coming back to the Buffalo location since they offered a special with Revolution, just down the road on Main. If you don't know what Barre is, here's a layman's explanation: Ballerinas are the result of hours, days, months, years of practicing the art over and over. At Barre the instructors are all ballet trained, and the classes are based on the moves they did millions of times in the past. Anyone can do the moves, which is great. You see people of all shapes and sizes here, its friendly to all. No matter your past ballet experience, you will see results here from day one, and you'll see improvement over time if you stick with it. I know this from personal experience. You arrive here to a clean and well lit studio and parking lot. Even when its dark, the parking isn't. Gotta love that in the winter. You can come in either the front or back doors, but the "changing area" is in the back. They do ask that your outside shoes come off right at either door, don't track that salt and other wet stuff in. You wear socks or Barre socks (which many wear for yoga too, those footies with little grippy things on the bottom). I wear regular gym type socks and they work just fine. But you can buy the other kind here, and I think that's what most people do. At this location they offer 4 classes - Barre Express - 45 minute Barre class Barre Centric - 60 minute Barre class Barre Bouce - Barre on the trampoline. Yep, on a trampoline. Everyone has their own small, low to the ground, trampoline. There are various moves done on it, interspersed with some other floor work. Its a whole new ballgame from Barre, but lots of fun and challenging in a different way. Barre Cardio - Barre at a faster pace with some different moves The class most people take is Barre Centric, and its offered the most as a result. The Barre Express is often offered at lunchtime I have found. The classes remain more or less the same for a few weeks at a time, so you are not spending each class trying to figure out what's going on. For someone like me, that's great. If I had ballet training it might not matter as much, but I appreciate the consistency. The other location in Clarence doesn't have Barre Bounce, but does have Barre Stick, which uses Pilates sticks in class. You can go to either studio, and I gather that many do mix it up depending on where they will be that day. Classes here start right on time. As a result, its rare for anyone to arrive late, so everyone is pretty focused on the class from the start. I love that they start and end on time. Makes things easier to plan. There is a changing room here with cubbies for your things. Its got plenty of hooks for the winter coats too. The rest room is large with a shower that's fully stocked with shampoos and lotions etc.. Some people do use the shower and facilities Ive found. They must bring their own towels as none are available here. But the facilities are very nice and always so clean. There are even some men who are taking Barre here these days. Nice to see that in the mix. ** The reasons I think its the best run studio in Buffalo - The owners have created a schedule and color patterns that's consistent with the two studios. They have the same themes running throughout. The owners teach tons of classes themselves, but they also hire women who are well trained and consistent in temperament with each other. There is no visible drama here in the workplace. Its a fun place to be as well. As a studio junkie, I have plenty of experience with studios, and this is a well run, well organized, very pleasant place to "get your exercise on".

I have been to numerous bootcamps, I decided to try this one since I was new to the area and I was…read morelooking for that community involvement. I'm glad I did. Kelly, the owner, answered all of my questions quickly and efficiently. She made me feel comfortable to go to my first class and work out hard enough that I hurt for a good week and a half afterward. Seriously, I didn't think I had abs. Surprise! They hurt. I've really enjoyed every class I've gone to. The pricing is great and classes are so easy to register for online. The interior is cleaned regularly and the workout room is huge with high ceilings. It's never too hot in there, the music system is loud and enjoyable and I love that Kelly and the other trainers will work you until you physically cannot. But if you have any injuries or problem areas, they will work around it for you and adjust the workout accordingly. Highly recommend!

I started taking barre about 3 years ago and it continues to make a positive impact on my fitness…read moreroutine. Attending barre during and after my pregnancy's helped to accelerate my recovery and get me back on track with my fitness journey. I would highly recommend barre to anybody! Try it out, you won't regret it!

Best barre studio around! All of the Instructors are friendly, welcoming, knowledgeable and very…read morehelpful. It is always a really good workout, and they show you how you can make modifications if necessary. I love the matted floors and overall setting as well.