It's not you Bodybarre, it's me... kinda…read more This place honestly has the best set up I've seen for pole dancing and that is primarily its main specialism. I walked in the first time and there must've been at least 15 people strutting their stuff in unison on the poles. It was really impressive. However I like aerial acrobatics and as you may see from my previous reviews I've tried a fair few places. I booked onto both the four week trapeze and four week aerial hoop lessons. Both the owner and the teacher were really helpful, as I specifically emailed beforehand to make sure I would 'fit'. Sounds silly, but being almost 6 foot tall kind of works against gravity and I've found both aerial artists and your generic kit (hoops and trapezes) to generally be on the petite side (makes sense really). Which in my experience makes for a not only painful, but embarrassing and also futile workout for me. So after some reassurance I signed up and sadly this only confirmed my fears. The studio is on the top floor of a building in the Northern Quarter - which is brilliantly located - but I'm not sure the ceilings are much higher than my flat. Meaning that for me there was only enough space to sit once on the trapeze and I was very nearly scraping my head on the floor when hanging under the hoop. In my opinion if you cant stand up on a trapeze, it's basically half a lesson. Lack of space meant I didn't feel comfortable, as I was too busy worried about hitting things than actually getting into the classes and the movements. In all honesty I got bored, I felt the teaching was more focused on flair than developing strength and aerial conditioning. One reason behind this could be that a lot of class members seemed to be from the pole dancing school, in which case I'm sure they already have fantastic upper body strength. But I did book onto a beginners class and I think if I had been a genuine beginner I would have felt totally lost. Its a difficult thing to review an aerial class, because everyone has their own needs and requirements. In Bodybarre's defence they did offer me a trial half-price lesson to judge whether classes were suitable and I chose to continue and sign up for the courses after having had that trial. I guess I was just overly enthusiastic about finding somewhere for aerial in Manchester and sadly Bodybarre just isn't what I am personally looking for in a studio. However don't let me put you off, I recommend you drop them an email if you have any inkling of an interest, they have a very experienced team and were very helpful.

I had my first aerial yoga session yesterday with Penny..it was amazing.I felt great after,so…read morerelaxed and stretched from head to toe.Penny is so friendly and cheerful and a very good instructor.She also gave lots of additional information that I found interesting and helpful.The Bodybarre studio has a lovely feeling about it and there seem to be lots of fun exercise choices.I shall look forward to doing it again very soon.Thank you again.Diane Faulkner.

I used to think yoga was placid, laid-back stretching which didn't require much physical strain…read more How wrong I was. When I first gave it a go, it was very frustrating because many of the poses require far more strength, balance and flexibility than you would assume. But as with anything else, practice makes perfect. And after a few years, I was quite proud of my flexible prowess from regular yoga practice. Alas, as time became limited in my busy life and the lust for a strong body was less at the forefront of my priorities, I fell out of practice. And I fell hard. If I wasn't out partying with friends, I sat idle at a desk with a computer or lethargic in front of the television. Oh, and I gained about 25 pounds. Then I heard about a 10 day challenge at The Yoga Lounge, a hot yoga studio comprising of three studios that offer yoga, Pilates and a workshop for everything from martial arts, performing arts and exhibitions. It's a state of the art facility on Deansgate that uses radiant heat to warm your body, a gentle heat similar to that used in incubators for babies. Don't get me wrong, it get hot. Real hot. A few minutes into the first class, I thought 'this is waaaay out of my league' but I kept going...bending, twisting and balancing (or wobbling, if I'm honest) as the sweat poured off my body. I was perspiring in places I didn't even know were on my body. But this sweat was detoxing my insides, which is exactly what I needed. As class came to an end, I felt like I had accomplished something important for my health. And so I came back. As each class passed, my strength and flexibility improved ever so slightly much to my delight. By the fifth class, people started asking what I was doing different to my skin. Others were saying I was looking slimmed down. I have to admit, I suspected there was difference in my skin and body shape, only to poo-poo the idea as wishful thinking. But clearly, others were seeing what I was seeing. 7 days into the challenge, I found I was able to participate in virtually the entire class, doing some of the poses that I couldn't even attempt in the first few sessions. I was sleeping like a baby at night, and actually started to give a toss about what I was eating and making sure I drank enough water. And so that brings us to today, the 10th day of my challenge. I've lost 5 lbs and 3% body fat. My clothes feel much looser, and I'm starting to fit back in to my 'skinny clothes'. There seems to be a naughty glint in hubby's eyes when he looks at me lately, which is always a bonus. All this after only 10 days is remarkable. But the most important thing is it's gotten back on track to taking care of myself....mostly because I want to look really good in my 'skinny clothes'.

The beauty of The Yoga Lounge is that they are offering something slightly different from bikram…read moreyoga - as the classes don't follow the traditional 26 poses. I feel as though classes are lot more organic, allowing the teachers to really work with the class - I swear I'm making progress already in my first two weeks! The teachers are really great, I love the variety, as each practitioner has their own flows and style of teaching. Everyone is super friendly and happy to give tips and advice after classes too. Specialising in hot yoga, the classes last between 60-75 minutes and at the moment they have three classes per day with two a day at the weekends. They also offer hot pilates, which is a great workout for your core. And plan to open a full pilates studio in the next month or so with Stott pilates, reformer and GYROTONIC® classes. It's a great set up, really well designed space and the hot room itself is a nifty piece of kit - using heat panels on the roof that allows for continual fresh air and a germ free environment to practice in (or I've been told it's something along these lines). There's an online booking system to ensure you get onto the class you want. The evening practices book up pretty quickly, but the lunchtime hour always has a few free spaces. Each class has a waiting list and for every wait list I have been on so far, I've been offered a space in the class. This is a more modern yoga alternative that fits really easily into a busy lifestyle, uniquely balanced to help improve both your fitness and inner calm.

There is a comprehensive range of aerobic classes including, circuits, spinning, aerobics,…read morebox-ercise, chair based exercise classes and tai-chi. There are also aqua-fit classes in the swimming pool. Aqua Fit is £4 Per sessions and currenly two evenings per week, Monday 8 til 9 & Fri 7 til 8, the instructor is great fun, using spagehtti floats, ages range from 17 to 65 it is mostly women and there have been a few men join the class. Its great fun to get in shape meet new people and have a laugh.

Anglers everywhere have been flocking to Leatherbarrow Angling centre since the late 1960's to have…read moretheir fly-fishing rods custom made and tailored to their needs. It is quite a large shop, well organised with a full range of rods and fishing tackle a far cry from my butterfly net I used to use when I was a child. I popped in to have a mooch around, not because I believe that I will catch the largest pike in Britain and have my photo with aforementioned pike plastered across all the broadsheets, but because my god-son has expressed an interest in fishing and I thought I would check this very British past-time out. Colin Leatherbarrow, owner and expert regarded me with an expression of bemusement as I tottered to the counter in my four inch stilettos and asked him to show me a rod.... oh dear. With slightly twitching lips he told me to bring the god-son in and he could talk him through what he will need to get started. He sells and makes carp and specialist rods from £125, fly rods from £150 and there are so many different types and specifications that my head began to hurt. My mind drifted away from rods and my gaze fell on a stuffed framed fish on the wall which gave the shop a fishy authenticity. By this time I was far too embarrassed to ask Colin if this was one of his catches but well done if it was because this was a monster! Perhaps this shop is a little too advanced for my god-son and should be left for the more experienced angler to visit. Maybe I should dig out my butterfly net and give it to him after all.

Great shop and used too go in back the 1980s used to sea fish with Colin Master rod builder on the…read moreAlexandra Docks and Backpool glad to find your shop is still open and making great rods.Made me and my m8 Big Kev 2 vary nice Cono-flex cod rods

Sometimes you desperately need a short sharp shock of smushed fruit after your swim. Restorative…read moreVitamin C and lovely stuff. I kind of didn't want to walk all the way over to Amber Café on my way to Petersfield, and I'd noticed the little café at the Aquatics Centre a few times. It seemed to offer way more healthy treats than the archetypal vending machines at the South Manchester leisure centres (hey, they have those too. Hello Nice 'n' Spicy Nik-Naks!), and there was proper coffee too, so I sauntered up to the counter all exhausted with my hair all soggy (I refuse on principle to use my 20ps for hairdryers that wouldn't make a jot of difference to my multilayered thick hair) and asked about their smoothies. They could indeed do them to take away, but they only had about three options available on the generous list which didn't bother me in the slightest. I went for... come on, how could I resist the name?... THE IMMUNISER. It sounds like some kind of *machine*! It incorporated strawberry, kiwi and pineapple, three of my absolute favourite fruits, and it was awesome. Just the right portion and only a little over £2, how can one complain? I'll definitely be using this as regularly as my morning fruit shoot before breakfast. Thanks, Manchester Sports and Leisure! Nom.

Have been coming here to the gym on and off for a while now…read more The gym is small and compact but as everything you need in it for a workout there is always an instructor avaliable if you need any help on how to use the machines there is air conditioning on all the time so you dont get to hot and at £5.20 pay as you go you can stay as long as you like. downstairs there are a couple of pools and you can start at a beginners course or you can go in the advanced side , they also do a ladies only night for those who wish to just be with the girls. next door to the gym is a keep fit class and down stairs is a cafe and drinks machines staff are always friendly and helpful.

A good little country park -- attractively laid-out with some well-marked walks, and with good…read morefacilities too. There is, of course, a Visitor Centre where the wardens hang out, we have always found them to be helpful and friendly, and the occasional special event we've attended (for the kids) have been extremely well organised. Children aged between 3 and 10 particularly enjoy the adventure playground it's not your normal swings-and-slides setup, it's a series of wobbly wooden bridges and balancing runs all thoughtfully designed to complement its woodland setting. Car parking is more than adequate and apart from one occasion last November when we witnessed some low-level anti-social behaviour involving fireworks we've always enjoyed our visits!

A good little country park -- attractively laid-out with some well-marked walks, and with good…read morefacilities too. There is, of course, a Visitors' Centre where the wardens hang out -- we've always found them to be helpful and friendly, and the occasional special event we've attended (for the kids) has been extremely well organised. Our two are aged 3 and 5 and they particularly enjoy the adventure playground: it's not your normal swings-and-slides set-up, it's a series of wobbly wooden bridges and balancing runs all thoughtfully designed to complement its woodland setting. Car parking is more than adequate and apart from one occasion last November when we witnessed some low-level anti-social behaviour involving fireworks we've always enjoyed our visits.

Nice park. Not large, but well equiped. Bowling green, nice paths, grass and all weather football…read morepitches, basketball, play area, zip line. Cool.

Unfortunately I've never been able to see Oasis or The Stone Roses perform here…read more However, I've had the pleasure of strolling the grounds of this historic park. It is so big and it has so much! A huge playground, bowling greens, football (soccer) pitches, etc. There's a lake with ducks. You can rent a boat to row on the lake. There are cafes. There's an animal section. Lots and lots of places to picnic. Can't forget Heaton Hall! A wonderful way to spend the day.

A last minute decision on a damp, drizzly winter Sunday, but a good one. Forgot how vast this place…read moreis! Walked down the hill past the hall and round the lake, slowing to admire the signets and stop the dog munching all the food left for the birds! Round the other side of the lake, the woods are incredibly quiet; it's easy to forget you're right on the edge of such a large city and the motorway is about a mile away. This is the highest point in the city and the views are amazing.

Reasonably priced excellent place for kids to have fun with a lovely cafe and good facilities I…read morehave a two year old and 11 year old and both didn't want to leave after a full two hours play this is definitely a great venue activity to take the kids too

From the owner: Play Factore has established itself as the children's fun Mecca of the North. The state of the art,…read morefamily indoor play centre entertainment centre houses the largest play frame in Europe along with a host of other unique attractions that really are second to none. Based in Manchester next to the Trafford Centre, providing a complete day out for families shopping in the area and planning to entertain the children. The indoor play centre has been carefully thought out and is built, designed and structured to provide children with a state of the art active environment for all ages. This has been made possible through the tallest standing indoor slide in the World, complete indoor laser quest arena, full Go-Kart track, an extensive toddlers soft play area and the hugely popular Just Dance sessions. Where children can enjoy learning the dance moves to their favourite chart hits.