Recapping my experience training at Art Fitness gym is something that is actually pretty difficult…read more Difficult because, truly, I do not know where to start. But I guess the best place to start are the days leading up to my first session. I was in the beginning weeks of my senior year of high school, and all throughout my first three years, I was just a quiet kid. I did not always say much, and because of this I did not have many friends. I struggled with this a lot because my personality is NOT quiet or shy in any way. So, as I started senior year, I wondered why I just could not put myself out there, and be a social person. One day, my parents asked me why I seemed sad or depressed, I told them. My lack of confidence as a person had been holding me back these past years, and because of it I was not where I wanted to be in high school. I look in the mirror, and I do not like what I see, which leads to me just sitting in the back of classes, going home right after school, basically hiding. I tell you this part of my life because, although it is sad, those days are gone. Within a week after telling my parents how I was feeling, I signed up for a personal trainer at Art Fitness. My first day there, I met the leader of the gym, Alisa Rose, and I do not know if she knows this, but she made one of the best decisions possibly ever made. She told me that she could be my trainer, but she thought I would do better with a different trainer at the gym, a younger guy named Byshi Watson. That is a decision that changed my life. The next day I started at Art Fitness, training with Byshi, and truthfully I gained an older brother that day. As time passed, my body began to change for the better, I started gaining confidence, liking what I was seeing in the mirror. The rest of senior year I found myself being the social person I wanted to be, and that is the person I always knew I was. Nothing was holding me back anymore. The best part was, training and working out was not something I was dreading. In the past, every time I tried to go the gym myself, I just hated it. It was not fun, I felt like I was doing everything wrong, the minutes dragged by. At Art Fitness, I looked forward to working out. Byshi challenged me in a lot of ways, I had never been so sore, and I do not wish those sprints in the parking lot on my worst enemy! Even with the challenge, I enjoyed it so much, because the whole time I was truly just hanging out with a great friend, a big brother. Whether we were talking about music, or how much we hate Kevin Durant and the Warriors, we were always just having a good time. Byshi is the best trainer I could have asked for. He wants you to reach your goals, and he shows you how to do everything you need to do. At college, I show some of my friends the exercises he showed me at the school gym. I learned so much from him. Not only did he help me improve my body through exercise, he taught me the right things to eat and drink on a daily basis. He gave a meal plan that made a huge difference for me and helped me lose weight. His knowledge of fitness and nutrition is something I could always count on, I felt like I could ask any question and get an informed answer. I have stayed training with Byshi, three years later, and even though it is on and off as I attend college in New York City, Byshi is still someone I can go to with any problem in my life at any time. I could never really thank Byshi and the people at Art Fitness enough, training here changed my whole life. It made me into the confident person I always wanted to be, the confident person I am today. I will be forever grateful for that.

Art Fitness has been an inspiration to my fitness journey. They combine fitness and nutrition with…read morerealistic goals. I enjoy the personal training sessions I leave feeling I accomplished another step toward my goal.

I came to Liberty Yoga as a complete beginner. I attended warm flow, chair, and therapeutic yoga…read moreclasses here and thoroughly enjoyed all of them. The instructors are attentive, helpful, and kind. Erin, Christine, and Eleanor were incredibly respectful from the start, asking if I was comfortable with them touching me to provide individual guidance during class. They expertly manage the flow of the class even while they cycle around the room, observing each student's movements and posture and offering assistance when an opportunity presents itself. I felt very welcome and valued. I will be returning as soon as my budget allows!

I bought the 10 classes for $45 package and so far I am a week in and have taken 3 classes. I love…read moreit. I was a little wary of trying it because I have neck and lower back injuries from a car accident that left me stiff and highly inflexible. The therapeutic classes are great. Charlie gets all your muscles engaged with 45 mins to an hour of deceptively simple movements that are stretching and toning then spends the last 30-45 mins stretching and relaxing. I felt muscles that have never released with medication, deep tissue massage, chiropractors, and neurologists finally relax. I already feel improvement in my balance and especially the posture muscles that were effected by my injury. I also took a class with Cherish which was more relaxed but still challenging if you wanted to start slower or more meditation based. I am currently doing both.

I love the hot yoga here, but the prices go up every single year. I have been going off and on for…read more7 years or so, and when I first started drop in classes were $12. Now they are $18! That is really outrageous. Senior citizens and students get a discount so I always see plenty of them there. Those of us that aren't in that category pay full price. So now I do more yoga elsewhere, and literally just drop in now and again.

Empowered yoga is by far my favorite yoga studio. Angie and Rachel are both amazing instructors…read more The classes are challenging and also leave you feeling calm and refreshed. I would highly recommend this studio to any regularly practicing yogis. The prices may be a little high, but for me it's totally worth it! I've done only vinyasa hot yoga - no experience with other classes. Thank you empowered!!

This gym has been a great addition to my workout regimen. It's convenient, has good hours, and…read moregreat equipment--both strength and cardio. The staff keeps it clean and safe. The group glasses are good, too. Small enough to have good interaction with the instructor, but large enough that I get the motivation I need to keep exercising.

Great place to workout and get smart on your diet. Have had amazing success the last 5 years. No…read moregimmicks, Balance focuses on hard work and commons sense.

My new obsession --- Solidcore kicks my butt every time, and I keep signing up for more…read more I'd always been kind of terrified of pilates classes that utilize the reformer, but a friend finally convinced me to try a class at Solidcore. They do offer both beginner "Intro" and intermediate "Foundations" classes, but on a very limited schedule. I took a Foundations class, which was a very helpful introduction to the machine with more individualized attention since the class size was smaller. I then skipped a few weeks because the foundations classes didn't align with my schedule as I was convinced I needed to do a few of them before the "big girl" signature classes. However, eventually that same friend convinced me to take the plunge, and I've been going 1-2 times per week ever since. Solidcore Signature 50 Classes involve 50 minutes of slow-burn strength training utilizing resistance from springs on the reformer. There is always attention to your core/obliques (lots of planking!) and then they feature one upper body and one lower body muscle group each class. The goal is to trigger second-degree muscle failure, where you've pushed your muscles to the point that they are shaking and you eventually physically can't complete another rep. Since that "failure" is part of the goal, it normalizes the need to take a break, shake-out, and reset, which I appreciate, but the instructors also encourage you to push for that next rep when you're not sure you can. I'm definitely sore the next day, but in a good way! The schedule for signature classes is super flexible, with offerings starting at 5a and extending almost hourly until 10p with a rotating cast of instructors. They're not the cheapest, but it's also a workout unlike any other and they do offer discounts for teachers and health care workers. The subscription also allows you to bring a friend for free once per month! If you're on the fence about trying it --- just do it. It is going to be a challenge in the best way.

So I'm 17 classes in now. Yup I'm hooked. It's not your average Pilates class. I don't even know…read morehow to describe it. Let me try to break it down....It's a slow workout that works your whole body. Slow ab crunches, lunges, planks, etc. The slow movements are what help you build your muscles. I've seen the positive changes in my body (booty lol) since I've started.

Suzie is a FABULOUS Pilates instructor. She knows exactly how to challenge you, but with more of a…read morepositive cheerleader attitude than a drill sergeant. Regardless of ability level, she will suit her instruction, be it private or small group, to fit your individual needs and fitness goals. I cannot recommend Vital Pilates enough if you are looking for a studio with experienced instructors and a personal vibe.

I really enjoyed working with Suzie. She's a terrific instructor! She's very knowledgeable and…read morepassionate about her work! The sessions were challenging and a great learning experience! Suzie knows how to communicate instructions in a way that I can easily understand. I highly recommend Vital Pilates!

A dear friend of mine became so much dearer after she got me to do a Saturday retreat at Yoga…read moreUnderground! It was WON-DER-FULLLLLL!!!! While I was drawn to Indian religions in hs and college (taking courses in it), I never made it around to yoga. I tried it once at a Club Med, long before it came into its current fad, and I really dug it then (out on the sand, under some palms). Then, tried it again a few years ago, but the approach of the studio where I tried it was all physical, with no explanation of the philosophy, nor psych/emotional work that traditionally accompanies it. Well, third time's a charm! My experience at Yoga Underground the other weekend got me enthused about doing more! Yoga Underground is located in the Chadds Ford Barn Shops. Danielle is the studio owner, who does some instruction, but Susan was our Yoga instructor for the rigorous morning session that day. I was mom-frazzled getting there at 8:30am on a Saturday, and forgot my mat. No problem, they have all kinds of accessories right there for anyone to use. Susan likes heated yoga, so the heat lamps were on. OMG, that makes it harder, IMO! I appreciated the challenge, and everyone was so nice, saying I did really well for my first time. Even the seasoned ladies there said it was a workout. My friend was balancing like a pro, could stick her leg straight up in the air like a ballerina. I was all over the place, BUT, I steadied myself after a struggle, and I could not believe what positions I was able to do. Maybe the heat helps? Or, they have mad positive vibes going on here! Maybe both! I recommend being somewhat in shape before attempting yoga if you want to get the most out of it. I have been jogging 4-6 miles as many times per week as my mom-schedule allows, for a few months now. I am okay with my fitness level, but I still don't have my pre-preg body back yet, so the more fit you can be, the better. But this studio is so welcoming to any level of experience, and instructors and classmates alike, took me under their wings. Such a good feeling! After our yoga workout, we did a written manifestation exercise, setting positive intentions for life improvement. The exercise was developed from books on Dharma, and was so well done! Perfect therapy! Our included lunch was al fresco, at the adjacent Chadds Cafe. It was a huge, delicious salad with spinach, squash, sweet potato, peppers, orzo, and other awesome stuff. Absolutely delicious. The chef, Pam, came out with a bowl of watermelon chunks and mint. Then, also zucchini muffins with lemon curd to douse all over them. Amazing food! After lunch we had a nature walk with a yogi named Mason, who knew all kinds of interesting horticultural and earth science stuff. Mason brought us a local Pawpaw fruit from the nearby farmer's market. He offered samples to everyone. It tastes like a cross of banana and mango. Mason's nature walk really helped me feel more settled and in tune with my surroundings. After that, we returned to the studio for Thai yoga. Thai yoga is a partnered massage exercise, which was the perfect cool down for the day. Danielle led us through this exercise, giving each partner 45 minutes as giver and taker of the massage. It was amazing to me how relaxed you can get on a yoga mat with all your workout gear and sneaks on, I was just as relaxed as I'd be on a table/derobed/oils, etc. As masseuse, I was so pleased that my partner said she had just as relaxing of a massage! Danielle led us through each motion, with excellent instruction, and we even walked on our partners using the hanging bars they have for aerial yoga. I learned such cool techniques and tricks! Worth so much right there! We also had a visit from a local woman who makes/sells holistic tinctures. I forget what mine was (my brain was in vacay mode by the end of this fabulous day), but it was powerful and I felt good afterward! To close the retreat, they had a little wine, cheese, and other hors d'oeuvres at a table just outside the studio. I am not a wine drinker but everyone else loved it. The hors d'oeuvres were great quality. It was the perfect close to the day! The whole day was $165, and it was money well spent. They offer the tools for you to make so much of your day, physically and emotionally, and you take away a great sense of balance and direction. LOL, I've kind of lost my "buzz" of those feelings, but I think that's why people go back for more! I'll be back! Yoga Underground offers Vinyasa, Ashtanga, and Hatha yoga, as well as Aerial sessions (very cool)! They have regular classes, with package deals (monthly unlimited classes for $95!), also private sessions, and training programs if you want to learn to instruct. Join their email list, and you will get offers for very cool retreats, both local at the studio, and international week-long yoga getaways! Note: Sorry I have only a couple pictures. This was a totally unplugged day, in the best of ways!!!

Love everything about yoga underground! The instructors are incredibly knowledgeable about the many…read moreaspects of yoga. A wonderful place to practice.

Good gym that falls on the hardcore side which may be intimidating to some but seeing people in…read moregreat shape motivates me. You can get a good workout here and actually grunt during lifts, unlike Planet Fitness. If you're looking for a gym that has heavy weights and that old school feel this is the spot in NC county. It only loses a star due to some older equipment and some bench pads that could use replacement.

Pretty great gym, compared to other gyms in the area the training center tops them all. Much more…read moreof a true lifting gym then total fitness or retro fitness. Prime time isn't swamped with people who don't know what they are doing either. Been here about a month and so far it's one of the better gyms I've lifted at. Only reason why it's not 5 stars is because the locker room could be updated a bit. Other then that it's cheaper and better then any gym around.