"Wake up in the morning feeling like Tense-Diddy..."…read more If you've ever woken up stiff as a board, do any regular cardio exercises, or spend your days chained to the cubicle farm's best friend the computer, then Stretch Yoga could be your get out of jail free card from the aches and pains your muscles give you. I've been going to their Deep Stretch lunch-time classes which at 45mins long are just enough time to untwist all those muscles of mine that are wound tight from an array of stress, attachment issues with my macbook and high intensity spin classes. The deep stretch class isn't your standard yoga class. It's more focused on holding positions longer to release the muscles and as such there's not as many poses per class. The relaxation and centering feeling from yoga remains. PJ, the owner, has taken pride in ensuring there are a variety of classes (including traditional yoga) suitable for the CBD office workers that make up the majority of their client base. The choice makes grabbing a class at multiple times across the week a breeze. And just don't go undoing all your hard work with a stop at the kebab shop underneath Stretch on your way out...

Don't worry - you might need to walk behind the kebab place, up the stairs, past the hairdresser…read moreand down the corridor but you will find the place and you won't be killed while doing so! Location aside (Centrally located in Brisbane CBD but hard to find if you don't know its there, despite the sign out the front), this place is great. I signed up for a beginners course on a Monday night and its been perfect. Our teacher is really great about talking us through the beginners steps and how we can adapt the standard poses to make it easier for us. I highly recommend the beginners course for anyone looking to start and since the teachers are so lovely, I think I would also recommend it for any other classes, too! It is also actually really lovely when you get inside the classroom as well, despite the misgivings I originally had with the kebab shop. Cheers,

Wonderful yoga studio…read more The instructors here really make this place special, along with the very wide variety of classes offered. My most favourite class is the Practice Lab- I realised this was for me when 5 minutes into 10 minutes of handstand/headstand practice I it occurred to me that a room full of grow ups were kicking it together, listening to good tunes, helping each other, playing and smiling. Can you find better vibes and a better group of fellow yogis? I think not! The class schedule allows for a variety of levels, and the instructors are excellent about helping to make modifications to get you into the right pose for your body, flexible and inflexible bits all taken into consideration! Large practice space with nice clean floors and lots of extra mats, blocks, blankets and straps. Lovely and quiet, such an escape from the nearby bustle. Sure to bring you so much calm. (And, it's a quick dash to Brew- bonus if you want to caffeinate your zen state!) Namaste.

I was put onto Shri by my wife, who has been practising here for a few years, and finally made it…read morein for my first class. LOVED IT! The staff are super nice and accommodating, the studio is lit to perfection and has plenty of space. I have been a few times now and every instructor has brought something unique to the practise. I will be back for more as the Lunchtime Express class suits my work schedule perfectly :)

While one of the more expensive gyms in the area, Lifestyle gym is the largest and in my opinion,…read morebest, with multiple rooms including ladies only. There is a broad range of equipment and televisions while you work out. Staff are friendly and helpful, classes are welcoming and fun with sessions ranging from pilates to weight training. 24/7 access is available as well as child minding and lockers. There is great parking available including a supermarket parking lot across the road. Have a look online for great specials.

In Your Corner is run by George Livaditis, a former professional boxer in the middle-weight…read moredivision. His personal training session focus on boxing - intense half-hour sessions which focus on speeding up your metabolic rate. This is the best form of training for weight loss! YAY! In Your Corner offers one on one sessions for $40 (30 mins) or you can do group sessions with up to 4 people. The cost is cheaper the more people you get in your group - 2 people $30 each, 3 people $25 each, 4 people $20 each. You can also buy bulk training session packs - 12 seasons for $400 or 5 sessions for $180. The little complex of shops on Basnett Street has ample parking as well as nearby street parking.

I have trained with George for 2 months now with the goal of improving my physical appearance. I…read morestarted as a size 10-12 and now down to a smaller 10. I have lost 6cm off each thigh and 10cm off my waistline, and am continuing to incrementally lose weight and cms. George's calm and cheerful demeanour enables me to achieve the best I can without resorting to emotionalism or frustration, which was my usual response to exercise. His professionalism and innate ability to cultivate a program to best serve your goal in regards to your strength ability and body type is second to none. He takes into consideration your lifestyle, in my case being a mother of 3 boys under 6, and works with it. He manages to increase intensity of your workout effortlessly to ensure that you are continuously improving. George is a brilliant trainer, unlike any typical gym trainer I have meet, which can work with any personality, is realistic, goal orientated and cost effective. I would highly recommend George for anyone who has a goal in mind, and wants no bull-shit, positive training with results.

I found this yoga studio about a year and half ago. I was…read moreliving on Oxford Street at the time and I just so happened to see the large sign that read YOGA on the window. I popped in to have a look and there was one person present who happened to be the studio manager. Her name was Claudia and she was so incredibly sweet and kind. She gave me a tour of the space which is stunning! The ashy wood floors and HUGE windows are welcoming and cozy. They had a small waiting room, a large yoga studio space, and rooms in the back for acupuncture, massage, and counseling, etc. It really was a holistic center more than just a place for yoga. I got the one week unlimited pass and tried all different types of classes. I also tried classes at their other studio locations. That's right, there are three in total. Another studio is located in Camp Hill and the third is in Wynnum. The Wynnum location has views of the water and you can watch the sunrise during the 6am class in winter. The classes were all fab. I've never had a bad class and I particularly loved the variety each teacher brought to the table. I have always felt nurtured and cared for when I'm in this space, and I'm thankful to have found such an incredible studio in Brisbane. They really are hard to find these days in my opinion. Inna Bliss seems to really care about the community and their students- what more can you ask for really? I highly recommend this space for an yogi, beginner or advanced, that is looking to deepen their yoga practice.

Anytime Fitness Brisbane City is an awesome club. Always a…read morefriendly smile from the club manager Donna who always stops for a chat when she can. A great group of PTs who are more than happy to answer questions . And plenty of equipment for you to get your heart and muscles moving. Im a big fan of the virtual spin classes too.

Ssssh! This place is a secret!!!…read more Sorry, but sometimes you get a little bit like that when you find a blast from the past like this. This is a proper bowls club, complete with little old men and hilarious bar staff. Drinks are CHEAP, chips are decent and if you can be bothered bowling it's also very well priced (where else can you have fun for $4?) Just don't spread it around too hard please. Oh, and make sure you have a designated driver. It's at the bottom of Bardon so walking anyway is a long, up hill trek.

I've always generally considered Bardon as the sticks. It's beautiful, overgrown with lush trees…read moreand plants. As you're heading out from Paddington, the row of boutique stores, pubs and cafes tapers off and all of a sudden you find yourself following a long, winding country like road, driving over quaint little bridges and dipping down into gullies. The Bardon Bowls Club is nestled in one of these said gullies. It's a well hidden gem. Bardon Bowls Club is a no frills kind of establishment. The most notable decor feature is the XXXX backing against the beer taps. The drinks are ludicrously cheap. Since when can you get a cider for $4.50? You can take a seat inside the club, but I reckon it's nicer if you head outside to the lawn. The bowls club has a lush backdrop of wilderness that sets the scene for an easy afternoon. If you hand in a $20 deposit, you can play bowls for $4. Because it's well tucked away, the bowls club doesn't really get a whole lot of business. It's really a place for the locals. Personally, I like being able to have an entire bowls club to myself whenever I want it.

I have been training with Nirvana for a few years. Before that over the years I'd had other…read morepersonal trainers but never lasted more than a few months as I'm basically a lazy chap. But Nirvana is so encouraging that she makes me want to improve myself. I have chicken legs but they are getting closer to turkey legs but will never be ham legs cos I'm so skinny and tall. i am much stronger now and have lost a few inches from my belly. The best thing is my flexibility is 100percent better and this means I no longer get the upper back and neck pain I Always got. This has made me keep on training as the benefits are so great. I am not a morning person at all but every tue and Thursday I have my. 5.30 am session. I have nirvana to thank for her continued support and quality training. I recommend her to anyone who wants to make positive lifestyle changes. You won't be disappointed.