When we were asked to try four unique classes in one week at Equinox, Vancouver’s premier fitness club, our bodies screamed "no" but our minds (and our penchant for complementary chilled eucalyptus towels and Kiehl’s body products, as well as post-workout Body Energy Club smoothies, all available at the gorgeously decked-out West Georgia Street location), quickly overrode that sentiment. And so we embarked on our seven-day journey to find out more about (and feel fitter at) the city’s luxest, loveliest, top-of-the-line fitness club.
day 1: pure strength. We showed up to our first class of the week a wee bit nervous and very un-stretched. Luckily, the Pure Strength session we were signed up for was led by Simon, who cheerfully took us through a pre-workout warmup using resistance bands and explained (with helpful notes jotted in non-permanent marker on the mirrors up front) what we would be doing in this circuit-style class. Teamed up in pairs, we rotated through quick and effective full-body exercises, like sumo squats and double-oh-seven situps, and got to test our strength on pull-up bars, which was a surprising challenge for the group fitness setting. Overall, we worked strength over muscular endurance and used heavier weights than most would be used to, then finished with some gentle stretching. The point, Simon reminded us, was to take our time and do our best in this non-HIIT but definitely quick-and-effective 45-minute workout.
day 2: the pursuit. To say we were worried about this one is an understatement. Non-cyclists, we’d heard rumours that Equinox-branded The Pursuit is an intense spin experience that reveals your intensity and results to everyone else in the class (not to mention, collectively, to other clubs around the world). Lucky for us, the lovely Jen was in charge, with an infectiously positive attitude and motivational teaching style that quickly made us forget our inhibitions and start focusing on achieving our personal best. The class took us through various modules, with our "burning ball of bike fire" pictured, along with all of our fellow Pursuit-ers, on the front display, so we could see ourselves, in real time, pushing to the max. Exciting, heart-pumping and totally addictive!
day 3: trilogy barre. Another club special, Equinox is the only studio that utlizes a three-bar system in its barre class. Bands, placed at different anchor points and wrapped around feet, legs and hands to provide an element of resistance (akin to using a Pilates Reformer, minus the bulk of the machine—though those are available here, too), make this workout one of the best to tone and sculpt your entire body. The gorgeous (and funny!) Zach took us through this one—and, boy, do we wish we had his moves (not to mention, looong legs)! Practice, he assured us, would get us to a place of heightened Trilogy Barre grace, but, in the meantime, we were gaining a great (if a bit awkward-looking, as we got the hang of the barre-and-band system) workout.
day 4: precision running. We ended our week of Equinox fitness on a high—a runner’s high. Simon was with us once more as we took to two rows of treadmills in the main part of the club for an interval-style class that had us up our walk-jog-run-sprint game big time. Though the workout was intense (four rounds of interval running at incrementally increased speeds and inclines), the class participation (neighbourly introductions and sharing some of the things that made us feel hopeful and lucky in life) and encouragement from Simon got us through with an actual smile on our face. Somehow, having someone tell you what to do and when to do it on a treadmill really is much more fun (not to mention, effective) than going it alone.
Our week up, we’re actually wishing we had more time to check out other offerings at Equinox (we’ve got our eye on the Best Butt Ever workout and the Firestarter, which promises a day’s worth of cardio in 30 minutes, next), but will settle for a relaxing steam, a spa treatment (the club’s got those, too) and that smoothie for now, and save the rest for another week. Equinox, we’ll be back, better and fitter than ever! —Noa Nichol
Equinox, 1131 W. Georgia St., Vancouver, 604-449-3002, equinox.com
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