Workout Wednesday: HSM | CORE

I’m trying out a different workout class each week and reporting back for your entertainment every Wednesday. Homegrown fitness concepts all the way up to the big national franchises. Follow along here, browse our fitness archives for more, send class suggestions to [email protected].

Vitals

Name: HSM | CORE
Class: Megaformer
Location: 601 Kings Drive
Class schedule: see schedule here
Class duration: 40 minutes
Drop-in rate: $31
Monthly membership: $320

How to dress and what to bring

I’d avoid any kind of loose clothing that could get in your way. You’ll be making quick transitions on a sliding spring-loaded platform and don’t need baggy pants and drawstrings hanging you up on the machine. As always, go with what you’re comfortable in. So if spandex isn’t your thing, do you. I brought water but didn’t touch it. You’ll be barefoot so no need to think about footwear.

What to expect in class

HSM | CORE classes are taught on the Megaformer, a pilates reformer on steroids created by Lagree Fitness. It’s made up of a central spring-loaded sliding platform, two stable platforms at the front and back and a bunch of handles, straps, levers and pulleys.

You’ll move through a full body 40-minute workout rooted in slow, deliberate core stabilizing moves on the sliding Megaformer. Most of the moves won’t be unfamiliar (think push-ups, planks, lunges, etc.) but the Megaformer adds resistance and destabilization to make everything more challenging. Watch head coach Arthur Pulley demo a plank, pike, push-up combo.

Each machine comes with a red bar that can be used to steady your balance or add extra weight.

Where you’ll feel it the next day

Everywhere. This is the hardest workout I’ve ever done. It worked muscles I didn’t know existed until they were suddenly sore the next day.

Locker room situation

Unisex restroom but no showers.

My take

If I could afford this workout, I’d do it all the time. As I wrote back when the studio first opened, HSM | CORE is not fitness for the masses. It’s a specialty workout packaged as a luxury brand and priced at a hefty $320/month premium.

Forty minutes sounds like a short class but when you’re in the brutal 15-second final countdown to the end, you’ll understand why it’s not a minute longer. I found that I wasn’t looking at the clock during class anyway. There are too many other things to focus on like not falling off the machine and the fiery the burn in your muscles.

Muscle fatigue set in fast and I worked up a significant sweat in a short amount of time. Overall, it’s a quick, challenging, effective workout. Two thumbs up.

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