Situated in Knightsbridge, tucked on a road just off Harvey Nichols, is the new studio from Core Collective. Mara headed down there to see the studio and try out the main offering: the Lift + Row class.
Core Collective has been around for a few years in London, with its first studio located in Kensington. The studio offers the options of either a membership or pay as you go, with seven different classes. The Knightsbridge studio currently focuses on the Lift + Row class as its high intensity based session and with other classes including pilates, TRX and yoga.
What is it?
Lift + Row is a high intensity based class, incorporating indoor rowing (cardio) with body weight exercises (strength). The class is divided into two part. The first half of the class is an EMOM (every minute on the minute workout), while the second part is a partner workout. Throughout both parts to the class, you go between using the rowing machine and the floor (body weight exercises) for the 55 minutes.
What I enjoyed:
Lift + Row is a fast moving, explosive and challenging class. The structure of the class being divided into two parts and the way it is designed really pushes you throughout. The partner workout section is done with a time limit and adds an element of competitiveness between pairs, which makes it more fun to do.
If you have really pushed yourself during the class, while you may have walked into the class, you’ll leave crawling. The rest periods are short but long enough just to recover for the next round.
As with other boutique London fitness studios, smoothies are available to buy at the end of the sessions, with the option of ordering your smoothie before the class so it’s ready when you leave.
What I didn’t enjoy:
At £22 per class on the pay as you go option, it’s at the top of the price range, comparable with FlyKick, KOBox, Barry’s Bootcamp, 1Rebel, or Another Space.
I really enjoyed the class and there’s little about it I disliked. What I would say is that the rowing machine does require more technique than, say, a treadmill, and more time could have been spent on honing in on this skill, especially as part of the warm up consisted of achieving a number of certain strokes per minute.
Final thoughts:
If you’re looking for something different, and want to step outside comfort zones, Lift + Row is the class for you try. If you’re used to cardio then the strength section will challenge you, and if you’re used to strength training, the cardio section will challenge you. So in this way the class is catered for different types of fitness lovers and will push you no matter what your fitness level is.
More information
Who it’s for: Intermediate or advanced fitness levels.
How much: £22 per class on the pay as you go option. There are also a membership based options.
Where: 23 Pavilion Road, London, SW1X 0HD
Website: corecollective.co.uk
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