Exercise studio in Kendall/Dadeland area?

[Julie1]

Hi everybody, I need a recommendation for a good exercise studio where you can take classes like yoga, strength training, zumba, pilates, etc. Thanks!

[Mario]

Check out the Green Monkey, they have a center in South Miami, close to the Shops at Sunset. This is their link:
GreenMonkey.net - Live in Balance

They offer yoga and pilates. I'm not sure if they offer zumba.

[GandJ]

I'm not sure how "exercise studio" is defined, but around here in VA, you can take things like Pilates and Yoga at a regular gym. Of course, for strength training, they've got you covered at gyms. I don't know what Rumba is.

So, if no luck with the studios, give a few calls to some local gyms.

Glenn

[Maria de los Angeles]

There are lots of places in the area immediate South Miami/Dadeland area

I think this might be your best bet for a studio that offers everything: M Cycle on US1 M Cycle Gym - South Miami's Neighborhood Gym

But also ...

LA Fitness in Sunset Place
Green Monkey on Sunset Drive (as Mario pointed out)
Corpo Yoga (across the street from Dadeland) very close to you! Corpo Yoga > Yoga Studio in Miami, Florida
Polestar Pilates Polestar Physical Therapy & Pilates Center - Coral Gables, Florida 33146
Fitness Together Fitness Together Miami
Ed's Boot Camp edsbootcamp.com

Yoga Institute of Miami The Yoga Institute of Miami is a little further south but I highly recommend it.

[Julie1]

GandJ, my building already has a gym, so I want to go to a studio just for the classes where I can pay for the classes only & don't have to pay for a gym membership.

Maria, thank you! I'm going to check these places out when I get to Miami (3 days!) and I'll let you know what I think! The Corpo Yoga is right where I'm going to be living, so that's perfect! The other ones in South Miami are OK for the weekends but I'm working in Cutler Ridge so I need someplace that's between home and work.

[Maria de los Angeles]

Hey Julie! So you are by Dadeland South station then? For some reason I thought the building you found was Dadeland North. That will be VERY close to you indeed. A friend of mine takes class at Corpo Yoga and he loves it!

South Miami is a stone's throw away from Dadeland. I live in South Miami (we'll practically be neighbors!). Barring a traffic jam, it shouldn't take you more than five minutes to get from your place to anything around the little downtown area.

I hope all goes well with your move. Keep us posted if you have any more questions.

[Julie1]

Hey Maria...yes I'm right next to the Dadeland South Metrorail stop. I love South Miami, it's beautiful! If I ever escape apartment life I would love to own a house there, the beautiful lush tropical landscaping is amazing!

[Julie1]

Hey guys, just wanted to provide an updated for those ppl interested.

M Cycle Gym is pretty good and close to me. The boxing class ("Power Strike") is great. This class is a really good workout! The Zumba class is pretty good too. I had some trouble getting all of the foot moves right, but I'm sure I'll pick it up eventually... Apparently the people here can actually understand the lyrics to the spanish music and some of them were kind offended to be shaking it to "get on top, it's better on top" and "my bed smells like you." lol

Corpo Yoga is also good. The only thing that annoyed me is that they burn incense, which i asked them not to do when i was there. Seriously smoke and strong smells are not great for you. Anyway, they have a class at 6am during the week that i can go to....it's 1.5 hrs so I'm like 10 mins late for work each time. I'm going to leave before the cool down next time so i'm not late.

[Maria de los Angeles]

Hi Julie! Thanks for the update.

I started doing bootcamp in South Miami, which is awesome. They have early morning classes and afternoon classes too, some in the Palmetto Bay section closer to where you work.

It's $99 unlimited classes for the whole month or you can get a day pass for $15.

edsbootcamp.com

That is definitely a problem with the incense. When I used to teach yoga, I never had anyone ask me to turn it off, but I know what you mean. Not everyone is keen on those smells.

[Julie1]

Yeah I mean even if I didn't have allergies or I would still say it's not good for you to be breathing in smoke. The bootcamp looks really good but it's just not realistic for me to work out every AM and shower then make it to work on time. I bet you will be in super good shape though if you stick with it!!

[Maria de los Angeles]

Yeah I mean even if I didn't have allergies or I would still say it's not good for you to be breathing in smoke. The bootcamp looks really good but it's just not realistic for me to work out every AM and shower then make it to work on time. I bet you will be in super good shape though if you stick with it!!

LOL Julie ... in October when I'm done with a bunch of traveling, I'm going to take a 12 week challenge with Ed, the owner of bootcamp. I'm already in better shape. It is SOOOO hard but I love it and it's worth it.

[Julie1]

I've decided i don't like zumba...it's super crowded and i'm not getting a good workout because I can't get the moves right. I think ed's bootcamp would be good for me b/c it's more of a traditional cardio/strength training workout. Maybe once I use up my credits for M Cycle Gym and Yoga I'll try that for a month. If I go to the 6am class in palmetto bay i could still make it to work. Yoga is great it does make you feel better but at the same time it's not like you sweat or anything...

[Maria de los Angeles]

Hi Julie! You will definitely be able to get the moves at bootcamp. They are all simple but rigorous drills. Everybody breaks a sweat ... a shower is a must afterward!

I'm a little biased because I used to teach yoga ... some yoga is more strenuous then others and I've seen people sweat buckets. I think an ideal fitness program alternates something like bootcamp with yoga that emphasizes stretching as opposed to resistance poses (the ones where you use your own body weight to build strength & tone muscles). There definitely isn't enough stretching in the bootcamp program, at least not for my taste. They'd have to add an extra 20 minutes for that. There's nothing as good as stretching when you've done cardio and your muscles are more pliable. Also, yoga is so good for stress reduction.

Like I said, a combination of things seems ideal. When I get back from my trip I'm going to start alternating bootcamp days with yoga.

[Julie1]

Aw *sadface* now I feel guilty LOL...I <3 yoga. I would do three days of the bootcamp and 1 day of yoga. I do ashtanga which is what they have that meets my schedule, but I think it's supposed to be one of the more strenuous yogas. That's awesome you used to be a yoga teacher!