Body Conceptions by Mahri

Swimsuit season is approaching…
You’ve seen them in the incredible fashion magazines. You’ve seen them on the runways. You’ve seen them on the beaches in their pristine bikinis and chiseled bodies. This is the year of swimsuit model and the class to take to achieve such greatness is Boco Power Sculpt with the very talented, Lauren Rodriguez.
NYC is host to a myriad of gyms and boutique fitness studios but those seeking to acquire a beautiful and toned physique similar to the ones that embrace the covers of many magazines should seek no more as Body Conceptions is the one studio equipped with everything for the fitness enthusiast aiming to get bikini/​monokini/​tank top and just plain beach body ready for Summer. And without any doubt, after taking what feels like zillions of Sculpting classes throughout NYC, this is the # 1 SCULPTING CLASS 2016. Bring your enthusiasm and water bottle because you will work hard and start to prepare for the warmer weather as the lovely and dedicated Lauren Rodriguez will push you to your limits! 4 months left till we peel it all off and there is no doubt, this is where you get your swimsuit-​body training.
On a chilly morning, I signed up for Boco Power Sculpt, a low-​impact Sculpting sensation with Lauren Rodriguez. There is no dancing involved which implies a content-​heavy class with many great and muscle-​focused exercises exclusive to their signature Body Conceptions method. Lauren Rodriguez will welcome you with her generous nature and kind, patient attitude. She is dancer with many years of fitness teaching experience and was trained by Mahri Relin, one of the industry’s top fitness icons. With this vast experience, Lauren has acquired a wealth of knowledge in the human anatomy and enjoys working with people individually and in a group setting. She is just a joy to meet and learn from and will absolutely listen to students as they describe injuries and requests. Lauren is generous while explaining exercises and carefully demonstrates modifications so that everyone can participate. I am always impressed with the elite level of care she displays from the moment students enter the room. Her teaching style is precise and welcoming. This is an open level class so those needing to shed weight, improve stamina, tone midsections, tighten love handles and eliminate scary saddlebags are invited. For others seeking a revival in their fitness journeys, there is no shortage of a physical challenge with this class and one will leave with a newfound burst of energy. Goodbye heavy weights, dreary gyms and boring routines. Seek no further… one hour of this sculpting class will make you feel the burn!!!
Class was held in a bustling pocket of the NYC (easily accessible via subway/​bus) inside a charming dance studio with great music and lighting. After an intense warm-​up, we progressed with a content-​rich series of leg exercises utilizing a small glider under our feet that had me screaming for an Epsom Salt bath. Many great leg exercises were programmed into this class. The hot spots like inner and outer thighs, hamstrings, calves and quads were worked to exhaustion… and absolutely no muscle left behind. The arm section was taught with 2 lb weights aimed at carving our shoulders, biceps, triceps, forearms and everything in between. Lauren added many repetitive exercises to this section that left me feeling like I had just carried a load of heavy groceries up 20 flights of stairs. However, I noticed everyone smiling and engaged throughout the entire class because there were so many unique and wonderful exercises that not a single person appeared bored! This class is consistently taught with varying exercises so the group will never get tired of the same class and our muscles are challenged. We stretched after all major muscle groups and moved at a steady pace with all exercises cued to Lauren’s fabulous music playlist.
One great highlight was the glute section, an area gaining a lot of attention these days in the media. Well, this is how a toned derrière is achieved… Lauren’s program delivered the best glute tightening and toning exercises that will certainly provide you with newfound «assets.» Intense ab exercises using gliders and a squishy ball were injected at the halfway mark of class. Water breaks ensued after each rigorous section and so many sequences were expertly taught throughout the tough hour. We were made to feel like superstars getting my beach body training. Several minutes of the program’s signature arm moves concluded class before a delicious one song cool-​down stretch.
Don’t let these months slip by… book yourself with Lauren and the rest of the lovely Body Conceptions team. They are experts at toning physiques. Look into this incredible program and take their classes regularly. Confidence included.
Happy Exercising!

Body conception classes achieve the important goals of superior fitness classes while managing to avoid the pitfalls we’ve all experienced. They vary just enough each time to be both different and familiar, are large and small group muscle detail oriented, efficient and challenging yet fun somehow. This is mostly because both Mahri and every instructor in her team of current and retired professional dancers are excellent and know how to set an inclusive tone for newbies and regulars alike. In a city full of type A fitness maniacs opening studios, sporting serious superiority complexes while drooling on any celebrity clientele, Mahri and her team are a breath of fresh air. Likewise, at Body Conceptions I don’t feel like a piece of meat in an impersonal exercise factory just moving as many bodies as possible through the doors each day and definitely not giving a shit about little ol me lol. In addition, there are cool cross promotions, events and fitness challenges happening all the time offering outside of class opportunities to get to know people in class and have some fun.

I took the BOCO Power 45 class this morning with Nicole and it was a great way to start the day. Nicole was a high-​energy and very talented instructor that kept us moving and sweating the whole time. I’ve done a lot of classes on ClassPass and this was one of the most fun. The class incorporates cardio, strength training and stretching for a full body workout. I highly recommend this class!

I was a college athlete and this class is the funnest, most challenging, high energy class I have taken in the city. They call it dance cardio but you do not need dancing skills by any means. There is some choreography but anyone can do it, even first-​timers! I have tried all the other «dance cardio» classes in the city and this was hands down the most welcoming and empowering of them all. The regular class starts with 15 – 20 min of fast-​paced dancing, movement really, some jumping, but all with some sass (hello Beyoncé). Then you typically go into «seat» work where the instructor takes you through moves targeting your tush. I was so surprised, the first time I took the class, by how weak my hips were. You know that area that turns to saddlebags once 30-​ish hits? All the moves target my problem areas (and I’m sure others can relate) and create long lean muscles, which was welcomed with open arms after all the heaving lifting and bulking up I went through in college. Then you move on to the «core» section which could be anything from variations of planks, sliders, crunches to the beat and so on. The class ends with the lights down low — complete no judgement zone the entire class — doing standing ab work that feels like sassy dancing. I always leave feeling exhausted and uplifted. Every instructor has their own flavor and they all have dance backgrounds. Highly recommend!

The class was challenging and Mahri’s instructions made it easy to keep up.
I greatly appreciated her small adjustments, indicating to me her commitment to my staying safe while helping me get the most out of the workout.
Though the oldest in the group, I felt welcomed by Mahri’s smile and delightful energy.

They have a lot of nerve charging the same prices for their classes ($ 32/​class) as high-​end fitness studios when the facility they RENT OUT-​Bella Vita Studios-​is an absolute joke. First of all, they never have the AC on, which could actually be quite dangerous for some in the summer months. Secondly, there are only two mirrors in the whole studio, leaving a big portion of the class without any mirrors-​which is pretty key to ensuring proper form. And lastly, there is one tiny bathroom in the whole place, no changing area-​nothing. At least when you pay this kind of money, you get a beautiful, well-​lit, air-​conditioned studio, a proper locker room, a water cooler and towels (which you will definitely be needing if you take a class here because they never have the AC running!) While the classes are very good, the studio takes away from the experience. I would save your money and go elsewhere. At least until they decide to spend all the money you’re giving them on adequate facilities.

I am a yoga addict and rarely take any other type of class but I have to say, I am a convert after taking class with Erin! She had such fun, motivating energy, the music was great and I got an AWESOME workout. I feel like it worked my entire body and the next day I was sore in all the right places. It was the perfect mix of dance cardio, strength training, and stretching. I also really enjoyed meeting the other women at the class. They were all friendly and we had fun sweating together. I literally signed up for Class Pass just so I can take this class more often. I will definitely be back and I highly recommend trying a class!

This is a pretty fun class :)

Please allow me to preface this review by saying I am NOT a gym bunny. I am much more of a novel exerciser. I always need be doing something new or I get bored. Body Conceptions will never make you bored! The first class I took was with Joanie and I was surprised by how much I really liked it! It was fun, inspiring, and a really great workout. I have since taken numerous classes with my favorite instructor, Erin. She has such wonderful energy. She keeps you going in the best way possible. It is very evident throughout the class that she is passionate about movement and body wellbeing. As a person who is not always a fan of exercise, I find it difficult not to get caught up in wanting to improve myself physically. Most of all, it’s just a downright good time! I especially love the freestyle time at the end! I’m sure I look like a massive idiot, but no one is there to judge. Just have fun!

I just got home from my second class… and wow what a workout! I have now taken with Erin and Mahri and both classes were excellent. I love that the class has every component that I’m looking for and it’s a great mix of cardio and toning. My abs and thighs are still burning! This is just the class I need to get back in shape! I highly recommend!!!