SLT

I’m quite surprised by the reviews of this studio (and any other SLT studio for that matter since I’ve tried most of them). I am torn as I write this review because on one hand I want to defend the studio because of the great classes they provide, but on the other hand competition for classes is already pretty steep. So, SLT if you’re reading this, this is to hopefully encourage more studio openings (I heard Yorkville is a great area…)
First off let me say that it took me a long time to finally find a class that I could stomach paying more than $ 30 per session — and SLT is still one of only a couple studios I can justify the investment. Because it is an investment. You will leave the 50 minute classes drenched in sweat. You will wake up the next morning with a satisfying soreness. After a few classes, you’ll feel the definition in your obliques you never thought possible. And after more regular attendance, you’ll start finally catching onto the lingo (they should consider need to posting a glossary online…) and see further benefits from improved form.
One of the things I love most about SLT is how the same routine can affect two different people in dramatically different ways. After about 10 classes, I convinced my best friend to take a class with me. She (like me originally) was skeptical of the cost so had planned to just do the intro class and then move onto the next offer at some other gym. After the first class she was hooked. We continue to regularly attend classes together — but when she texts me that she can’t lift her arms, I usually reply how I can’t walk down stairs. It’s our individual weak areas that get the most work, which is exactly what you want in a «one size fits all» routine.
I can’t say enough good things about the classes or the instructors. I would LOVE if there were showers and also wish there was an ability to sign up for a late class and then switch into an earlier class if there’s still availability. But with those being my only two complaints, SLT easily gets 5 stars from me. I encourage anyone who is skeptical of this review to check out MindBody or Rate Your Burn, which seem to echo my sentiments =)

I was pretty stoked to give SLT a try, because I’d heard so much about it. It’s true, you will be in extreme pain and experience soreness for the following 3 – 4 days. I had to take a tylenol because I was that sore.
I would liken SLT to a Barry’s Bootcamp/​Crossfit version of pilates. It’s definitely the most intense form of pilates I’ve ever taken — I don’t even know that it can really be considered a pilates class, as I always considered it a form of stretching/​toning exercise… there’s not much stretching at SLT. There’s also no rest period in-​between the bootcamp-​like exercises that the class entails.
Also, for the price point, I had higher expectations for the upkeep of the studio. The space itself is nice, but it definitely wasn’t very clean. With all the sweating going on, I think they should mop up the floors in-​between every 2 – 3 classes. The floor just looked really sticky and dirty.
All that aside, though, the instructor and receptionist were very friendly. I did like that they were super conscious of new students and the assignment to which reformer they used. I also liked that class sizes were on the smaller side, so you could receive a bit more attention when it came to correct form.
For sure, SLT is a great workout and I’m glad I tried it, but probably not my thing.

A friend from D.C. told me about the awesomely excruciating workout she had with a Megareformer. My interest was piqued and upon googling, I found SLT as one of the few studios in NYC offering Megareformer classes. I signed up, very excited to try. I love pilates (though we are a bit estranged these days), and I was looking forward to a reformer based class with a cardio element added to the workout. Plus they have a $ 20 rate for the first class. Sold.
The studio is okay. They tried a little with some paint, but it’s really just a basic studio with 12 megareformers, a mirrored wall and lots of windows.
Checkin was uneventful. Per the instructions on my email confirmation, I arrived 15 minutes early for my first class so I would be able to get «training» on how to use my Megareformer. There were two other newbies in my class, yet the instructor (her name escapes me) spent the majority of minutes before class chatting with attendees with whom she was familiar. It was not until a minute or so before class was scheduled to start that she inquired who were first-​timers and then gave brief and largely unhelpful instructions.
The workout was good. I mean, in all honestly, I was sweating and everything hurt like hell the next day. But the entire time, I was consciously aware of how hard I was working. And I think the sweating was in large part from my utter lack of preparedness and constant fear that I would somehow slip fall, injury myself and be unable to earn a living for the rest of my life. Seriously. The Megareformer is a little scary. I was recovering from a stress fracture in my foot (death to ballet flats) and maybe this contributed to my apprehension, but the fact that I received zero instruction or guidance did not help. The set up of the class was not the best since it was challenging to see what other more experienced attendees were up to. The movements were also not intuitive and verbal instructions (at least from the instructor I had) generally did not make much of a difference and I was frankly confused for much of the class.
But like I said, awesome workout. Definitely a full body workout. But every moment of it was dreadful. After my first class I received an email offering three classes for $ 100 as a new comer special. I bough it. But a las, I did not go to a single class. I would schedule them and then minutes before, be overcome with dread and I honestly didn’t feel with other classes. Maybe I would have felt differently if my first class experience was better, the instructor more helpful and the music better (it was awful).
Given the plethora of options in NYC and the outrageous price point (I think $ 40) for SLT’s Megareformer class, I honestly don’t think it’s really worth it. Absent a promotion I don’t think I am likely to return.

I was hoping to love SLT but initial encounter was not favorable. The first class I was scheduled by my daughter on her account. The desk attendant stated that she was allowed to sign up another person so we would not be entitled to a refund. I tried to explain that it was a mistake but the girl at the desk just said «that sucks».
Also they did not ask me to sign a waver for my daughter to exercise or ask about any physical limitations (she has serve scoliosis).

I have been going to SLT for about 4 years, and they are fantastic,
Great Classes, the Best Workout you will ever have,
and I have gone to Physique57, Soul Cycle, Bootcamp, everything„ yoga too,
This is by far the most Advanced, Challenging 1 hour class you will ever take.
It is not for the faint of heart, this is for serious workout people, who want results, and you will get amazing results, rock hard abs, stronger core, strong beautiful legs, great arms, etc., and it is Fun as well. All the Instructors are great, they are interested in their clients, and do an amazing job of helping everyone with the springs, the routine, and correcting posture, form etc, in a nice way. The service is wonderful, I have never
encountered any problem with service, and, this is why after 4 plus years, I am still invested in SLT.

I never write reviews but had a very frustrating experience that will make me rethink ever signing up for an SLT class again.
I scheduled four spots in the Upper East Side class over a week ago and today we are in the midst of a blizzard. Offices are closing early, and unfortunately the clients I was scheduled to take to this class were unable to make it since my clients were traveling home to outside of the city.
I fully understand having a 24 hour cancellation policy, however I assumed for an extenuating circumstance like a blizzard SLT would be a bit understanding, especially since it was all of our first time signing up. I spoke with Rachel who could have cared less that it was a blizzard outside and explained that there was nothing she could do and would not credit back the classes. She claimed other people have been able to make it to the class and me and my clients should have as well. I would expect a bit more customer service from such an expensive class, at 40 dollars a session.

I did the introductory class this afternoon hoping to learn how to use the machine and create an interest in attending classes in the future. I am an avid Soul-​Cycler and have a personal trainer 2x/​week — I was hoping this would be a great addition — It is not. The intro class had 12 students and one instructor — the music was loud and it was very hard to follow the instructor. I anticipated we would learn basic moves, how to use the machine and what we could do as beginners to modify some of the «moves» that are done in class. It was none of the above. If it weren’t for my friend next to me I would have left. If the objective of an introductory class is to entice people to attend regularly they failed. I’d recommend that their intro class have two instructors or fewer people so that you could understand what you are doing and how to do it!
I also didn’t appreciate the instructor telling me I was the only one that «couldn’t hear» when clearly others have made comments about the music overpowering the instructors — it was just rude.

I went today for my first Intro class and it was quite the workout. I’ve been going to Crunch about 4−5x weekly doing a variety of things like Spinning, Kangoo jumping, TRX and Chisel classes but I don’t think there’s much that prepares you for the grueling slow burn of SLT or any other Lagree fitness class. If you’ve been doing strength training and/​or Abs/​floor Pilates based exercises (i.e. Tricep kickbacks, bicep curls, lunges, planks), then there will be familiarity with the general gist of most of the exercises. The moving platform combined with the slow intervals for each exercise is what I think makes this class so challenging, though. I guess I’d call it the Chinese Water Torture of exercise. You won’t do a whole lot of reps but from what I gather from the experience, you’ll slow burn the muscles worked to exhaustion and then some. On top of that, you have to keep your hands and feet in specific areas (i.e. There’re are belts on the moving platform you often put your toes in for forward lunges) essentially forcing you to correct imbalances in movement and posture to correctly perform them unlike say when you’re doing stationary versions of them elsewhere. I was quite discombobulated throughout the class, especially when making the transitions to the different ends of the megaformer platform but the instructor, Karen, went the extra mile to help me and the other newbies out.
My only gripe is that the studio has no showers and I believe that’s the case with all the SLT studios. I think that occurs with a lot of NYC boutique fitness studios but I sweat a lot in general and this class definitely wasn’t an exception. I prefer to shower and change after most exercise classes for that reason.
While I would like to do this regularly, I don’t know if I have the budget for an unlimited membership and the lack of showers makes it hard for me to justify paying for a unlimited membership and/​or large class series. It’s a great workout though so I’m thinking I might go once a week to supplant it with what I regularly do at Crunch.
For anyone who has gone weekly for at least 3 classes, do you feel it’s enough to gain core strength when done in conjunction with other exercise?

Loved the class. The instructor was great and attentive. I was nervous initially because there are 12 machines and i was concerned that it would be a full class. My one massive complaint and what will keep me from coming back was that the music was too loud. But loud music and the mega formers is kind of SLT’s shtick. There also happened to be a lot of on your wrist work which could be a problem if you have bad wrists.
Check it out. There is a $ 20 first class trial.
The second they put up a class with lower volume music, I would be back but not as the classes stand now.