The Dallas Gym Diaries: Inside Scoop On the Hottest New Fitness Studios Around

With the start of the new year comes the start of a million new fitness trends. 2017 brought us gems like goat yoga and Beyonce ballet, so 2018 has a lot to live up to. Luckily, new fitness studios have been popping up all around Dallas this month. In an effort to immerse myself in the newest and trendiest of fitness culture, I did something of an experiment: Four days, four gyms, one uncoordinated girl.

Looking back, maybe I should’ve spread out these workouts so I didn’t feel like spaghetti by day three. Take that into consideration while reading my fitness diary, which gets progressively less enthused. But hey, you live and you learn.

Here’s what you need to know about some of Dallas’ best new gyms…

DAY 1:

Body Machine Fitness

The world’s largest HIIT studio just opened in Plano, and honestly, it rocks. If you’re into a Barry’s Bootcamp-style workout with the vibe of a wholesome rave, this is the place for you. Body Machine Fitness is a nightclub-inspired gym with a live DJ (shout out to DJ Tog) and full-on light shows.

A lot of gyms try to feel like a club, but I can promise you that none are as committed to this as BMF. The music is loud and fun, and the energy is high enough to make you forget how hard you’re working out.

The class alternates between time on the treadmill and weight training. It was really tough, but the instructor was amazing and took time to explain each exercise and offer modifications.

A lot of gyms try to feel like a club, but I can promise you that none are as committed to this as BMF.

Body Machine Fitness also has this cool body scanner that will tell you your body fat percentage, measurements, health risks and more. The machine will give you specific instructions on how to reach goals, and can measure your progress over time.

Other bonuses include the gym’s juice bar, which has delicious post-workout smoothies; roomy, luxe locker rooms, stocked with BMF’s own line of all-natural bath products; and a lounge area near the entrance.

DAY 2:

Studio 6 – The Royal Workout

Getting the royal treatment usually isn’t this strenuous – but if it’s good enough for Meghan Markle, it’s good enough for me. Lagree is Markle’s go-to workout, and for excellent reason. The low-impact, core-strengthening workout is akin to Pilates, but more intense.

Studio 6 was one of the first gyms to bring the lean muscle-building practice to Dallas, and it grew just in time for royal wedding mania. It recently opened a fourth location in Dallas in the Lakewood neighborhood.

I tried out the “Royal Workout” at the new Studio 6, a roomy, open space on Gaston Ave., and I enjoyed it. It had the most relaxed atmosphere of all the gyms I visited (in a good way). The teacher never had to compete with the volume of the music and the lighting was normal.

I definitely recommend trying Studio 6’s Royal Workout if you love pilates or yoga. It’s all about slow, controlled movements and you can feel it toning in all the right places. The teacher was also really involved and helpful with adjusting form.

P.S. There’s a juice bar across the street!

DAY 3:

The Ride House

If you’re looking for a great indoor cycling studio, check out The Ride House in the Devonshire neighborhood. The studio was just outfitted with brand-new custom STAGES bikes (“the best luxury bike on the market right now”). It also features an interactive LED light wall, and a stadium-style layout.

The light wall, fun music and intense instructor makes for a memorable experience… But I had never done a spin class before and I almost died.

I couldn’t get my foot to click into one of the pedals, I couldn’t get the seat to the right height, and I couldn’t summon the strength to do all the bouncy things you’re supposed to do. Everybody else seemed really into it, though.

Don’t let my lack of enthusiasm prevent you from trying Ride House — I honestly just realized two minutes into the class that indoor cycling is not my jam. I was also getting worn down three days into my fitness experiment. That said, even doing the half-ass job that I did, I could feel my body getting a full workout and I woke up a little sore the next day.

I went to the hip-hop class and the music was really good. My neighbor was also super nice and helpful when I was struggling! In fact, the whole class had a nice sense of comradery.

DAY 4:

District Climb

This studio brings one of the newest fitness trends to Dallas’ West Village: The Versaclimber workout. Basically, you climb up the machine to the beat of electronic music, which is harder than it sounds.

Tucked in West Village shopping center, District Climb has an upscale environment and a cute neon mosaic on the ceiling.

I arrived late, frazzled, and quickly realized that this was the harder, more psychotic cousin of indoor cycling. The class was short, which I am eternally grateful for. This is an activity that tires you out after like 30 seconds, let alone 30 minutes.

It turns out I have no rhythm — something I’ve long suspected and that was confirmed when I couldn’t keep time with everyone at spinning or climbing. But the other people in the class were insanely fit and inspiring to look at.

This is probably a workout best suited for people who are already in shape. I’m somewhat fit and my body just couldn’t — at least on the first go. But, if you like spinning, high-intensity cardio, and short-but-effective workouts, this is definitely something you should try. It gives the sensation that your body is shredding, which has to be good.