WEEK 2 OF 52 WEEKS OF FITNESS:
PILATES MEETS STRENGTH TRAINING AT VAURA PILATES, TOP; RE/GEN METHOD, BOTTOM
According to ClassPass, Pilates was the most popular workout of 2023, overtaking strength training as the number one choice of fitness enthusiasts. There are countless Pilates fitness studios across the country — many of which we have featured like SLT, SolidCore, Club Pilates, and Lagree Fitness – with classes on a Pilates reformer machine or a variation thereof. All are slightly different, but at their core is core – core strength that is.
A few new studios have popped up on the fitness landscape like Vaura Pilates and Re/Gen Method that combine the popularity and benefits of Pilates and strength training into one workout. It’s a new approach to Pilates and a new approach to strength training. Though there is an emphasis on core work, core strength alone is not the end goal. Maintaining your stability and form on the Reformer as you slide the platform and pull the straps against the resistance of the spring makes Pilates classes a total body workout. These new classes add weights into the mix for added difficulty and results.
Vaura Pilates is a new Australian import that just opened in NYC, and I took their first class opening day. Billed as an “athletic” Reformer class, Vaura mixes dumbbells, a weighted ball, and the traditional Pilates ring into moves on the Reformer. Every class is different and each teacher encorporates the equipment in their own way. My instructor, for example, integrated upper body dumbbell moves like bicep curls, triceps extensions, and shoulder presses into lower body moves like lunges and squats on the Reformer.
RE/GEN METHOD
Re/Gen Method, on the other hand, another new Pilates meets strength straining studio, separates the workouts for a two-in-one hybrid class. The first half is Pilates on the Reformer, and the second half is weight training on the floor. The class is much smaller, with just 6 spots in each class. The vibe is more intimate and boutique, as opposed to Vaura with 28 machines and a nightclub-like environment. Interestingly, Vaura Pilates is owned by F45 Training, the HIIT workout franchise chain.
Both Vaura Pilates and Re/Gen Method are great workouts with your muscles kept under constant tension throughout the entire class. Choosing one over the other, like all fitness classes, comes down to your own style and preference in a workout. Either way, if you are looking for the benefits of strength training and Pilates in one workout, or want to add something new into your fitness routine, it’s worth checking out either one of these new combo classes.
Re/Gen Method photos above by Rachel Monteleone
