I have people tell me all the time that my workout schedule is “crazy”. Most of the time, I smile and roll my eyes because I really don’t think it is. Other times, like when I try 4 different workouts in 5 days, I understand what they are talking about! I hope you’ve read and feel like you got something out of Part 1 of this series. If you haven’t read on my experiences with the Orange Theory and F45 studios here in Little Rock, click here for the post! Part 2 covers my time at the CYLEBAR and Pure Barre studios. Follow along to see what I felt the pro’s and con’s were of these workouts, and if I would encourage you to try them too!
CYCLEBAR
To be transparent, I enjoyed CYCLEBAR so much in Knoxville when I tried it that I ended up getting a membership. I will say, though, that by the end of the 3 month membership I signed up for I was starting to feel a little bored with the classes. I don’t know if the new had just worn off or if ultimately the straight cardio just wasn’t enough to keep my attention. Regardless, I wanted to see how the Knoxville studio compared to this Little Rock studio!
The Workout
I scheduled a 5 pm class for this workout, which normally isn’t my nature. But, I will say particularly with the cycling classes I tend to feel stronger in the evenings after having calories throughout the day. This studio is in a really nice outdoor shopping mall in Little Rock about 30 minutes away from the house. Before class I met the studio owner and instructor, and both were super nice! The bike itself was different than the Knoxville bikes, but they’re set up pretty much the same so I was able figure it out quickly.
The class layout was exactly like the classes I have been taking. You essentially have a 2 song warm up, followed by 3-4 songs working through high speed cardio and lower speed strength. Then, usually around the 30 minute mark, there is a song where you work arms specifically with 2 weighted bar options. After arms, there is what I would call a “reset” song where you stay consistent at an average gear and speed before finishing class with the final 2 push songs.
At the end of class, I burned 372 calories which is excellent and right on par with most cycling classes I take. It was also “White Claw Wednesday” at this studio where clients stick around to have a seltzer after class. This was really awesome for me because it provides the opportunity to meet and talk to new people. All in all, I really enjoyed my experience at this Rock City studio!
Pricing
This CYCLEBAR studio is priced the same as the Knoxville studio, so no major surprises. The difference for me is that because of the distance I would more than likely only do 4 rides/month and go to classes on the weekends. That package is $69/month, and they increase from there. Depending on how many rides you think you’ll do in a week, packages range anywhere from $69/month to $150/month.
They also have class packs you can buy and the rides don’t expire for 90 days. For example, the 10 class pack you can purchase is $199. Right now with that package you’ll also get an additional 3 classes for free! Any way you shake it, this is definitely priced as boutique fitness normally is. The decision is yours on whether you think it’s worth the cost! For me, 4 rides per month for $69 doesn’t seem too crazy.
Pure Barre
I was very excited to try Pure Barre again here in Little Rock. Barre is obviously one of my comfort zones, so I enjoy taking and exploring different studios. This studio is about 30 minutes away from the house too, so not extremely convenient. I signed up for a Saturday morning class that was themed to be glow in the dark. It was also a “foundations” class, meaning mostly teaching the basics.
The Workout
The good thing about Pure Barre, at least for me, is that the foundations of the workout are similar enough to Neighborhood Barre that I can pick it up quickly. The class starts with a 10-12 minute warm up, followed by 3 rounds of work focused on thighs, 3 rounds for “seat”, and then abs to finish up. This class was no exception, and there wasn’t anything in the workout that I felt was outside of the norm for a barre class.
The studio was doing some cute promotions for Halloween where you could buy retail at discounted prices. The instructor for the class was super nice and there were also other instructors taking the class too! I ended up burning 220 calories, which is pretty good for me taking a barre class. Overall, nothing surprised or disappointed me with my experience at Pure Barre.
Pricing
One big time positive from this Pure Barre studio is the head instructor named Bridget reached out afterwards to see if I wanted to schedule a second free class. I always appreciate these boutique workouts having an option for more than 1 free class! For regular pricing, Pure Barre is $160/month for unlimited classes. That is expensive, but not outside of the box compared to other workouts similar in the boutique realm.
I’ve always been a big barre advocate in general, and have seen a major change in my body over the years from doing it consistently. Since Neighborhood Barre does not have a studio in Little Rock, if I wanted to continue doing barre in studio I would definitely consider the monthly membership at Pure Barre.
Final Thoughts
Similar to Part 1, I really enjoyed my experiences at Pure Barre and CYCLEBAR here in Little Rock. Both were extremely accommodating and kind, while also being great workouts! Again, if you can come to terms with the pricing being high compared to big box gym memberships you won’t be disappointed in the workouts. For me, personally, I really enjoy the studio class type of atmosphere. I think it’s more fun to work out in that environment, and it provides opportunity to meet new people!
You can book your first free Pure Barre Little Rock class here and first free ride at Rock City CYCLEBAR here!
If you have any suggestions on different workouts in Little Rock please leave them down below in the comments!