June Studio Tour Week 1
June is a special month over here on FFML. During the month of June, I visit a different studio and do a different workout EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. And yep, I share it all as I go along.
Last June, the world was reopening and I was breaking free of my home gym so I decided to document it. Visiting a different studio each day forced me to try some new places and do some different workouts. And because of it, I discovered new favorites, met tons of talented instructors and really grew this community. My tour was so well received and I had so much fun doing it that I decided to make it an annual tradition. Honestly, the hardest part, was scheduling all of the classes around my kids’ changing summer schedules— doing the workouts was easy!
This year, I want you all to join me, so I am posting my schedule ahead of time on Instagram (it’s also at the bottom of this post). Every Monday, I will share the upcoming week’s classes to my stories, as well as links and studio specials. Some studios have created classes just for this community. Others are offering discounts if you join me.
The most remarkable thing about this year is that I am going to all different places from where I went on the tour last year. How lucky are we that our area has that much to offer! I have expanded my tour to include a studio in Philadelphia, Wilmington and some other Philly suburbs such as Plymouth Meeting, Ambler and Downingtown. My hope is to grow this community even more!
For pictures and videos of the classes themselves, check out my Instagram. But, here is a little recap of the first week.
DAY 1: MLS FITNESS in Bryn Mawr.
I had to start the tour with the Main Line fitness queen, Marilu Sutter. She’s been teaching classes on the Main Line since the 80’s! I met Marilu last spring and have done her workout a few times and can tell you that it is always different but always so good. Marilu teaches one class a day at her new studio in Bryn Mawr. Class always incorporates cardio, strength and stretch, using various fitness “toys” as Marilu likes to call them. She has the most dedicated and loyal group of women who take her class religiously, and even follow her to Avalon on weekends in the summer.
Aside from the strong community, MLS has these incredible spring board floors that absorb the impact on your body when you jump. Marilu says her girls will be doing cardio, injury free, into their eighties because of these floors! And I have to agree that I noticed the difference on the first step.
Marilu is tough in class, but just the sweetest person with the biggest heart outside of those 60 minutes. She is a real pro and always makes sure everyone is using proper form and feels good about their workout. And don’t be caught off guard when the the motivational chants start up midway through class. Check out my IG to listen!
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You can take a class at MLS Fitness Monday-Thursday 8:30-9:35 am or Tuesday evening at 5:45 pm. Marilu is down the shore in Avalon on weekends in the summer. No need to register in advance. She’s old school. Just show up with a $20 bill. But don’t let that fool you. Be prepared to work in order to keep up with Marilu’s bad a** girls!
DAY 2: BLUE BUTTERFLY in Paoli.
I have never done Bikram before, and I feel quite silly that I assumed it was like any other hot yoga class. It was absolutely nothing like any hot class I have taken! I love a hot class but this was a different kind of hot. The room started at 111 degrees and went up from there. There were infrared panels all along the ceiling for the ultimate healing experience. And class was just that — healing, cathartic, cleansing — next-level intense.
There was no music. Just the sound of the instructor’s voice, commanding us to push ourselves to the edge… and then break. And I have to admit that I did get pretty close to the edge in those 60 minutes. While I struggled to hold the poses, ignore the sweat dripping into my eyes, and catch my breath as my heart raced, I left feeling healed and whole and cleansed. Class was one of the most challenging things I have done in a while, but I can totally see the appeal. Blue Butterfly is the place and Fiona Yohannan is the person to do Bikram with.
Fiona is the owner of the Blue Butterfly in Paoli. Located above Keswick Cycle, Blue Butterfly is home to Bikram yoga and Pilates classes. The studio is spacious with the hot room that I described above and a separate, less hot, Pilates studio with all the apparatuses.
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Fiona explained to me that Bikram is a “beginner series” and it’s always the same— 2 breathing exercises and 26 poses. There were instructed water breaks and two Shavasanas - one mid-way through and one at the end of class. I’ve learned about the yoga breath but this was very different. I’ve done yoga poses before, but again, this was nothing like what I was used to. Class was 60 minutes but she offers 75 and 90 minute classes, as well (which you will not see me in right now). As soon as my studio tour is done, I will be back in that room for hot Pilates, which isn’t quite as hot at Bikram.
I invite you all to go experience Blue Butterfly and join the impressive and committed yogis in that hot, hot studio. Please check out the website because I love how Fiona explains her studio and her practice.
DAY 3: THE YOGA SPOT in Gladwyne.
The Yoga Spot has only been open for a month but has its group of regulars already. Owner, Daria recently comes from Contempra Dance Studio in Wayne and Bulldog Yoga in Malvern but has extensive yoga experience ranging from certification in Costa Rica, to teaching yoga in Poland, to leading children’s yoga at a school in California. Right now, Daria is the only instructor at The Yoga Spot. This boutique studio is her baby.
The Yoga Spot (used to be the Gladwyne Lunch Box) is a small and bright hot studio, located in the little town center of Gladwyne. I’m calling her class '“fun flow” because that’s exactly what it was! The room was very hot. The flow was fun and fast, and there was a definite core focus to this class. The highlight for me was Daria’s music. I love to get my instructors to share their playlists with me and I have been listening to Daria’s class playlist ever since.
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The Yoga Spot is on Mind Body but you can check out the class schedule here.
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The Fit Fest is a full day wellness event put on by Philly Magazine and held at Drexel University. It was this fitness enthusiast’s dream way to spend the day. At the top of every hour, there were 4-5 fitness classes going on outside or in the Drexel athletic facility. These classes were led by various studios’ instructors in the area and ranged from yoga, dance cardio, pilates, boot camp, cycle and strength. And this went on for three+ hours. The market place included local businesses in the health and wellness space. There were guest speakers on topics such as the “Embracing the Anti-Diet” and “Prioritizing your Health". And there were awesome break out sessions on guided journaling and healthy cocktail mixology. To say that I had a good time is the understatement of the year!
To attend the fest, tickets had to be purchased in advance for $65, but I did not need to pre-register for any of the classes that I took (there were a handful of classes with limited spots that did require registration the night before). You can check out the schedule and the participants here, in case you plan to join this annual event next year, which I highly recommend!
DAY 5: THE DEVON DRAGON DASH 5K RUN AND 1 MILE FUN RUN/WALK at Wilson Farm Park.
Getting involved in community races is a great way to get active outside and support a good cause. This one raised money for a local elementary school. While I took the opportunity to go for a 1 mile fun walk with the family, many participants, including children, participated in the 5K.
Here is what’s on tap for next week, as well as the rest of the month. I’d love for you to join me!
