Core Studio

I purchased a Groupon to try this and love it.
Adding this to my current (fairly minimal) exercise routine, I’ve gone to six classes so far for approximately once a week. My stomach is flatter and my butt tighter and yes, I am sore for a couple days afterward but it is worth it!
Addressing others’ cons: yes, I think the regular price is quite pricey but I will see if I can treat myself to the once a week option when my offer is finished as I like the results. Yes they charge you if you don’t cancel but this is understandable and this hasn’t been a problem for me. Also, I am sure to login to sign up at least a week in advance because the popular classes fill up far out, but I have been able to get in on waitlist and I assume, others may be like me to hold a spot but cancel (before the 12 hours advance) when they know their schedule is changing.
The staff so far has been incredibly helpful and I never feel like I am comparing myself to any of the (way more fit!) students next to me. I do sometimes have to check them out to make sure I am doing the right thing but everyone seems encouraging and positive. The music in the classes I have attended is great and I am enjoying it! As someone on the «wrong side» of 35, I feel like I can get a satisfying workout in a location convenient for me. Also, I do like their easy to use website and sign up system.

Pros:
Clean studio, supportive and friendly staff. Good workout.
Cons:
If you don’t cxl you’re reservation 12 hours in advance they charge you $ 25 PLUS $ 15 = $ 40 what (what a rip off!)
The hip hop tunes they play are way too loud especially for the Barre classes.
It’s a very young staff and clientele which might make anyone over 35 feel out of place.
All the weekend classes are all booked like a week in advance.
Too expensive to keep going long term.

I’m cussing and sweating the entire time but I know it’s all for my benefit.
The space is clean and well maintained and the instructors are pretty awesome. The class sizes are small enough that they can see your form and correct as needed, but large enough that you don’t feel singled out.
I will continue coming.

Fabulous workout, I was sweating so much. Did the core ³⁰⁄₃₀. 30 minute of spin then 30 on the reformer.
My heart was pumping so hard from the bike then on to the reformer where you slow it down. Abs were screaming then chest, arms and legs. Really great total body burn in 60 minutes

I remember the good old days when boobs were the ‘it’ thing around town.
It was a great time for me.
I thought it would last forever.
Naïve, I was.
It was like, one day a friend casually mentions Vida Guerra, I think nothing of it, and then the next day I wake up and people are like, ‘Boobs who? We’re all about butts now, dummy.’ And then the internet (and my world) was plastered with Amber Rose, J-​Lo, Coco, Nicki Minaj, Kim K, freakin’ twerking… I could go on, but I don’t need to because if you’re alive you know how hot it is to have a butt right now.
Being a person with a not so existent posterior in this day and age has been a journey. A hardship, really. I’m (begrudgingly) ready to turn over a new leaf of acceptance that being top heavy is now old hat and being bottom heavy is now on top. With that bit of booty Zeitgeist, I’ve decided to take matters into my own hands and try to build upon (or at least lift) my meager backside so I can at least not have saggy diaper booty in pants.
I signed up for a month of unlimited classes at Core Studio and being as dedicated as I am to getting my money’s worth, I’m happy to report that I’ve now gone for the past 26 days in row and ready to report on my progress.
In all honesty, I hate working out… or at least I did before Core Studio. And I didn’t actually sign up for a membership because of the butt trend but instead I saw pic of myself taken from behind in shorts and saw the beginnings of what can best be described as the dimpled, rippled thighs of my mother… who is a good woman and by all accounts earned those ripples through 2 terrible children, two full time jobs, countless headaches, and sleepless nights for her children’s benefit. I, on the other hand, am just lazy and a little physical activity on the reg probably wouldn’t kill me.
So here I am. Almost a month in, and while I’m only down 2 pounds that’s not really my concern at this point. I can feel my muscles reshaping and not a day goes by that I don’t have to make ‘oof, my butt hurts’ exclamations when I sit down because I’ve been pumping it in the cycling classes, lifting it in barre classes, and sculpting the sh*t out of it and the rest of my bod in the SPX classes.
I’m enjoying the transformation so much that I even signed up for a second month (and probably more after that) membership here and it’s not uncommon to find me waking up at 5:30am several times a week to hit those 6am classes before work.
It should be noted that these classes are HARD. I mean, I’m pretty out of shape but all things considered I’m still in pretty good condition and my first few weeks have been ROUGH. Only after almost a straight month of classes
do I feel like I’m moving towards being comfortable with everything, but it’s a really great feeling and I couldn’t be happier with the results.
My favorite classes are the cycling classes and I LOVE Mel as the instructor. Her music, her vibe… she’s basically become my spirit animal several times a week for 50-​minutes at a time.
The Barre classes are no joke either. I’d taken a few barre classes in the past and those were a god damn walk in the park compared to these. I honestly think my butt was lifted an inch after just one class with Lauren.
The SPX classes on the megaformer felt like murder the first (I’ll be real) like 20 times I took the class. Each instructor switches things up so it never gets stale and you never know what to expect besides an absolute full body workout. Lauren, again, is an angel yet her class will have you absolutely and unexpectedly drenched in sweat from the slow and balanced movements. Instructor Kate is basically a goddess and I’d 100% pre-​sale my first born for glutes like hers. And Esther… well, I never thought I’d get my ass kicked by a person named Esther but homegirl makes you WERK… and I’m pretty sure I overheard her say she has a child, which is pretty unbelievable given her immaculate figure.
If I had to offer any suggestions for improvement it would be that I’d love for there to be more cycling classes offered and that the main studio and cycling studio could definitely stand to be a few degrees cooler or have multiple fans running. I’m all for getting my core temps up if that’s what it takes, but I think it may be just a tad too warm at times, especially in these summer months.
For those not in the San Mateo area, they also have a studio in Palo Alto, but perhaps one of the best things about Core Studio is that their class times are schedules are really easy to work into any schedule. In most cases the first classes start at 6am and some evening classes even start running into the 8pm hour, so it’s great if you have a busy job schedule to be able to schedule something on most any day.
Core Studio has been a total lifestyle changer for me and basically turned me from being a «DNB» to a person who enjoys a good butt-​lifting, arm-​sculpting, and full body-​toning session on the daily.

I just finished up a Groupon for 10 classes at Core Studio. I tried out the ³⁰⁄₃₀ class which is 30 minutes of spin and 30 minutes of megaformer but mainly attended the SPX class which is all on the megaformer.
Pros:
–The studio is right off of 92, very easy to access.
–Parking is VERY plentiful
–The studio is clean
–The instructors are friendly
Cons:
–They didn’t post their June class schedule until May 26^th which made it very difficult and inconvenient for me to schedule classes ahead of time. I emailed the studio twice and was told both times it would be posted on that same day and on another occasion was even told by the front desk person it would be posted and it didn’t go up for another 2 days after that.
–The spotlights above the SPX machines produce a lot of heat. I tried to avoid machines with lights directly pointing toward them but it was nearly impossible.
–The temperature in the studio is typically too warm. There was one instance where I walked in and felt like I was already overheating and I hadn’t even begun working out yet. If you know me, you know I am always cold. I keep a heater running under my desk at work all year round so you know I can’t be over exaggerating. They do have a couple of ceiling fans but they usually aren’t turned on and if they are on they don’t produce any sort of a breeze. I will say though that the fans in the cycling room are big and feel nice when they’re on. Even keeping the front door open would be helpful to get some air circulation.
–The megaformers are pretty old. Some would make creaking noises and the carriages frequently got stuck — they didn’t glide well. The cables didn’t pull smoothly. Changing the springs was sometimes dangerous. One time I got my finger caught in one which really hurt. Also, some of the springs seem to have a mind of their own and sometimes unhooked themselves in the middle of moving the carriage.
I will not return to this studio but it was nice to try out a new place.

I just started coming to this studio recently after a friend referred me. First off let me say this is the best work out of my life. I have tried everything from boot camps, to personal training, but nothing made me as sore as these SPX classes.
The studio hours are great and fit into my busy schedule. There are 11 machines so the class sizes are small. Everyone is in a line so you don’t feel self-​conscience.
The trainers play upbeat music which help make the 50 minute classes fly by. My favorite trainer of the three I have been to is Emily. She always offers great feedback and brings a positive energy to the class. She makes you feel totally comfortable, unlike other trainers I have been to at other gyms.
One complaint is their cancellation policy. Be sure to cancel at least 12 hours in advance otherwise you will be charged a fee on top of the class.
All in all this is a great little studio and I highly recommend you check out a class.

I tried this place thanks to ClassPass and ended up liking it so much that I purchased a 2 classes/​week package! I’ve tried both the San Mateo and Palo Alto locations. If you get a package you have the option to go to either location.
I’ve tried out three types of classes Core SPX, Core Cycle, and Core ³⁰⁄₃₀ (30 min cycle and 30 min SPX). Here’s my rundown on each class:
Core SPX — I would say this is the most popular class. This follows the method of Lagree Fitness so you use a megaformer machine. This was my first bout with a Pilates reformer machine. The movements are slow and controlled but trust me you will sweat. If it’s your first time and you’re going with a friend I suggest you stagger instead of sitting next to each other as you will be eyeing the neighbor a lot to see what the current exercise is.
Core Cycle — Super intense! I’ve done spin classes before but none with a Real Ryder bike. The bike moves side to side and you will feel it in your side the following day. I love myself a good dance upbeat spin class but this is on the opposite spectrum of that class. Still enjoyable but less about the fun and more about the calorie burning!
Core ³⁰⁄₃₀ — Combination of the two classes above and a challenge! After the first 30 minutes of cycling I was done for, but it wasn’t the end of class and we still had the SPX portion left for the last 30 minutes.
I’m really glad I found this place!

Tried this and it kicked my butt! The workout is so intense I was shaking! LOL! No pain no gain! I will be back!
Studio, machine, bathrooms were clean.
I think it would be good though if the instructor provided a little hands on adjustment as there were a couple moves not facing the mirror so could not see my form and it did not feel correct. But overall it was a great class!

As a first timer to Core Studio and the reformer, I was a little nervous leading up this class. I received a warm welcome from Esther who made me feel comfortable the whole time. She was super attentive to make sure I was doing the moves correctly while still giving appropriate attention to everyone else in the class.
All things aside, this is really great workout– I was sore immediately after (but in a good way). Staff is extremely friendly and made a first timer feel very welcome!

Bought a groupon deal for 5 classes at Core Studio and it kicked my ass. LOVED it. I was always sore afterwards but don’t we all love that soreness feeling? Class was super tough but I enjoyed it a lot! I tried the SPX 4 times and the ³⁰⁄₃₀ once (which is a combo of cycle and SPX). The ³⁰⁄₃₀ was a killer! I spin regularly but never spinned like that before! By the time I got on my spx board I just wanted to lay on it and not move haha.
Van is my fave instructor out of the 4 diff instructors I had (forgot their names). She made the class fun and enjoyable AND she is super nice. She doesn’t forget me (the newbie!) which is so comforting esp when you’re clueless as heck. I’m considering in getting a monthly membership but it’s kinda pricey so I’m holding off at the moment (since I also have a gym membership). Would love to go back though! Great class and studio. They also have a lot of classes so no excuses! :) Highly recommend!

I LOVE spx classes at Core Studio. The first time I went, I legitimately could not walk for a few days afterward. It’s the best. I sign up through ClassPass and think it’s one of the best studio options on the peninsula.
I’ve only been to 6am classes, but it’s great for early morning because it’s low impact, small movements — not that it’s easy. The goal is to exhaust a muscle group then move on to the next one. Every muscle will shake. But before you know it the 50 minutes is up and you’ve already dominated the first hour of your day.
Often times there have only been 2 or 3 of us in the class; it’s awesome to be in a small, personalized class, especially when it does take a few visits to learn the terms for the exercises and different parts of the reformer.

SPX is a great core workout class. I purchased the Groupon special and am half way through the package. I would recommend everyone should start with the Fundamentals class to have an understanding of the different terms and techniques. Core Studio has their own workout language!
Must have ribbed sock or ToeSox or you will struggle with the exercise routine.

I normally go to the Core Studio in Palo Alto, but the classes are here pretty much the same. I love the Core SPX classes! All the reps are about small, slow, controlled movements, which make my muscles burn much more than normal pilates exercises. I pretty much always get sore afterwards. The classes are generally leg/​glute heavy, but they also work out the core and arms.
The studio itself is clean and very similar to studio in Palo Alto. There’s one main room with the Megaformers for SPX and mirrors along one side of it, another room for the Cycle classes, a bathroom and a changing room. The only difference between this studio and the Palo Alto one is that the Megaformers here are older. They still have the same functionality and allow for the same exercises, but the newer Megaformers have extra handlebars that are especially useful if you have sensitive wrists.
Treaded socks are required for the SPX classes, so bring your own or you’ll be forced to buy theirs.

I always max out my allowed classes per month here because the location is so convenient and it one of the few studios using Megaformer machines in the area (the others are Revelry in San Mateo, hi-​vi in Redwood City, and the other Core Studio location in Palo Alto).
These classes are HARD. Within five minutes of class, my core is heated up and I am breathing hard. You max out one muscle group (arms, legs, or core) for 15 minutes and then move on to the next. Some instructors intersperse another muscle group such as arms in between working one leg and then the other, which is a welcome respite! I am not completely sold on the Lagree method but I have heard that it is very effective in changing your body.
Due to the difficulty level of these workouts, I sometimes feel they may not be suitable for beginners. Some instructors offer options to modify the move and some do not. I am very impressed with the ability to have such an intense workout with very little impact — the Megaformer is really amazing in that aspect.
This small studio makes a great use of space — fitting in three modalities (barre, spin, and Megaformer) into not much space. The downside to this is that there aren’t many amenities — just one restroom and a small changing room, and no reception area. Students often file in as you are finishing your class so this may be an issue for folks who are self-​conscious about others watching you while you work out.

I had a double day with Hannah today!
I always look forward to going to Core Studio in general, but Hannah is definitely one of the best instructors. I adore her Barre classes, as well as SPX. Even though Hannah is now mainly teaching at their San Mateo location, I won’t hold that against her (well, maybe just a little).
10 stars for Hannah and Core Studio!

I have been very pleased and challenged with the core SPX classes. Love the staff so far everyone has been great! Thanks Ester and Hannah for safe modifications! Each instructor has a slightly different routine that allows for great full core workouts!

I showed up the 9:30 am class and the instructor was quite frankly really flustered that she had more than 4 people in her class. She scrambled to get me and my friend (she found this new studio through a Groupon deal and dragged me along) registered in the 15 mins before the class. This was somewhat of a struggle because she was both the host and the instructor for the class so she was welcoming, setting up guests and signing up in and the same time. Also be warned, you must bring socks WITH TREAD to participate. You can purchase them in the studio for $ 15 – 18 a pop (A little steep for socks IMO). My gripe is that their selection was really limited and they didn’t even have the $ 15 socks in my size so I had to default to the $ 18 socks.
The class it self was a great workout. This was my first go at Pilates so I’m not sure how traditional the session was but regardless you will definitely feel the burn with the core SPX class. Every move was SLOW and CONTROLLED (as to maximize pain– jk). But you really do feel every little muscle that’s targeted. No pain, no gain I guess. Our instructor did a great job of introducing modifications for that were suitable for the range of levels in our class and I appreciated that she was hands on with correcting our form so we could properly and safely do the exercises.
Not sure if the Core SPX class is for me. It’s so intense but I would be willing to come back an try the cycling or barre classes.

I actually didn’t even know this place existed until Fitmob expanded into the Peninsula — and it’s only about a 3 minute drive from my house! That being said, I love the location. It is located in a shopping center, so there is always plenty of parking. The studio is very clean and the staff is super friendly as well.
I’ve only been to Core Studio for one class so far — their Core SPX class — and it was AMAZING. I’ve never used a Megaformer machine before, so I had no idea what I was in for. However, I was able to get a preview by watching the end of the previous class (which actually made me more nervous because there was this super fit girl on the machine and when she got off, she was talking about how hard it was — so I was sure I was going to pass out since I wasn’t even ¹⁄₁₀ of her fitness level). The instructor was really nice and was very helpful since it was my first class. I was so nervous because I was feeling the pain in my abs in the first 10 seconds! But I somehow made it through the class and now I am signed up to go back for more!
I’ll be trying their barre class next. They also have these awesome RealRyder bikes that actually lean so it feels like you’re on a real bike! I usually get bored with spin classes but I may give theirs a try just to check out those bikes.
Tip: They require grip socks for sanitary and safety reasons. So make sure you grab some ahead of time or you can also buy them there.

Im 28 and when i was in college i used to be very «sporty»; then when I started working, exercising became something that could just not fit in my schedule and I sadly started having a sedentary lifestyle. After almost 5 years of doing basically nothing (exercise) and being a bride to be, I decided I needed a change and that is when i found SPX classes and Core Studio!
The Studio:
Great place to work out! really clean, great music and amazing equipment. The machines are very nice and fancy… but the best thing is that you can jump in one and get used to it pretty quickly because they are so easy to operate!
The bicycles are awesome, they move form side to side making the workout really challenging and very real.
The Staff:
All trainers are wonderful and helpful. They all know what they are doing, so you are in great hands! They are very committed to their job so they pay really close attention to you and your form and correct you if you are not doing it right! They are fantastic as trainers and persons. You feel really welcomed from the moment you get in the studio!
The Classes:
I started with SPX only and currently I take Barre and starting with ³⁰⁄₃₀.
At first I thought I would not make it through my first SPX class, but I have to say I really got hooked with this workout! I saw people from all ages doing it and I just wanted to be as good and them! and i needed a challenge and a workout that could really change my body!
All the classes are equally challenging and they are definitely worth the money and the time! They all focus on your core but legs and arms are equally challenged.
Shaking and Sweating are two basic things that can be expected each and very time you take a class, but like the trainers say «you have to embrace the shake and love it because it means your muscles are changing».
The results:
By far the quickest results I have ever seen in my body! The strength I gained is unbelievable, my legs and arms started getting in shape again and nicely toned.
I love this place and love the results! highly recommend it!