Blast – Elevate Your Workout – Midtown

I usually go to Blast Buckhead but, mixed it up today. What a great workout! It is pricey but, it’s not a workout I could ever I mean ever do on my own!!! I really enjoyed Jamaals enthusiasm and the assistant was really great too. The gym is clean! The parking isn’t great but, when is it ever in Midtown? I’ll be back!

The hotel is absolutely AMAZING!
The gym however needs a little improvement. It’s a decent size but the equipment is out dated and difficult to use.
They have towels and water which is a plus. Both treadmills are painful to walk on. They need new ones. The squat rack needs to be greased or serviced. They don’t have mats. I couldn’t use their leg curl machine because i couldn’t adjust the machine.
I did enjoy using their free weights. The view would be GREAT if they didn’t have jail barricaded windows blocking the view.
This a VERY expensive hotel they could splurge a little and update their fitness facility.

I first took a Blast class many moons ago at the now defunct Dunwoody location. At that time, I was way out of shape and wasn’t a fan of treadmills. I’m still not a fan of treadmills, but I’m in way better shape.
Blast is a HIIT workout where you spend 30 minutes on a treadmill (running, jogging or walking at whatever pace suits you) and 30 minutes on a floor doing strength training. You alternate segments several times during your one hour workout. You could have various time blocks that change each day to keep you on your toes. You have to be quick about your transitions because some blocks may only be 2 minutes long. I’m amazed that the instructors are able to remember all of the different instructions for both groups and are able to yell out instructions continuously. As a student, it’s actually occasionally kind of hard to hear when I’m on the treadmill and need to change speeds or inclines. I spend more time trying to listen to my verbal queues instead of focusing on getting the most of out my time on the treadmill.
I attend Blast through Class Pass. I would never pay the prices that they charge for individual classes. I actually have a permanent membership at another HIIT place called Orangetheory. As someone who does both, I actually prefer Orangetheory. I like their use of rowing machines and TRX suspension trainers. It’s also easier to hear the instructors and focus on what I need to do next. Plus, they play music. I’m a fan of listening to loud music when I workout. I have friends that are Blast addicts and love the workouts here and hate Orangetheory. It’s a complete personal preference.
The bathroom/​shower/​changing room is also another issue I have with this location. You have a communal room for everyone. Some modest people would hate this arrangement. There’s only 1 bathroom stall and there’s a line a lot of times. Same goes for the showers. There are only 2 showers. Many people in the morning classes bring their work stuff to change into after their workout. My first time visiting this location had a 4 person wait for the showers. I ended up leaving there close to an hour after my workout. I soon realized that people leave classes early in order to hop in the shower. Plus since guys and gals are sharing the same space, most people end up getting dressed in the shower stalls. This adds to the amount of time it takes to get through the shower line. I now know about this issue, so I make sure to only book a Blast class when I don’t have any meetings or calls at work that start before 9:30. I work right down the street, but there’s no guarantee that I will make it to work by 9 am when I take a 6:45 class due to the shower situation.
They offer validated parking for 2 hours. Beware that if you need to shower, the 2 hours will not cover your parking. I always end up having to pay an extra $ 1.
Although I have my issues, it’s still a good workout and a great option since I work right down the street. I’ll continue coming here 3 times a month through Class Pass. That alone is equivalent to the $ 99 I pay a month.

5 stars for the workout, minus one for the price. Yeeesh, we are not in New York and $ 33 /​class /​the absolutely ridiculous $ 400.00 a month is not even competitive with the ATL boutique fitness scene.
That being said, I gave the class a shot through Class Pass because I have heard good things and it seemed like my kind of workout. For first timers, you can try a class for free by calling the studio. You must arrive 15 minutes before your first class to learn the ropes.
The facilities have your typical fare. Combination lockers + all the shower amenities you can need. They give you a water bottle so you don’t need to remember to bring one. Parking is frustrating the first time but if you follow the instructions you should be good. It’s also validated.
The workout itself switches between weighted floor exercises that target your whole body throughout the course of the 60 minutes, and interval tread workouts. From what I’ve gathered the exact workout and the time you spend on each station varies per class and instructor. My particular class had 4 5 minute segments and 4 10 minute segments. The treadmill work is split in to three levels, walker, jogger, and runner. This is great and really allows you to scale based on your fitness level. I personally can not even imagine running the sprints at the ‘runner’ level. But people were doing it so I imagine it is possible. I consider myself to be in a decent shape and the workouts were definitely challenging, but not impossible. Right when you start to feel like you’re going to die, you switch exercises or locations.
The instructor and assistant (who fills your complementary water bottle) were hands on and really helpful. I felt welcomed and really felt like they cared that my form was correct. Overall the class was a really great workout and I wish I could do it more frequently. I think this is definitely the type of workout that doesn’t need supplements from other classes. Normally I feel like I need to supplement Spin with Barre classes, etc etc. This can be your sole membership if you can afford it.

They get nothing this is a very bad studio I spoke with whoever the lady manager is at this location and she was so rude and disrespectful this is the worst studio I have ever been too and I have never been treated or spoken to like that ever .I did not ev r n want to put one star.

Blast still features the HIIT that drew me here in the first place, but it’s not my super-​most-​favoritest workout like it used to be. The transitions between treadmills and floor work seem more shaky and less strategic and well thought out. The instructors also seem less comfortable checking and correcting form and don’t provide as many thoughtful modifications. While Blast used to be about challenging you wherever you are in your fitness journey, they now seem to be focusing on people who are already in very good shape. I’m still a fan, so my four star rating holds, but these updates are important to know as a first time guest.
While I’m still visiting them through ClassPass, I was shocked to see the increases in their new pricing structure, which rolled out at the start of November 2015. There are no more unlimited monthly packages, and now a single class will set you back a cool $ 33. You can buy packs of 10 classes for a discount, but that only knocks back the price to $ 28/​class. It’s great having someone refill your water bottle during class, but I’m not sure that it’s worth that much. I’ll continue to stick with ClassPass, where for $ 99 a month I can visit Blast three times a month, as well as take unlimited classes at dozens of other gyms in the area.

To echo another review — I love Blast, it’s a great workout with excellent instructors. My issue is the pricing.
In November 2015, they raised their prices and eliminated a month-​to-​month unlimited option. Their pricing is now as follows:
Unlimited classes w/​3 month commitment — $ 399 per Month!
Single Class — $ 33
3 Pack — $ 32/​class
5 pack — $ 31/​class
10 pack — $ 30/​class
20 pack — $ 28/​class
As a point of comparison, this is more expensive than any other gym I can think of in the Metro Atlanta area, including FlyWheel, Exhale, and Orange Theory. FlyWheel’s most expensive class is $ 28 — that is Blast’s cheapest!
Again, the classes are great, but don’t justify this kind of pricing. My other issue is that they no longer allow people to «join» and have an unlimited option (except for the $ 399/​month option which we all can agree is just so ridiculous it shouldn’t even be acknowledged). So, if you want to Blast, $ 28/​class is the cheapest option you’re going to get. What is the deal? Are we subsidizing the new DC location? I think these prices are offensively high. I could swing $ 200/​month, maybe even $ 250, but $ 399? You gotta be kidding me!
Blast, I will miss you, and if you decide to start charging prices that are somewhere in the realm of normal for this market, we can play again.

This hour workout honestly flies by for me. You switch between weight lifting/​floor exercises and treadmill workouts during this class. When you walk in, the treadmill and floor stations are numbered and you share your assigned station with another person. i.e. when you are on treadmill #1, they other person is on floor station #1.
For all you first timers, there is no need to bring your own water bottle — they provide you with one. The best thing about the water… someone is there to refill it for you while you work out = frickin awesome!
My only negative comment about this place is that the floor can be a little gross as you are sharing stations (and sweating everywhere). I would recommend that the gym thoroughly clean the floors in between workout sessions for sanitary purposes.

I have lived in 10 major cities and worked out at every kind of gym including hiring personal trainers and this is the best work out money can buy. Every class is different and it’s a full body workout. Cardio and strength training. Great people too. Worth every penny.

I can honestly say I look forward to Blast every time I sign up. I know I’m going to get an amazing workout, water and a towel are provided so I don’t have to worry about forgetting anything, and the gym is clean and inviting. I highly recommend Blast!

A little cardio, a little strength training– the best of both worlds. They have a water guy replenishing your bottle while you workout. I thought they were a bit ambitious starting everyone with 15 pound weights (yikes), but don’t worry, the water guy will switch out the weights for you. The studio was clean, and there were plenty of fans to stay cool. I will be back.

It’s a good thing I don’t drink like I used to, or this Sunday at Blast could have gotten pretty ugly. Kelly convinced to me to join class pass a few weeks back and this led me to a Sunday morning class at Blast. I finished the class about 45 minutes ago and I feel amazing.
Blast combined a great mixture of inclined cardio with resistance training. Your heart rate stays up and your muscles stay tense. I think our instructors name was Jordan and he was really helpful and a nice guy. I’ve always thought that a Sunday workout can do wonders to get the work week off on the right foot. It’s very likely my Sunday workouts will be at Blast from here on out.
That’s my word and I’m sticking to it.

Look, I am not going to lie. The first time I came here I was mid class walking a 30 incline conjuring up reasons to tell the instructor why I had to leave class early. I don’t have kids but I damn if I wasn’t about to tell them I had to pick some up or something.
I now frequent Blast via ClassPass and love it! The instructors will kick your butt and it is great for all fitness levels. I always feel amazing at the end of each class. Blast involves interval training similar to Orange Theory and the classes are always different so you never know what to expect. There is always a class assistant who provides towels and chilled water throughout the class so you stay hydrated. I’ve had a few teachers that I like more than others but overall I really enjoy Blast. I personally like the Midtown studio much more than the Buckhead but that’s me. :)

If I had to sum Blast 900 into one word it would be WOW! The workouts truly kick your butt and are catered to all fitness levels. I was new to Blast and started going to this location during their soft opening. Despite the new location and brand opening, they were operating like an all star team. I have been attending for 2 months and they continue to get sharper every week.
The trainers and staff are top notch and are incredibly passionate. They are not intimidating at all and are very welcoming to new comers. I have been recommending Blast to all of my friends and they are happy to go as the first class is FREE!
The other day, I had the pleasure of taking the class from Missi Wolf, the founder of Blast. She was amazing and it’s easy to see why it has been such a success!

I purchased my membership a week ago and used the complimentary initial session to try a class out. Let me just say I am hooked after one week. I love this place! I couldn’t be more pleased. The workouts are intense and challenging, but scalable to your needs. I shopped some local crossfit gyms and they were not nearly as welcoming as the Blast trainers. They assured me it would be difficult, but I would be shown modifications if I just wasn’t there yet. I’ve met most of the trainers and have had amazing workouts with all of them. I would describe the classes as modifiable interval training with spurts of time on the treadmills then transitioning to all sorts of floor exercises including lifting. I am by no means a runner, and quite frankly despise it. The time on the treadmill flies by in Blast, as different speeds are used intermittently along with varying degrees of incline. Before I know it, it’s time to hit the floor with weight and core training again. The classes are upbeat and the music is motivational and awesome, I would highly recommend Blast. If you are interested simply take the complimentary first session and you will understand.

I love Blast– let me be super clear about that. LOVE it.
Blast is a High Intensity Interval Training fitness class. It’s HARD, but in my opinion, is one of the best fitness classes in the city. Why spend an hour doing a class that doesn’t get results when you could go to Blast, get your butt kicked a little, and feel like a rockstar? When I first started getting in shape a few years ago, I took just about every fitness class in Atlanta, and Blast is basically the ONLY one that I’ve stuck with long term.
I love the back and forth between the treadmills and floors. The class is different every time I go, and it never gets boring. Instructors are outstanding, well trained, and are great about pushing you hard without making you feel berated. The only thing that kept me from going daily before now was the fact that they were located way up in Buckhead, which can be quite a hike from Midtown depending on the time of day. I was thrilled when I heard they were opening a Midtown location!
So, my three stars? Pricing!
Before I realized Blast was opening a Midtown location, I signed up for Orange Theory– a HIIT type class that’s literally two blocks away from the new Blast location. I prefer Blast overall because I love the instructors, but Orange Theory is very, very similar in terms of the workout itself (the only difference, in my opinion, is that Orange Theory has a little bit more dead time in between floor exercises). Orange Theory also has some very cool technology– you borrow a heart rate monitor each time, and your zones are displayed on a screen. This allows their instructors to see if you’re pushing hard enough at a glance, helps you clarify your goals, and means you don’t have to invest in your own heart rate monitor (which can be upwards of $ 150, if you want a great one).
So…why is Blast so much more expensive than Orange Theory? They offer a similar class in terms of the workout itself, but NOTHING by way of technology– unless you buy both a heart rate monitor and a session with a Blast heart rate monitor coach, who will set it up for you.
One month of unlimited classes at Orange Theory is $ 170 (OR, if you sign up when they open, $ 140). One month unlimited at Blast is something like $ 220– it gets cheaper if you commit to a longer contract (2, 3, 6 months, etc), but seeing as how Orange Theory ONLY does month-​to-​month, that’s not much of a selling point.
The per-​class packages aren’t much better; 10 classes at Orange Theory are $ 190. 10 classes at Blast are $ 250. I don’t mind paying more to support a small, local business, and I’ll be the first to admit that Orange Theory’s marketing strategy (which seems to be ORANGE EVERYWHERE! EVERYWHERE! BEHOLD THE ORANGE!) annoys the hell out of me, but that’s a pretty steep price difference.
Anyhow– all this is to say, I was happy to buy a package of classes at Blast, and will inevitably use them over the next year. BUT… I’m keeping my membership at Orange Theory, because I can go every day (ha) for $ 140 a month. Blast will be a great supplement/​place to go when OT classes are full or I want a change of scenery, but the pricing prevents it from being my one and only.