Solidcore

After 10 classes i’m committed. Jordan and Charley keep me working hard every time i come in. This is a tough workout that leaves me wiped but feeling great. In just 10 classes i can see dramatic shifts in my strength, flexibility and ability to do the exercises required for the classes.
It’s the right mix of coaching enthusiasm while pushing you to break your own limits. Also, having great music to zone out to helps.

Arrived at the 8,30 pm class on Monday 18^th april at 8,33 and the door was locked. The instructor wouldn’t open the door. I signed up for the class at 8,11 pm and rushed over using über. This was a waste of my money since she wouldn’t bother opening the door, why lock it in the first place?
Updated review:
They credited my class and my first workout experience was awesome.

This is the workout that will have you feel muscles you didn’t know you had! It’s hard, but very worth it. It doesn’t matter what is your fitness level because the coaches are offering modifications for every exercise (I went to Jeff’s class). The workout is set to fun music, too! I also like the culture behind solidcore– individuals helping you be your sweatiest, happiest self.

I took the 7am class with Erin this morning and I think I’ll be sore for days! Nonetheless, it’s a great way to wake up in the morning. The studio is very clean (I’ve also been to the Cathedral Commons one, which is nice too!) and the machines are well taken care of. Erin took the time to demo some of the trickier moves for those of us who are relatively new to the practice, which was helpful. And then we started…
Within minutes I was sweating. Erin kept reminding us to move slowly and coached us through the movements, counting down the time we had left to hold a pose or pulse through something. She was encouraging, giving us modifications to make things easier, but also challenging us to hold a pose and push through it. Throughout the class, she was very attentive, offering assistance with alignment. I left class feeling alive and like I had a great full-​body workout.
Solidcore is without a doubt one of the most (if not THE most) challenging workouts I’ve done. It’s definitely on the pricier side of workouts for me, but I have never done anything like it and I can feel muscles I didn’t know I had. This was my second class this morning, and for new students they offer a package at $ ¹²⁵⁄₅ classes, which is worth it!

I cant say enough about the [solidcore] experience. From their customer service, to their coaching — Anne Mahlum has put together an exceptional team that always keeps the client experience front and center. As a former D1 athlete, I didn’t think I could ever find a workout to compete with those grueling — yet satisfying — days on campus. However, the rumors are true — [solidcore] is one of the hardest workouts you will ever do. If you’re looking to take your physical fitness to a whole new level, you have come to the right place. You will not get more bang for your buck anywhere else.

There is no better workout. Solidcore pushes you to your limits, physically and mentally. The coaching staff is attentive and the facilities are clean and chic. The downside? $$$$

I am not one to write reviews regularly, but my most recent experience at [solidcore] is definitely deserving of one. I took Erin S.‘s class in Adams Morgan a few weeks ago, and got hands down the best workout I’ve ever had. Despite the immense amount of pain I was in for the majority of class (the good kind of pain), Erin was extremely encouraging and adamant that everyone was working as hard as they possibly could. Overall, her sequence flowed really nicely and the transitions were smooth. Whenever my body felt like breaking, she was right there to make sure I didn’t cheat. My whole body hurt for several days after the class, but I have every intention of coming back.

Solidcore is the only thing that can truly kick my butt. I’ve been going for over a year, and I still struggle through every single class, but that’s what keeps me coming back. I now go to class several times a week and have seen a noticeable change in my body. I generally go to the Cathedral Commons and Adams Morgan locations, which are always super clean. I go to a lot of different instructors, but I go to Erin’s most often — her music is great, she knows how to push me, and is knowledgeable enough to catch me when I’m cheating myself. I also go to Charly, Jo, and Jordan’s classes frequently and they’re all awesome.

After being an avid yogi/​yoga sculpt junkie, I felt like I hit a plateau and wanted to step up my workout routine. I had heard AMAZING things about solidcore from so many people that i just had to see what the buzz was about. After the first class (with Erin, who is absolutely exceptional) i was completely addicted. I had experience with pilates reformers but this was on a whole other level. What I love most about [solidcore] is the community atmosphere which elevates the experience and makes you want to go even further into each position. Also, high fives are always a perfect way to end things :) The price is worth it because there really isn’t another workout around like it. I may feel like every muscle in my body is dead after (which is kind of the point) but I have never felt stronger. I will be returned weekly!

I have only been to one class so far and it was a killer work out. No doubt anyone would be in amazing shape if they started taking classes here. Be prepared to love/​hate yourself for going and to reconnect with muscles you forgot you had. The class I took was with Erin and she is awesome!

This review is way overdue but I have to add to the chorus of people saying how great solidcore is. No matter how fit you are or the time or day or location, you are guaranteed to get a great workout with a great coach. You do not get the same kind of cliquey, exclusive attitude among instructors and clients that’s present in a lot of other fancy boutique fitness studios. Coaches will say hi and demo anything you ask if you get there a few minutes early. They will remember your name all class and for all future classes. Your neighbors will say hi and introduce themselves. You will high five your classmates at the end of class!
A lot of people say the one downside of solidcore is the price, and that’s true. If you can make it work though (and I realize sometimes it’s not possible), it’s so worth it. Lots of other studios in DC charge prices creeping up towards $ 35 or $ 40, and they don’t even rely on machines that cost thousands of dollars like solidcore does. Honestly, I think the prices are completely justified and I applaud solidcore’s effort to add «off peak» classes that are much more affordable than the standard prices (this is how I was able to go through grad school — thank you solidcore!)
If you have a good attitude going in, there is no better workout in DC to challenge your body and your mind!
Practical details — Really easy booking process, no need to bring money to the studio even if you want to buy a drink or something because they have your info on file, no showers but plenty of things you might need to make yourself presentable after class, hair ties, etc. If you’re new you really do have to get there early or you’ll have no idea what’s going on in class.

Erika always knows how to kick my ass. To say that I adjust my schedule to be able to take her class is an understatement. The workout is hard, and it will leave you drenched in sweat. But with a coach like Erika, expect class on another level!

Hands down the best work out you can get done in less than hr! Absolutely love the staff and support/​encouragement I get when I’m in class. When I leave the studio, I walk a little taller and feel like I can do anything! The best part is how good I hurt the next day and day after — this is a TOTAL body workout! AH-​MAZING!

Hands down, the [best] workout I’ve ever done. I remember walking in the first time I took class thinking I was in pretty decent shape. I was a cycling instructor. I could run fairly long distances. I lifted three times a week. And I got my ass kicked but remember leaving so inspired to beat the workout. But after going back over and over, I realized you can’t «win» this workout, and for someone as competitive as me, it made me realize only I was competing against myself. And I [loved] that.
If you want to get stronger — mentally and physically — this is the workout for you. There are no cheats. No shortcuts. No successes without work. That’s the best part.
Also, the music is my jam. Every coach knows what’s up when it comes to music, and it’s really neat how each coach has their own style.

I guess I should start off by saying that I am jaded. I moved not too long ago from South Florida, and my home gym, a boutique operation of small group classes, was $ 74 a month, and this included unlimited reformer Pilates. So, when I moved to DC and started scoping out gyms, I was flabbergasted at the price tags, Solidcore, being one of the most expensive of all the places I checked out. $ 359 a month?! What?
But, I had heard so much about how killer of a workout this place was, how Mrs O. swears by it, blah blah, so despite the cost, I decided to try out a class, and bought the new client special for $ 28, for 2 classes. I knew going into that I wouldn’t be able to afford an unlimited membership, but I figured I could always supplement whatever (less expensive) gym I ended up joining with a Solidcore class here and there, assuming it was the most epic workout of all time.
The online reservation process was really easy, and I was able to get a space in a class the same evening, albeit it was an hour later than I would have liked, but at least I was able to secure a spot easily with little notice. It seems like the 6:30pm class fills up rather quickly though. When I got there, they had a keypad on the door, so I stood in front of the glass door looking confused and knocking gently, until someone let me in, and instructed me that the confirmation email has the door code in it. Oops. The people in the class before mine were leaving, and everyone was sweaty and the music was pumping, and I was getting read for an awesome workout. Checking in is as simple as giving the instructor your name and getting checked off on their iPad, so I did that, and let the instructor know that it was my first class. She told me to grab a reformer and set up some weights. A few more people piled into into the class, and then all of a sudden, our instructor was on the mic, telling us to get in plank position.
Ahh what?! I wasn’t ready! There was no warmup, we just drove straight into it, which was jarring. There was nothing to get the blood flowing or muscles warmed up, it was just straight into a plank and then right off with plank crunches and pikes and so forth. I definitely could have benefited from a warmup. As we moved from one position /​exercise to the next, it was very quick transitions. The music was fast, the instructor was talking fast, all the people were moving fast, and I felt almost anxious. Besides the lack of a warmup, the biggest thing that was missing from my Solidcore workout was demonstration. In both of the classes I attended, while the instructors, were very upbeat and good about correcting form and keeping everyone motivated, did not offer any demonstration, save for a move or two prior to the start of class. Because of this, I had no idea what to do. The other repeat students were my saving grace, as I had to watch them to know what to do. But, since like I said, everything was so fast, I ended up missing valuable time, because I was trying so hard to figure out what it was I was supposed to be doing, and by the time I finally got in position, they were already on to the next set. Also because of the speed in which moves were transitioned between, there were many times where I sacrificed form because I felt like I just needed to go already and that everyone was a few steps ahead of me, and I couldn’t take the time to make adjustments or get comfortable in my stance, so that was not the best. I would love to see things slowed down a bit, giving more time in-​between movements for repositioning. I would have also loved to see formal demonstrations, since you are on a machine with different capabilities and all different kinds of spings and bungees and platforms. So it’s not quite as easy to pick up audibly.
Aside from that, the workout really was great overall. There were a few moves where I felt like they changed up a standard for the sake of being new and inventive, not for actually enhancing a motion. And sometimes I thought the reformer was a hinderance to getting the most out of a movement. But I will say that I was sore the next day, both times that I came, especially in the booty. I do think this is a more advanced workout, and I don’t think someone out of shape could complete a class… it requires great muscle awareness and since there is no demonstration or hand-​holding, you really need to know how to properly execute different movements going in, so as to do the class. My roommate (who is very much out of shape and does not workout) was considering going, but for someone like her, I feel like there would need to be a beginners class of sorts, or something that slowly goes over the basics and breaks down the various exercises done in class.
All in all, it’s a cool class and a good all-​over workout. To be honest, I probably won’t return or buy a package since it is out of my budget. However, if I were a rich housewife, I’d probably be a regular.

I took my first Solidcore class yesterday with Erin S. She was extremely friendly and introduced me to the machine and some basic moves before our class began, which eased a lot of my fears as a first-​timer. This workout was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced — I was dripping sweat about 2 minutes into the workout and wondering what the heck I had gotten myself into. Even though I struggled through the workout, Erin never made me feel embarrassed or judged, but encouraged me instead. After the workout, I felt so proud of myself and my body that I had gotten through the very intense workout. I’m incredibly sore this morning, but I plan to buy a class pack and can’t wait to come back!

I’ve never been so happy to be so exhausted. It’s the hardest workout I’ve ever done, but also the most satisfying, effective, and addictive. The energy is infectious and the community is actually a community. My friends always talk about needing to get in shape before they try [solidcore]; then I bring them and they realize that there is no way to get in shape for it other than diving right in. I’d encourage anyone and everyone to give it a shot.

I’ve been going to classes at [solidcore] since the first studio opening in Adams Morgan almost two years ago. It’s such a fantastic workout — it’s made me so much stronger. As someone who has never stuck with a fitness routine, I’m hooked! I have always suffered from knee issues, but I’ve never had an issue at [solidcore]. If you do have injuries or limitations, always make sure to let the coach know, and he or she will make sure to show you modifications or variations.
The coaches that I’ve taken class with so far at the new location are stellar, and the new studio is BOSS! The sound system is amazing, and the studio definitely has its own unique feel. One new feature is the security code required to enter the studio, so make sure to bring it with you for class!

I took my first [solidcore] class in May and have been [addicted] ever since — it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to my workout routine. I’m a former competitive swimmer and work out regularly (HIIT/​run/​weights/​BodyPump), but my first class kicked my butt in completely new and humbling ways — the intensity is unparalleled and it truly makes everything else in my routine seem pedestrian. After recovering from the insane DOMS in muscle fibers I didn’t even know existed, I gradually progressed from 1, to 2, to now 3 – 4 classes per week, and was surprised at how quickly I noticed tangible improvements in my strength and muscle definition.
Beyond the workout itself, everything about the culture and community — from the people (coaches and clients alike) to the motivational messages below the megaformers to the upbeat music — is positive in the best, most genuine way. The coaches are phenomenal — each extremely [welcoming], [supportive], and uniquely [gifted] at motivating you to push past your perceived limits. Charly, the studio lead, is outstanding (and gives the best high-​fives!). I’ve also found the 12-​hour cancellation policy to be a sweet spot in terms of both accommodating schedule flexibility and following through.
[solidcore] has completely transformed the way I work out, has [empowered] me both physically and mentally, and is absolutely worth the investment in my mind. I always find myself bringing up [solidcore] in conversations with my fitness-​minded friends, and can’t recommend it enough!

I was a D1 athlete in college and worked out close to 30 hours a week, so hard work outs was something that i was craving since I graduated. With graduation came extra senior 10 lbs and a new life schedule. I finally committed and tried out [solidcore] and let me tell you something, this is a brutally hard work out. From the first five minutes you start shaking and all of your muscle fibers are hurting. I loved it.
Besides this being an extremely challenging workout, the vibe in the new AdMo studio is amazing. The lights, the great sound system and all of the great coaches there are amazing and make it worthwhile coming into the studio. I love the combination of dim blue lights, great tunes and a hard work out to either start of your week or end your weekend.
In addition, the studio lead at AdMo Charly W. is amazing and will answer any of your questions, have a great playlist ready for the work out, and make sure you leave one of her classes crawling…
If you are looking to spice up your work out, try something new and worthwhile you need to try this work out!