Barre classes are becoming big business in the UAE, and alongside Flybarre and Physique57, we now welcome The NYLA Method, a unique range of barre-based and inspired classes coming to you in studios in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. This week we just about survived a session in order to see how NYLA stacks up against its rivals.
Their ‘Method’ is the result of a collaboration of experts from different movement disciplines including dance, yoga, Pilates, weight training and physiotherapy, and its intention appears to be to literally fatigue the muscles in order to see them develop serious strength. Did we say we barely survived?
In a typical 60-minute NYLA class, held in a mirrored studio with thumping chart toppers, your perfect, sinewy, ex-dancer teacher will challenge you well past your comfort zone not just at the barre with ballet-style drills, but also with the aid of light weights, stability balls and resistance bands used like you’ve never seen them used before.
The ladies who come here don’t just want to burn calories, they want to incinerate them. Forever. They also certainly prefer a no-nonsense approach to tightening, toning and lengthening as the level of intensity in this class is not for the fainthearted.
Expect to pulse, squat and butterfly the legs, at rapid pace in time with the tracks; bend, press, squeeze and circle every limb; jump, and even occasionally gyrate (while balancing your heels on a small squishy ball on the floor!). It’s exactly what we’d expect Beyonce to be doing after hours with a trainer, every night.
In fact, NYLA promises lean and mean results in a matter of two weeks: elongation without bulking up, including thinner, more streamlined legs and toned arms; a serious spike in metabolism, as well as a major dip in body fat; a cinched waist, flat abdominals and a perky, rounded seat.
Sprinkle on top of that a better sense and awareness of posture and alignment, and buckets of energy, and you’ve got what they describe as that coveted ‘NYLA Body’; the full package.
Naturally, all these traits being exactly what every woman wants, means it’s a mission-and-a-half to make it through each class without moaning, groaning, whooping hysterically for painful/surprised effect, stopping periodically to slap and shake out the parts of your body that are searing with pain, and getting caught out by the teacher for rolling your eyes before remembering to “have fun!”
But who said perfect was easy?
But perfect is almost, maybe, achievable, and what’s great about NYLA’s innovative method is that it promotes sustainable weight loss, as well as is cleverly designed to guarantee that classes never really get easier, so that even the toughest veteran can still meet her match, and more, and continue to develop.
What I also like, and what’s unique in comparison to my other barre experiences, is the incorporation of cardio blasts, a bit of high-energy jumping around to really complement what is truly a full-body burn.
I do not have much advice on how to survive a barre class – to me, it’s just a necessary evil I will spend loads on (Dh125 a class!) every now and then, with perfection being my end goal because I know it is working – but my instructor, Stefani Bertoncini, had this to say: “Don’t be nervous, just be open-minded and ready to work, with no guards up. It can get hard but just try to have fun; it’s just fitness. ”
NYLA is a way of life
It’s not just classes – alongside the regular 60-minute star attraction, NYLA also offer NYLA Barreless, which is work sans barre so that clients can get to grips with challenging exercises that can be done anywhere, anytime; and NYLA Yoga, similar to a Vinyasa Flow class but sprinkled with tough NYLA moves.
NYLA is a way of life, just step into Dubai’s own NYLA House (an entire Jumeirah villa!) to see for yourself. It is a complete wellness destination for ladies only, a healthy haven complete with offerings for closet, kitchen and even pampering – they have their own spa-cum-salon offering organic and holistic treatments.
“It’s a homey environment, a great place for ladies to work out, chill out and maybe even spend the whole day. There is free Internet, a juice and healthy snack bar and even a library,” says Bertoncini. They have racks stocked with all the latest and greatest from the fitness fashion industry too, with regular trunk shows and other pop-up events taking place.
Classes currently operate out of the NYLA House in Dubai (675, Al Wasl Road, Jumeirah), as well as in Abu Dhabi at The Workout Room at Saadiyat Beach Club, and the fitness centre at Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal. For information, go to www.nylamethod.com
