Maximum results with minimum effort is often the goal in life and in fitness.  If you have Fitness A.D.D. like I do, you want to get sweaty but also achieve enough strength and cardio intensity in an hour or less.  At Studio Metamorphosis in Pasadena you get can get a double whammy of Pilates and indoor cycling in a 50 minute session.

Studio Metamorphosis, Pasadena, CA.

Pilates is undeniably effective for core and strength training.  I learned the power of Pilates through the very fabulous WundaBar Pilates.  The WundaFormer changed my core and changed my life but variety is required to help the body keep changing.  While Studio Metamorphosis offers options of 50 minute group classes including Megaformer Pilates or Indoor Cycling, there’s something to be said for the unique Ride and Shred combination of Cycling and Pilates at Studio Metamorphosis.

It should be the Ride photo on top and the Shred on bottom.

Boredom or loss of motivation is impossible during the Ride and Shred class.   Each 25 minute bout of Indoor Cycling and Pilates delivers an intense workout.  The trainers are encouraging and you’ll show your appreciation for them and your own hard work in drippy sweat, shaky muscles and heavy breathing as you transition from Cycle room to Pilates room and at the end of your workout.  On Tuesday and Thursday mornings, you can show the lovely Stephanie your Ride and Shred appreciation.

Jennifer Yates, the owner of Studio Metamorphosis is a disciple of Sebastien Lagree’s Megaformer Pilates (details about the “Pilates on Crack” Lagree Method can be found via this post called Meet The Megaformer).  Jennifer is a celebrity Pilates trainer (her clients include Alessandra Ambrosio and Sofia Vergara) but she also is a classically trained ballet dancer and an endurance athlete.  Jennifer and the trainers I’ve experienced (Stephanie, Jeff and Warren) at Studio Metamorphosis are firm believers in the power of exercise to transform a person body, mind and soul and make sure to share that message in every class.

Me, Jennifer Yates and Jennifer@RealMomSFV after a class.  Jennifer/RMSFV and I are #TeamTomatoFace

Studio Metamorphosis provides an upscale environment for their hard working clients.  The decor is sleek and modern but not alienating.   You can feel one with the community because one wall of the Megaformer room is a street level window and the Cycle Room allows you to feel very close to your neighbor (the 30 bikes placed very close together) but you can transfer your focus from the community to within because the 12 well spaced Megaformers do allow for enough personal space and the cycling classes are held in the dark by candlelight.

The Megaformer room and the Indoor Cycling room.

This boutique fitness studio definitely wants clients to feel like VIP’s and they offer a number of rare complimentary amenities including:

• Free Parking (yes, free parking in Pasadena!)
• Free digital lockers (complete with motivational sayings inside)
• Free filtered water dispenser with unlimited refills
• Free use of Toe Socks (required on Megaformers; you can purchase them at the studio as well)
• Unlimited Towels
• Shower facilities with hairdryers and various toiletries

Maybe you’re immune to marketing but I definitely think a nicely packaged fitness studio definitely makes an intense fitness class alluring.  Personally, the Ride and Shred option at Studio Metamorphosis allows me to work toward a more consistent fitness effort while helping to build the core muscles required to prevent chronic back pain – getting cardio and strength work done in less than an hour certainly doesn’t hurt either.

Ride and Shred classes are offered on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7am and 6:30pm;  Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 10am. On Sundays at 9am, you can have your combination class the way you want it because there are two simultaneous classes offered – there’s the Ride and Shred and a Shred and Ride and participants switch classes after the first 25 minutes.

Studio Metamorphosis is located at 676 East Green Street, Pasadena, CA 91101 (2 blocks away from the very yummy Urth Caffe).  First class is $15, for more information including class reservations, descriptions and schedule as well as trainer bios, see the Studio Metamorphosis website.  You can also check out the studio’s Facebook page or connect on Twitter and/or Instagram.

FYI – This is not a sponsored post.  I did receive 3 complimentary classes during the soft opening period in March but all classes since have been out of my own pocket.