Moving Mindfully: Refine Method

While I believe having a clean diet is of utmost importance, finding a workout you love is just as important. Are you bored out of your mind on the elliptical (like me)? Then it’s probably not for you…so you might want try some other activities until you find a class or routine that you absolutely don’t want to miss. I used to be a huge ballet style / barre / Lotte Berk aficionado…until I tore a muscle in my stomach and couldn’t work out for months. Turns out that my body is not a fan of the extremely repetitive movements used in your typical barre class; paired with inexperienced, inattentive teachers, it is my (very humble) opinion that barre classes can very quickly lead to disaster if you don’t have strong body awareness.

Anyway, those of you who live in NYC may have noticed that boutique fitness studios have almost become as common as Duane Reade pharmacies. While these classes aren’t cheap (usually run around $32 / class), if you find a class you love and can stick with it, the benefits to your health are obviously tremendous. But not all boutique classes are created equal. A few things about what I look for in any fitness class: passionate teachers who actually (gasp) pay attention to your form during class and evolving routines that keep my body guessing. In addition to slathering on the latest and greatest beauty products, another hobby of mine is trying new workouts, so I’ve tried everything that the NYC fitness scene has to offer – SoulCycle, FlyWheel, AsOne, Barry’s Bootcamp, you name it..but none come close to Refine Method.

First things first: Refine Method is NOT a barre class. In fact, if I have to compare it to a class it is probably more like Barry’s Bootcamp or slightly similar to Crossfit. The class is composed of traditional strength training moves like squats, pushups and lunges at a fast enough pace to keep your heart rate up, interspersed with intense bursts of cardio (sprints, jump squats, burpees) over the course of an hour. Not only do I find the workout incredibly effective and efficient, I love Refine because the teachers are all over your form. They aren’t afraid to get a little handsy and make any necessary adjustments, which I find incredibly useful because sometimes I’m so exhausted from the 3rd round of burpees that I’m not as focused on my form. They are also great about remembering their clients’ names. Sometimes when I’m feeling lazy (more often than I’d like to admit), the teachers have no problem encouraging me to pick up the heavier weight or move a little more quickly between sets, which helps me get the most out of my workout.

But probably what I love most about the class is that you aren’t doing strength training moves with tiny little pink dumbbells. The founder, former NYC Ballet dancer, Brynn Jinnett, is a big believer than women should be lifting heavier weights. Mind you, this is no Olympic weightlifting class, but as Brynn often says, our purses probably weigh more than 10lbs, so we should be using enough weight to actually build muscle and improve our strength. And I promise, Refine has not made me “bulk up” in the slightest. I’ve taken Refine Method classes for about a year now and have only seen lean muscle development and fat loss, something I definitely can’t say about those barre classes I used to take all the time.

Not in the NYC area? You can still get a taste of Refine Method-style workouts, courtesy of Fitness Magazine, here and here! Refine Method currently has 2 locations in Manhattan: 340 East 71st Street (btwn. 1st and 2nd Ave.) and 117 West 72nd Street (btwn. Columbus and Amsterdam Ave).

(Images courtesy of Refine Method)