Studio Review: CrossTown Fitness

I was a little nervous going into CrossTown Fitness since I haven’t really done a class like it before. Although I’m very familiar with many group fitness classes, interval and heavier lifting workouts haven’t been a part of my normal routine. When it comes to strengthening workouts I’ve typically stuck with things like barre or went a little heavier in a class like, Studio Three’s Hi Def format, but even then I wasn’t usually going over 8/10 lb dumbbells. But it’s clear how beneficial a class like CrossTown is, so I finally pushed myself to try it out.

The Space

I walked in to the West Loop location of CrossTown Fitness and was greeted by the friendly staff and instructors. The open layout allowed me to see the whole gym (and what I was getting myself into). Plus it allowed the natural light from the front windows to stream in, something I always appreciate in a fitness studio. There was a row of treadmills, rowing machines, and different types of weights lined up in different stations. It felt a little like gym class, which was fun but way more intense. The gym design and amenities were pretty basic, compared to so many of the over-the-top luxury studios. I’m not sure that vibe would have fit this gym anyways. It felt more like a local (super fit) community focused on pure athleticism and the fun of getting stronger together.

The Workout

When class started, the instructor, Jessica, quickly demonstrated each of the moves for each station, where we would be alternating drills each minute on the minute before rotating. There is such a variety of equipment available that each class was so different, moving through drills with kettlebells, dumbbells, battle ropes, and wall balls just to name a few. I was a little intimidated when she got to things like pull ups, which I definitely cannot do, but she was helpful in suggesting ways to adapt. So I did what I could, figuring I’d have to start somewhere.

The hour long class went by very quickly. I loved the fact that once you rotated off a station you never had to repeat those moves again. It helped me push myself harder through those last reps. Plus I felt so impressed and inspired by the other athletes in class, especially the women. I can’t wait to go back!

Overall I’m so glad I got out of my comfort zone and showed up to class. I feel like it opened up a whole new world of workout classes that I’m excited to try. (And heads up: if you want to try CrossTown Fitness for yourself they are on classpass, making it super easy to check out.)

For other studio reviews check out my experiences at Lululemon Lincoln Park, AIR Aerial Fitness, Yoga 2.0, The Space Between, and Mirepoix.