Fitness Fridays: Ab & Flow — Aesthetically Athletic

Studio: AB & Flow

Format: Pilates, Reformer (Class Types Are here)

Price: $45/class, 6-10 credits on ClassPass (Note that class sizes are small and allow for a lot of individual instructor attention) Rates can be found here!

Location: Old Town, 1533 N Wells

Instagram: @AbandFlow

Website: https://abandflow.com/

The Low Down

I took my birthday PTO for work today, and decided to do a day of relaxing and fitness things. On my list was Ab & Flow, which I hadn’t gotten a chance to try out yet. I stumbled onto this studio one Saturday as I took a phone call from my dad waiting on Kamehachi (awesome sushi, btw) to have my takeout ready. I noticed this adorable dog in the shop in front of me and looked up to notice that it was a pilates studio! Like a chill one—you know, the ones that use a standard reformer with music softly playing, not [solidcore] or Lagree style megaformer. I don’t love mega formers (I love everyone who teaches those formats, however. A TON of my friends teach megaformer) because I fall behind quickly and I tend to feel demoralized when I do. That’s a me problem, 100%, but is why I try to find more chill classes to take when I’m not teaching.

Their aesthetic is bomb and since I’m such a damn Libra I was like “ooooh I need to go!” So I booked a class and awaited my fate. I wasn’t sure what to expect, because I’d only done mat pilates and megaformer. Part of me was like “God I hope I hate it” because it’s $45 a class and I’m a broke bitch. But c’est la vie—I don’t take many classes nowadays and I don’t have any current memberships, so YOLO.

I got there 15 minutes early because as a fitness instructor I know that the most frustrating thing ever is a new student showing up for a class five seconds before it starts. I was instantly greeted by the pup, owner, and instructor, who had seen my post on insta and asked if it was my birthday! I thought that was so nice.

Now is a good time to mention that I signed up for #FitAF (they have #StrongAF on shirts and I’m gonna buy one I swear to god). #FitAF is intermediate, and as I mentioned above, I’m a novice. So I explained that, explained my experience, apologized, explained it was the only class that fit my schedule, apologized again, and explained my knee quirks. Worth noting: I was able to keep up fine, though I struggled with the shoulder supports some.

We got rolling right on time and all four reformers were full. Here’s the thing: these classes are always full, and they book quickly. While we were doing out group class, there was even a woman there for a private class. It’s a hot place and requires some planning to get into.

We started with some intense warm ups and I was feeling the burn basically right away. The entire class was those small, burn it out movements that we know so well from Barre and Megaformer pilates, but was a lot more…chill paced. The attitude was very mindful. I got my ass kicked but no one was yelling (which consider I yell the whole time I teach classes, was so so appreciated) and the instructor, Natalie, was kind and very gracious the times her student who signed up for a class she wasn’t experienced enough for (you know; me) was confused. I loved using the box and they do offer a class that uses the springboard called #SweatyAF, which I’m not sure if me knees will like or not. I might give it a try though, because I had such a good experience.

I left with the signature shakes you get from pilates and barre, but felt empowered and strong. I feel like I felt as zen mentally after that intense, sweaty workout as I do leaving a really solid yoga class. And I was sold and hooked.

I’m hoping to go back once a week on Wednesdays and I’m excited to see how much stronger I get. I loved the studio, I loved the instructor, I loved the dog, and I loved the workout!

—B