Class: Core Fusion Barre

Location: Santa Monica

Workout Type: Barre

Difficulty: Level 2.5

Next day soreness: 2

Duration: 60 min

Sweat Level: 💦Moderately Sweaty

Parking: Fairmont Hotel valet (free for 2 hours with validation) or metered street parking on 2nd right outside studio or Santa Monica lot free for 90 minutes.

Amenities: Free mat rental, towels and water

Requirements for class: Wear socks, grippy socks preferred.

First of all, the  front desk staff was very careless. When I first arrived and told them it was my first time at the studio, they made no effort to show me the ropes and just told me to wait in the studio and someone will tell me what to do. When there was no instructor in the room, I came back out to ask and again the front desk said when the instructor arrived he’ll ask if someone is new. The instructor was very nice, but when he instructor arrived, I had to go up to him to tell him it was my first time, and ask him about what things I needed, towels, etc. He actually said that usually the front desk tells me about those things. When I mentioned what they said, he laughed and said how everyone was trying to place responsibility on each other.

That aside, the class itself was very similar to other barre classes like Pop Physique, Pure Barre and the Bar Method. It wasn’t quite as challenging, but it was still a decent workout. The studio, however, seemed a little dated and didn’t have the same energy level as a Pop Physique or even Pure Barre. The upside is that the location is very nice, right in the Fairmont and next to the ocean so you can easily fit in a workout before or after hanging out in Santa Monica.

Tip: To get in and out easily, there is a side entrance on 2nd street north of Wilshire that opens right into Exhale so you don’t have to walk through the driveway and hotel to get to the studio.

I won’t write this place off just yet. I’ll try a different class (they have yoga as well) at the Venice location to see if it’s any better.