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November 14, 2011

SLT: Not Your Mama’s Pilates Class

SLT combines pilates, cardio, and strength training to strengthen, lengthen, and tone

Pilates is great for those looking to get long and lean, but many classes can leave you wanting a more intense sweat sesh. That’s definitely not the case with SLT (aka Strengthen, Lengthen, Tone), a Pilates-based workout that combines strength training and cardio for a total-body, 50 minute workout. The wildly popular fitness trend (which originated in LA) arrived in NYC this September, and we were lucky to snag a spot in the studio last week.

Each class only takes ten people at a time because every student works on individual “Megaformers,” which are basically regular Pilates reformers, on steroids. The contraptions boast sliding platforms, pulleys, resistance bands, and adjustable springs that allow hundreds of different moves to work your upper and lower body. While the machines may look slightly intimidating at first, an instructor will stop by each student’s Megaformer to correct positions and adjust resistance throughout the workout.

During the 50 minute-class, we were led through a variety of crunches, lunges, squats, and plank poses that had our muscles aching… in a good way. The goal is to achieve muscle exhaustion (and we must say, mission accomplished), so every set is about one minute long. In full disclosure: some sets will make you want to cry, but the routines are set to upbeat playlists that keep those endorphins flowing. Each session is $40 but first timers can try it out for $20. Just make sure to book online first, spots fill up fast!—CHASE ROSEN AND AMANDA LIBBY

SLT|37 East 57th Street (between 5th and 6th| 212-355-1737