AKT InMotion – Upper East Side

This is one of the best place for perfect workout! I have a membership in this club around 2 years, and I can definitely say that all classes are amazing! It’s a perfect place for your body and soul! Get ready to get positively mood, incredible energy and sweaty workout! Big thanks to all wonderful trainers!
Jamie, Jonathan, Michael, Samantha and Sasha I love you all!!!
You’re awesome:))

Really enjoyed this class! I tried the Happy Hour, which lived up to its description as a dance party. I think this is a great, fun cardio session. I could also see getting several girlfriends together to try the class. The studio was impressive as well — clean and great products.

I’m HOOKED! I took my first class today, Happy Hour, and loved it. Sarah, the instructor, was incredibly enthusiastic and even though I have zero dance experience and definitely made a wrong move every second step, she kept me 100% engaged. I left drenched, energized and ready to try to rehearse what I could remember of the choreography at home so the next class I go to these next two weeks, I am prepared (AKT uses the same choreography for two weeks at a time). The staff and space made me feel like I was at a professional dance studio and were incredibly helpful and kind without being overly bubbly or overwhelming. Loved it.

I run around with class pass quite often & try new studios & classes. Given this studio is known for being dance centric, I was a bit nervous. I am not a dancer. The description of the 4Play class was less intimidating to me, because I’m used to circuit training.
When I arrived at the studio, the staff members were friendlier than most studios. Michael was very welcoming, showed me around & during class, he was attentive to form. 4play was fantastic & I will definitely be back.
I have been wanting to try the Tease class for awhile to see if I think I can handle the more advanced classes that are dance-​centric, but there are very few that occur before or after work. It’s likely I would have come long ago if there were «beginner» classes offered in the early am once a week. I suspect others might do the same if they are eager to try it out but feel slightly intimidated jumping right in to a happy hour class.

Get your sweat on and be prepared to work hard while having a ton of fun. There is something for everyone… who is willing to put the work in. If you want to get your dance on Happy Hour or AKTease is perfect. If not, take any of the other classes.
What surprised me most about this boutique studio is that absolutely everyone is nice and make you feel welcomed whether you’ve been going there for a while or if you’re a newbie. All of the instructors are amazing, slightly different styles but I haven’t met one who I didn’t love. The occasional Kelly Ripa sighting or Anna Kaiser (both who are incredibly nice as well) helps with maintaining motivation and trust in their commitment and ability to transform your body. The only downside is that it can turn into an expensive commitment but here is where I never mind spending the $.

I’ve been taking AKT classes for over a year now and I love it. I’m not a dancer and never thought I would love or get used to a workout with a choreography, but I do. It’s fun, liberating, challenging and I can honestly say that at 42 y/​o (and 2 kids) I’m in the best shape of my life. I worked out with trainers for years and got great results but never quite like AKT. Either the cardio was missing or the core or something. With Anna’s workouts I get it all in 60mn. My arms are strong and toned, my abs are amazing and even my legs that never really budged look SO much better. The atmosphere is SUPER friendly, non competitive and fun. The trainers are SUPER nice and tremendously helpful with clients. The new studio looks fabulous. I strongly recommend it for someone who is looking for something new, fun and challenging.

Took Happy Hour with Sasha at NOMAD. I’m always looking for new types of workouts and this was such a fun class with a mix of choreographed dance and strength training. It was challenging (workout should challenge you!) and I burned a ton of calories. Will definitely go back.

This chic and trendy fitness studio is tucked away on the forth floor of an upper east side building. Entering AKT removes you from the hustle and bustle of the city and allows you to focus only on yourself and your workout. I took a Happy Hour class (I love that this is the name of the class,) and it was a lot of fun. I was definitely challenged by the class, but the loud music and encouragement from the instructor kept me going. I am definitely going back to AKT!

The studio is nice with clean facilities. Classes aren’t that hard, but because the room is heated or small, it was incredibly hot. In terms of how fun/​effective, I would give it a three point five star at best. But more importantly, the teacher stepped on my hands when we were doing crunches and she didn’t even stop (seriously?!). Maybe I should have stopped and sat on the floor to cry a bit?

I was planning to write a review, thinking how can I find the words to describe this experience and Nisha nailed it. I can’t say it any better. I’ve been to over 100 Classpass classes at probably 40+ studios and this was by far my worst experience. The room was disgusting it was so hot before class even started. After warming up the instructor thought it was a good idea to CLOSE THE WINDOWS thereby blocking any flow of air. There were 6 people in a room no larger than a small studio apartment which begs the question of why the instructor (Alyssa) was blasting music and YELLING into the microphone. I appreciate your enthusiasm girlfriend but stop yelling at me!!! I got a headache from the heat and yelling and left. I’m inclined to try another class at AKT but I will never take Alyssa or take a class in the loft again.

I’ve wanted to try this workout forever! I live in Southern CA and was in town so I booked! My class was with Sarah and it was super fun, sweaty and hard. Sarah is very cute and energetic. There is choreography and even though I’m a good dancer, I had a hard time getting all of it. I’m sure that if I were a regular, it’d be no problem. It was a little hard to hear her over the music. The music was REALLY good.
Considering the high-​end clientele, I expected the facility to be a little nicer.
I would def come back when I’m in the city. Great workout.

Best way to stay motivated! I usually get really bored at the gym or can’t seem to stick to a regimen that covers all I need for a full workout These classes are all encompassing and change every two weeks. (So no getting bored or plateaus!)
After taking a Happy Hour class, I feel like I have accomplished so much in one hour: get my sweat on, tone, tighten, AND dance my booty off. It is definitely a challenge but everyone is very supportive and encouraging. It’s like a huge proactive party for health.
Excited to try a different class next time!

I’ve taken a few Happy Hour AKT in Motion classes at the UES location.
So. Much. Fun.
You’re going to move. You’re going to sweat. Your thighs, glutes, arms, abs will burn. And it feels so good!
Admittedly, I’m not the most coordinated individual, and some of those moves are tricky, but the environment at AKT is so positive and supportive that it doesn’t really matter if I have two left feet.
I highly recommend this fitness studio for the quality of workout, the friendly and accommodating staff, and an all-​around great hour of getting fit.

Great workout — was a good alternative to my normal workout. The staff was nice and had a lot of energy. I would definitely go back for a good sweat and to practice my dance moves!

I’m actually disappointed I have to give this studio a star just to write this review.
To start, I called to sign up myself and a group of people that were brand new to AKT. The receptionist said it was busy at the time so she took my name and number and said she would call me back to sign us up. She never called me back.
We decided to sign up online instead for $ 38.66, which would indicate to me that this is a high quality fitness experience I’m about to have. We took the sweet dreams class rather than their original given it worked with our schedule. When we arrived the studio was very clean and we were impressed when the guest services manager came out to introduce herself and made us feel welcome. Our instructor also introduced herself, which we appreciated.
We got our props and while doing so we noticed the room was deliberately heated, which seemed strange given it was a hot day and the class is not advertised as a heated class.
The majority of the class revolves around holding onto a band that is looped around a pipe overhead. Seemingly minimal consideration for exercise science was given when this class was designed, the choreography was nearly impossible to follow and frankly I felt like I was a background dancer in a really poorly rehearsed puppet show. My friends and I, who are fitness instructors ourselves, all modified several exercises because we were either totally lost or felt they were potentially injurious.
Our instructor was very enthusiastic and high energy. However, she barely communicated instructions (into a mic that didn’t properly project her voice over the loud music) let alone explain to us why we were doing any specific exercise at any given time. She was using notes and at one point was referencing them for a notable period of time while we stood there watching. We left wondering if it was her first class. The caliber of instructor was disappointing given this is a well known boutique studio in NYC.
I honestly considered leaving the class numerous times and only stayed because I knew it would be something I could laugh about with my friends for the rest of our day… and actually I’m still laughing as I write this review.
Hopefully this studio will take a closer look at their class offerings and train their teachers so they are providing a class worth $ 38.

After reading all the reviews of the UES location, I was very disappointed by the Soho location. I was very confused finding the location because it is within Citibabes, which is some sort of preschool/​daycare. There are no lockers or showers.
To be honest, before coming I was very confused about what Akt even was. I had read the website and it did not paint a clear picture of what the class was. After attending, I would describe it a sort of Zumba with weight training, which is really not my cup of tea at all. I have no earthly idea why some would pay $ 35 for this class at the Soho location.
The class was super packed and I had difficulty moving around. I kept running into people. I would have appreciated if the institutor had run through what we would be doing in the class. At the beginning I though it was cardio for the entire time. Since it was very difficult, I tried to pace myself only to be told that cardio was almost finished. People kept getting lost and the instructor just kept plowing through.
I came using Class Pass and would not return even with Class Pass to the Soho location. I can’t speak of the quality of the UES location though.

I really want to like this place, but there are several reasons why I can’t bring myself to come regularly. In the past year, I have come here 3 times.
Like other reviewers have stated, it is HOT in the studio. It consistently feels like it’s 90 degrees, and you will sweat just as much as a Bikram yoga class. I am not exaggerating. It’s not a OMG-​great-​workout type of sweat, more like a «wow there’s no room to breathe in here because there’s no air conditioning!» kind of sweat. I do like the format of the class– heart pumping easy to follow choreography. The weights section varies according to the instructor, but I prefer Jonathan’s classes since his weights section is legit hard! But, there is not good ventilation in this studio, and I always feel les miserables when I’m dripping all over the floor and constantly trying to wipe off my sweat.
Also, I was semi deliberately using awful form during the barre section because it was too crowded, and I received no corrections.
The good:
Towels, Digital lockers, infused waters, stocked but small bathrooms with decent showers

Before you sign up for a class at Akt, ask yourself these very important questions:
1) Do you LOVE to sweat?
2) Relatedly, do you enjoy working out in a heated room?
3) Are you hard-​of-​hearing and thus prefer music to be blasting at the maximum level?
If you answered yes to all three questions, then you are a perfect match for this studio!
If, however, you prefer to exercise in the recommended, climate-​controlled environment of 72°F and/​or you do not enjoy listening to music so loud that you can feel the vibrations pulsing through your vagina, then I would not recommend attending a class here.
I signed up for the 4Play class because it’s the only non-​dancing class (I am abysmal at choreographed dance). The instructor provided zero guidance and did not ask if anyone was new or had any injuries (a standard procedure in every fitness class I’ve attended). The music was so loud that we could not hear the instructor screaming to us over her microphone. Within 10 minutes, I had developed a migraine from the pulsating music. I was also covered in sweat because it was 108 degrees in the studio.
I understand everyone has different workout styles. And so if you enjoy being crammed into a small, sweaty, dark room with 20 other women and do not plan to retain full usage of your hearing abilities, then go ahead and sign up!

I am definitely not a dance and I find this easier to catch on. I sweat a bit more than barrys bootcamp but most importantly I am having way more fun. I really have fun during the class. Im paying attention to the moves and enjoying it that I often don’t realize Im getting an amazing work out. The music is always great. Jonathan is one of the instructors and his energy and moves are phenomenal.
I think they change the routine every few weeks which makes is better for your body and you don’t get bored. They switch it up from med balls to TRX and incorporate tons of core.
I love this class

I am not a dancer. I like to pretend i can do some sort of hip movements sometimes in the privacy of my own apartment, but i would never do anything of the sort in public. i couldn’t dance my way out of a paper bag. I’ve now been to SEVEN classes and with each class i find myself getting more and more confident about moving and sweating and doing it in public. the almost immediate noticeable weight-​loss and looser pants doesn’t hurt either.
I HIGHLY recommend these classes if you:
1) like to get your heart rate up
2) like to sweat and dont want to spend hours in the gym
3) like to rock out to the newest pop hits
4) want to learn some baller dance moves to impress your friends
5) want a dancer’s body and amazing arms
Start with the AKTease class and you won’t be disappointed.
Oh and i travel for an hour on three subways to get to the studio. i am HOOKED

This has been the worst ClassPass experience yet.
AKT is a trendy-​looking studio gym on the UES. It looks pretty. [end of pro section.]
The workout is a combo of aerobics (grapevines and jumping jacks primarily) and a bit of barre, with some light weight work tossed in… taking place in a poorly ventilated studio. The studio floor was made of a smooth material that got slick with sweat, which was inevitable with the lack of AC. I think I even saw a girl slip but the instructor didn’t even pause to see if she was okay.
Though, anyone who complains of not sweating at AKT probably spent the hour drinking smoothies in their lounge.
If you want to spend your money, just go do jumping jacks and lunges in a sauna at Spa Castle.

I’ve been to two different classes. Here is my synopsis for both and why I gave this studio an «ok» rating as opposed to its usual spectacular rating.
AKT TEASE:
As an actual dancer, I don’t know what I was doing coming to a «dance inspired» class on the upper Eastside in the middle of the day, surrounded by stay-​at-​home moms. I figured we would do at least 2 eight counts, something light, but interesting, followed by toning. I was so wrong. This is basically a mildly updated Denise Austin dance aerobics class – grape vines and all!!! It’s all just a repetitive set of sequences of 1980s «dance» moves. It was hard not because of the actual movement, but due to fighting through the boredom. And the instructors attempt to pump us up came off as both grating and threatening. I found myself looking at the clock OFTEN.
4-​PLAY:
This class I Could get into. It involves no dancing whatsoever, thank God, because I don’t think I could stomach another hour of grapevines and jumping in place. It is a strength and toning class, and it is GREAT. This is a challenge, and I totally wanted to kill the instructor during the class, but I also wanted to hug him because, like a tough parent, I knew he was doing what was best for me no matter how much it hurt… me. So, yes, this is for all of you sadists out there looking to get your butt royally kicked and to leave the room drenched.
All in all, I give this studio an A-​OK rating because I felt that was most fair. I mean, it is a beautiful and clean facility with great amenities, like self locking lockers, infused water for the masses, and fresh, clean towels. All of that is wonderful, but I just cannot get over the trauma of being in a class surrounded by moms doing high kicks and 80s aerobics. I can’t…

My boss (a film producer who like me tries every new fitness studio in town) just came back from the AKT Tease class this afternoon and won’t shut up about it. We are both major Tracy Anderson fans (she was doing Tracy’s classes before Gweneth made it cool) and said this was similar, but much better. Then I found out the studio was founded by former TAM instructor Anna Kaiser who added more weights to the routine and BINGO, I’m hooked. Even better is that monthly membership runs $ 450 a month for unlimited classes versus Tracy Anderson’s $ 900 a month. Pricey? Yes. But if you added up all those Manhattan girls night out dinners, I bet $ 450 isn’t as bad as it seems. My boss says she found a new addiction, and I’m down just as soon as that tax refund hits my account.
UPDATE JUNE 8, 2014: My boss now goes here like 6 days a week and looks better every day. Still an Equinox nut, but when I get back to NY this fall, I’m joining!