BRICK Grand Central

In addition to killer workouts and top notch facilities, BRICK is known for their close knit CrossFit community – which is basically the closest thing you’ll find to a fraternity outside of college. TBH the studio even reminded us of a frat basement. Is nostalgia or nausea the right word? While some studios with this type of vibe can feel exclusive, we felt right at home getting sweaty alongside the regulars. The studio has a wide range of classes – including CrossFit, strength training (B|Fit), HIIT (B|X), and the occasional yoga class for good measure. Their convenient location is perfect for those who work in Midtown or commute into Grand Central, and boasts three floors, including locker rooms, a smoothie bar, and three fitness rooms in the basement.

RUNDOWN

WORKOUT

B|FIT is first and foremost a strength training class. Each day of the week has a different focus (Arms, Legs, Core, Conditioning, etc..), allowing regulars to take the class every day without getting too sore. We happened to go on a Thursday, core day, which really reminded us it’s never too early to start working on your summer 6-pack. The class was broken up into three sections: a warm-up, strength training, and met-con to finish it off. The full body warm up was about five minutes and got us fully sweating before we got into strength, which was the most intense 16 minutes of core we had ever experienced. Four different movements, Tabata style (20 seconds on, 10 seconds off), eight times through … need we say more? We will definitely be rocking crop tops for the rest of January. Finally, we partnered up for some rowing and arm work to end the class and give our core a break. While this class was challenging, there were consistently opportunities to increase or decrease the intensity based on your own level, making the class doable for everyone.

INSTRUCTOR

Katie is one of the friendliest instructors we’ve had in a LOOOONG time. She has inside jokes with almost EVERYONE in the room (we had a little FOMO), and came around frequently for personalized modifications and encouragement. Given the complicated nature of the workout, she made sure to demonstrate everything before we started and answer all questions. Her music was a little random, with country and some electronic mixed in throughout the class, but we’re not holding it against her as we still got in a great sweat.

SPACE

The studio space is impressive, with an entire floor dedicated to the locker rooms, three studios in the basement (including an area for stretching before/after class), and a smoothie bar. HOWEVER, the facility could use an extra wipe down. Make sure to wear dark colors (our light pink pants were dirty from the floor movements), and bring sandals for the shower. The locker rooms are extremely spacious for those who need them after class, and towels are provided, but we recommend bringing your own shampoo/conditioner (unless you’re a fan of that 2-in-1 conditioner, which we’re not).

NOTE: There are NO lockers for non-members to use. While many people leave their belongings out while taking class, we recommend bringing them into class with you for peace of mind.