Fancy finishing a heart pumping cardio workout with a relaxing roof top yoga class in the heart of London? Healthista’s Vicky Hadley heads down to the new Psycle studio in Canary Wharf
The brand new Psycle studio has just opened in Canary Wharf and as a huge fitness enthusiast I head down to trial a class. Despite being such an immense gym fan, I had never actually participated in a spin class before; solidly believing weights and yoga are the best types of workout, I wasn’t sure what to expect.
The Psycle gym is fashionable and modern and as soon as I entered the building I fell in love. A smoothie bar is situated at the front of the gym with a chalk board offering the most delicious and nutritious plant based protein shakes. Hip and Healthy gym wear hangs on display on the wall next to the smoothie bar named, ‘Energy Kitchen’.
There is a wall of towels for your spin class and upon entering the spin studio I was handed spin trainers with wheels on that I was later told, clip into the spin bikes. The room is lit darkly with bikes and at the front of the room is a little stage with a bike raised for the instructor.
I took the 3KG weights for the class, thinking ‘as I’m such an experienced weight lifter this would be easy.’ Wow – was I mistaken.
The class is high intensity for 45 minutes and the instructor is incredible. I felt full of energy and excited throughout the class. The instructor had organised an upbeat party playlist that keeps you powering through completed by disco lights that really do turn a boring bicycle ride into a workout rave.
The session is divided up into sections of push ups on the bike, bending and straightening your arms on the handle bars whilst cycling. Sprinting whilst sitting and standing and a weights section. I eagerly took the 3KG hand weights for the class rather than the 1 or 2KG weights, thinking ‘as I’m such an experienced weight lifter this would be easy.’ Wow – was I mistaken.
The repetitive lifting whilst cycling gives your arms a real burn that you know your body will thank you for… in two days time.
Psycle is a great choice for those who haven’t been to a spin class before, the enthusiasm from the instructor radiates the class and even though your legs want to stop, the energy in the room helps you push through. Psycle is the perfect workout to do with your friends, there is no competitive element involved, even as the girl on the bike next to me, (who was clearly a regular) lapped me, I didn’t feel the need to ‘give her evils’. You get to work hard at your own pace but still push yourself to turn up the dial, increasing the level of difficulty you are working at.
After the spin class, the group were handed warm towels and escorted to a lift. We went up numerous storeys of the building until we found ourselves on the roof.
The class was magical, I felt one million miles away from city life and lying on our backs on the mat we could only see planes passing by and the stars.
The roof was decorated beautifully with palm trees and open windows that did not close. Sweaty Betty yoga mats lay ready for us to partake in an intense yet extremely relaxing Ashtanga yoga class. The class was magical, I felt one million miles away from city life and lying on our backs on the mat we could only see planes passing by and the stars.
After the class we were given a protein shake smoothie from Energy Kitchen to help our muscles fully recover before leaving. The classes balanced one another perfectly. From heating your muscles to cooling and relaxing them, I would fully recommend trying a class at Psycle.
Psycle classes are available to buy in credits from as little as £20.00 for two weeks.
Psycle Studios are located in: Canary Wharf and Mortimer Street.
Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox.
