5 Philly Fitness Studios That Are Basically Nightclubs

How to listen to Rihanna on full blast, outside of your bedroom — without staying up past 11 p.m.

Solidcore | Photo via Facebook

Solidcore | Photo via Facebook

I have a constant dilemma come Friday afternoon: I leave work wanting to bask in the magic that is Drake, Rihanna and Beyoncé set to full blast and destress from the week, but I would rather cut my right arm off and feed it to my dog than stay up past 10 p.m. on Friday to go to a club of any sort. Call me lame. I just call it knowing myself.

But there’s a compromise! Lately, it seems that fitness studios are veering more toward a nightclub feel. Think: dark studio rooms lit by red and blue lights and music so loud you wonder why their neighbors aren’t outside with picket signs. Which means I (and you, too!) can easily satisfy the craving to listen to club music and destress from the week (and maybe squeeze the occasional booty pop in) — without staying up past bedtime. Below, five Philly fitness studios that are basically nightclubs. Here’s to getting a good night’s sleep!

What: SoulCycle
Where: Center City and Ardmore
Rihanna blasting? Check. So dark and loud you won’t be embarrassing to sing every lyric? Check. There may be honest-to-goodness candles lighting up the instructor stage at this indoor cycling studio (which just opened its doors in Rittenhouse!), but quiet and serene it is not. You’re encouraged to peddle — and push-up — to the beat of the music, and your class playlist just might include a song or two from Drake’s “More Life.” $30.

Photo courtesy SoulCycle

Photo courtesy SoulCycle

What: Friday Night Yoga Club at Three Queens Yoga
Where: Queen Village
Three Queens Yoga usually boasts pretty zen vibes, but lately, they’ve been putting on what they call Friday Night Yoga Club — and it’s just what it sounds like: Two hours of yoga, complete with club-appropriate music. They’ve tackled themes like Drake and Rihanna, and tonight folks will be getting down (in downward dog, of course) to hip-hop duets. Ah-mazing, right? $20.

What: Solidcore
Where: Washington Square West and Bryn Mawr
The signature blue lights, blasting Top 40 hits and peppy instructors at this studio, which serves up a 50-minute machine-based workout that will make your muscles scream something fierce, manage to make this seriously tough workout a good time. $32.

Incline Running | Photo credit: Kira Luxon Photography

Incline Running | Photo credit: Kira Luxon Photography

What: Incline Running
Where: Haverford
This new treadmill studio (think: like an indoor cycling studio, but for running) in Haverford boasts a serious light system that changes color with the rhythm of the music, which will make your next training-run experience way more nightclub-like than, say, a jaunt along the SRT. $28.

What: Unite Fitness
Where: Rittenhouse, Midtown Village and Wayne
During the cardio portion of this three-part workout (just condensed to 65 minutes instead of 75), you’ll run on a treadmill or peddle in a dark room lit-up by changing colored lights, complete with loud music and motivating coaches. Seriously, just watch this video and tell me nightclub vibes —complete with plenty of sweat, naturally — don’t abound. $28.

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