SURFSET Fitness Toronto

Hitting up Costa Rica to try out some surfing? Go here beforehand to prep for it. Better to make a fool of yourself in front of a few well-​heeled millenials, than at the beach. This is exactly what we did yesterday. If this was a regular surf class, I’d prob have spent more time crawling on the sea bed, or being shark buffett. Overall great core workout and friendly staff. Since we went in with the Lululemon running group, we didn’t pay for the intro class. But can see ourselves repeating. Novel fitness concept that will come in handy for your next trip to the beach.

Had a great first experience here. It was tough but I can see myself returning.

It’s an amazing exercise I have ever experienced. First time that I have to engage my core 100% of the time, just amazing! Also a fun factor is always important to my fitness régime, nothing would be so thrilled than riding a surf board, I will try to surfboarding this winter in Hawaii:)
My instructor Lua is the owner of the store, she’s amazing, knowing where to push my limit, it was hard but rewarding!

The studio is conveniently located right at the bus stop. The studio is really beautiful. There is only one room with 12 boards. There is a change room and washroom which includes q-​tips and face wipes, etc.
I did the balance class which is mainly a lot of strength training on the board. You do squats, planks, sit-​ups, etc. At the end of the class, you do some stretches. It’s hard just to stay on the board during some of the exercises, and I saw girls falling off their board. It was a lot harder than it looks. I’ve surfed before, and I practice yoga, so I thought this class would be really easy. I was totally wrong. It was really hard to balance on the surf set board, I think even harder than on a real surfboard in the water (or maybe I just got really out of shape.)
I went on a Friday night there were only 2 of us.

Decided to try this with a few friends because it looked like a good way to get some exercise in. I would recommend that you check in and reserve your board online before coming to the class, because they are quite limited and the class fills up quickly. We tried the «build» class which focuses on strength building and muscle conditioning. I didn’t think it would be that intense, but in the end I worked up QUITE a sweat… I’m not sure if maybe the air circulation in the room wasn’t very good though, because it felt quite stuffy. But our instructor, Sophie (?) was great, she was very energetic and enthusiastic and pushed us HARD but still made it fun. Even at max capacity, the class only fits about 12 people, which I think is a good size because it allows the instructor to give each student personalized attention.
I definitely wish the place was bigger though. They have two private bathrooms and two private changerooms, and like a general changing area which is co-​ed. With the number of people, getting changed and cleaned up after the class can be a bit of a wait and a hassle, but what can you do.
In the end it was definitely a good workout, and I actually did feel it in my core. Wouldn’t mind coming back, perhaps to try other classes!

A class at Surfset is sure to shake up your fitness routine ! I attended a class through Passport to Prana and was impressed by how well yoga conditioning applies here. If your experience is anything like mine, you’ll get that «jelly legs» feeling in no time.
The instructor seems to make a big difference here. I don’t think I enjoyed the full benefits of this class because the instructor didn’t notice that I could have used some pointers early on. I didn’t feel the core exercises in my core — I felt them in my lower back! I made my own modifications, but I would have appreciated more personal attention, especially considering the size of the class. Keep that in mind if you pay for regular access here. I think the instructor should be watching people much more closely to make sure everyone gets maximum benefit from the class (and minimum injury). Rather than single people out for «doing it wrong», why not help them do it right? Our instructor seemed to assume we were simply being lazy when we couldn’t complete certain exercises. Ideally, for small classes like these, personalized attention makes all the difference!
The studio space is lovely, clean, and eco-​friendly. Just one bathroom and two small change rooms, though. Everyone wipes down their boards after each class — things can get slippery once you work up a sweat!

I’m not usually one to try the latest fitness «fads», but was curious about this place after hearing about it from a few friends. When they had an open house (they only opened in late 2014) offering free classes, I decided to give it a try!
This is one challenging workout! I tried the «Balance» class, which goes at a slower pace (supposedly!), and I worked up quite a sweat just learning to stabilize myself on the board, which requires constant core activation. It is trickier than it looks, but as Andrea mentioned, you can quickly start to find how to stand on the board to balance. I have since gone back to try their «Blend» (a mixed class with cardio and toning) and «Build» (killer muscle conditioning class) classes, and the variety of the moves makes things really fun! Some of the moves are recognizable from standard fitness classes (planks, lunges, squats) but everything has the added challenge of being on an unstable surface. Some classes use a resistance band, as well as some yoga stretches and of course, surf-​inspired moves.
I’m trying their 1 month unlimited deal (no longer being offered). They have a $ 45 for 2 weeks unlimited intro special, which is a good deal because a single class is $ 22. It’s pricey for this to become your main place to workout (unless you do one of their monthly memberships and go a lot), but I can see this would be a fun place to come once in a while to compliment other types of exercise. I liked the small class size (max. 12 people due to the # of boards), upbeat music, and energetic teachers. They do a karma class on Friday night for only $ 10 I believe (money goes to WWF) — another great option if you are curious to try it out. Since # of boards is limited, I recommend reserving a spot online during busy times.
Facilities are small — just one unisex change room (with 2 curtained off changing stalls) and a few shelves to put your stuff (no lockers or place to hang your coats). So try not to come with a lot of bags! There’s no shower, but they do provide baby wipes, hand towels, q-​tips, spray deodorant, etc. to freshen up after class (because, you will be sweaty!).
Anyways, I recommend this place if you are looking to mix up your workouts and want a new challenge! It’s suitable for all ages, men and women. Classes can move pretty quickly, so just remember to take it easy especially during your first class!

I tried my first class today and this place is awesome! I took the Burn class and it was pretty hard to keep up, but it was really intense (in a good way). Learning how to balance on the board wasn’t too difficult to get ahold of, pretty much once you’ve figured out the midline of the board, you’re set. However, the instability created a GREAT workout, engaging your core and legs constantly. I couldn’t keep up with the instructor Lua, who is one of the owners, and is absolutely fantastic. She allowed pretty long breaks (thank God!) and helped me out when I needed it. Definitely coming back for another class!