The Dailey Method

I was excited to try a new workout but was very disappointed by the Dailey Method. I called to see if there was a first class special, since most places let you try your first class at a discounted rate. They did not offer me a trial class or any kind of discount for my first class, so I ended up paying $ 25 for a class I did not like and that I will NOT be going back to. If you haven’t tried the Daily Method yet, save your money. It’s not worth the price of checking out.

Sally S, are you kidding? First, why would you try a new workout when you have an injury that needs to be monitored that closely? Second, it’s a group workout class, Andrina is not your personal trainer. She helps everyone she can. People like you are such a drain on classes like this. Spend the extra money and get a trainer.

Adriana was not helpful, and didn’t offer me any modifications despite the fact I told her I had an injury in advance. She seemed too preoccupied with talking about her jewelry with a friend than to actually acknowledge the people gathering for her class. I left the class and asked for a refund, thinking that the class instructor and the crowd (and the workout since it didn’t have mods) weren’t for me.
I couldn’t even finish the class (it was just going to aggravate my injury), and so I was promised a refund by the girl at the front desk, and I was relieved. However, a week went by and no refund came through. So I called, and finally someone named Brenda followed up. She was very unhelpful and defensive at first, and ended up only giving me a partial refund.
Not thans, Dailey Method. I’ll stick with Barry’s Bootcamp.

Great energy, positive vibe. Use caution with your back and knees. Heard others complaining of the same… this is not for everyone. Also, not all of the instructors provide adequate instruction to ensure safe form.

This really is the ‘best workout ever.’ It is also the most challenging workout ever. And I’ve tried just about everything, from yoga to various forms of dance, etc. Very efficient, powerful, effective, bang for your buck here. Love, love, love the attention to detail the instructors give. Form is very important and this is conveyed in class. Love also that the routines change quite often. If you want your body to get in really good shape this is the place.
I’ve since moved from the area and will really, really miss this workout. Nothing compares.

I will start off by saying I enjoyed my class at the Daily Method but the problems lies in the child care.
I went to the daily method with my 4^th month old baby. I left him in his car seat which i brought into the daycare. When I went to get him after class he was in same place I dropped him off and he was fussing. The care giver told me she was JUST about to get him… With only 2 other children in the class I don’t see how hard it would of been to have my son sit on her lap, at least not have him in the corner of the room. I paid $ 100.00 for a first timer package and never went back.

TDM is an amazing workout. You shape every part of your body and, what I love most, you don’t leave feeling like you’ve pounded yourself. I have a very extensive cardio and yoga background both, but I love TDM because it’s always incredibly challenging AND I feel like I got a very nice stretch when I leave. In other words, I both shaped my body (making it look good) and did something nice for it (making it feel good). It’s expensive at $ 22 a class (it gets cheaper when you buy a package but it’s not cheap), but I supplement with the DVD at home, go 1−2x a week to the studio. and I find it’s doable financially. Childcare, on the other hand, is very reasonable so it’s a convenient option even with young kids. I have left and tried other things and I do keep up a cardio and yoga practice so I’m not a person who goes to TDM 5x a week, but I always keep coming because I can’t find anything like what delivers elsewhere. It improves my strength incredibly (I notice it when I hike and bike), it has helped my posture, and I have gained incredible body and form awareness. Also, going just 2x a week, but consistently over two years, my body looks better than ever at 41.

I’ve been attending classes at the CM studio for about 3 years, usually twice a week. I’ve never been a «class» type of gal. Usually I prefer independent workouts. I have to say I’ve been converted. The teachers are great… some harder than others, but all are encouraging and provide a tough workout. Sometimes i think I’ll stop going for a while and switch back to yoga, or try something new, but I just can’t bring myself to do it because I know DM works. I always leave class feeling better than when I got there.

I LOVE LOVE LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE The Dailey Method… w/​one exception. But I’ll get to that in a minute. I am the LEAST flexible person in the world. I am not exaggerating at all. THE LEAST FLEXIBLE. Even my husband, who’s pretty inflexible, was appalled that I couldn’t even touch my toes. Anyway, my workout routine had hit a MAJOR slump. I am a hardcore cardio girl. Running, cycling, elliptical, you name it. I don’t feel like I’m burning calories unless my heart is racing and I feel like I’m gonna die. Needless to say, that wasn’t working for me anymore. One of my fellow Unilocaler friends who lives in Studio City said that she tried cardio barre and said it was the best thing ever. Now she’s pretty much allergic to exercise (but naturally skinny even after 2 children so of course I hate her) so if she could do it then I could do it. I did some extensive research between The Dailey Method and The Bar Method and decided to go w/​Dailey. It had better parking. *shrugs* It’s SUPER expensive but they have this GREAT deal where new clients pay $ 100 for unlimited classes for 1 month. Again, this is awesome. My first day there I’m greeted by Shanti, who is, the BEST instructor EVER!!! She corrects everyone AND does the exercises with you. My first class kicked my butt. It targeted all of the muscles that I never use and some that I didn’t even know that I had! The next day at work I almost fell down the stairs because my legs were so wobbly. It took me about 15 seconds to push the cap onto my pen because my triceps were like jello. The whole class is centered around your core. Your core isn’t relaxed for one minute. It’s always engaged. There is NO resting in class. Your heart rate stays elevated. It’s one movement after the next after the next. There’s no time to breathe. The ballet bar helps w/​your flexibility and balance. I’ve noticed that my arms are more toned due to the free weights and even using my own body as weight. And… gasp!!! I can touch my forehead to my knees, let alone my damn fingers to my toes! All of the instructors there are awesome. They’re legit. They’re the real deal. They’re super lean and tiny. They’re totally welcoming and super friendly. I’ve only ever seen one man in that class but more power to him. Good news: my abs are tighter and I can see a «pack», my arms and shoulders are pretty kick-​ass (when I’m flexing), and I’m more flexible. Now for the bad part: I’ve noticed that my legs have gotten bigger. There is A LOT of thigh work involved and I’ve always hated my thighs. I know that this class is supposed to lean them out, hence the ballet bar, but it’s not working for me. I’ve even changed my diet and they’re still getting bigger. I know that probably means they’re getting more toned, but that also means they’re filling out more, which is what I DON’T want. I’ve come to learn that not EVERY fitness routine works for everyone. It’s too bad. Cardio is really what I need to lose weight overall and make my legs smaller. It really is disheartening. I almost cried. I really don’t wanna give this up. I was becoming totally addicted. But on the bright side, it DOES save me $ 200 a month. The Dailey Method will always be my «what if» lover. Oh what could have been if things worked out differently. Get it? «Work out?» Ha ha. Sigh :(

The Dailey Method will change your body! I have been going for a little over a month now and love it. I go usually about twice a week. Sharon is a real booty-​kicker. Love her — she will make lots of adjustments for you to ensure you are doing the exercises correctly. Everyone in this studio is super nice. And the babysitting is great.

I’m a new client at TDM; been going here 5x/​week for just 3 weeks and I’m a BIG fan. The Corte Madera studio itself is nice — clean, bright, etc, with showers & childcare for small fee. I love the method the founder has developed, and am really happy with the delivery by FRIENDLY & KNOWLEDGEABLE instructors — esp Carrie, Maggie, Sharon, Jill, Gwendolyn. Honestly, all have been great and you learn something new each class. Everyone who works here is lean, amazingly fit and TONED — which is motivation enough to keep you coming (hard to believe some instructors have small infants in studio’s in-​house childcare!!).
It’s not an easy work-​out! For me, it’s been a kind of torture getting started since I’ve been dormant so long, but I’m already feeling a difference — a tightness in my seat, and legs and core — and even seeing results in my arms. It’s super efficient; feels like you are worked head-​to-​toe in one hour. I am not a gym person, and have never done any weight/​resistance training — the only other exercise I have done is Bikram Yoga, which I do love — but find to be currently inconvenient at an hour and half, not including the time you need to shower afterwards!
Unlike others who may have tried both — I can’t compare Dailey Method to Bar Method, which is located nearby in Greenbrae and offers a seemingly similar workout. But I am also going to try out that studio before I commit long term. For me, it’s worth checking into both, since it is a significant monthly investment… though I’m already leaning toward Dailey Method, based on my experience at the Corte Madera studio with their fabulous & friendly instructors. :)
P. S. Also want to add that they are very flexible when it comes to rescheduling classes. The preference is that you do cancel online, but if it’s within an hour of class and you call the studio, they can cancel for you without charge. There are usually enough ppl standing by for a class (it’s that good a workout) that they don’t ding you for doing so last minute. I really appreciate this flexibility as some days preschool drop-​off isn’t as smooth as other days — and I know I’m going to be late, so I can call ahead and notify them that someone else should take my spot and ask them so sign me up for the following class! They are so nice about it.
UPDATE:
I am trying Bar Method now. It’s the first week and I’m 6 classes in so far. I do miss TDM. I never had to drag myself in, as I feel I am doing now. There’s also a good sense of «community» at TDM, that I don’t yet feel at Bar Method. In terms of work out, I am still learning and don’t really know enough to compare the two, but my sense is that The Bar Method is more of a «ballet» workout emphasizing legs and perhaps arms, working your body from the extremities in. I think TDM focuses more so on core strength and working your body from the (stable) core on out — perhaps more pilates-​like. Bar Method has no «basics» class if you want to work on form and some instructors are more likley than others to adjust you. Also, I always want to hold the stretches longer at Bar Method — feels like it’s cut short each time. BOTH are challenging for me, TDM slightly more so — but it’s also more fun. TDM instructors mix it up and don’t repeat the same rote sequences with same rote verbal instructions the way it’s done at Bar Method. I think Bar Method is kinda «corporate» that way. Reminds me of Bikram yoga studios once Bikram insisted all instructors everywhere use the exact same language every class to take you in and out of your postures every time (yawn…a good Bikram instructor shouldn’t need a script).

This is a review of the Corte Madera location and Dailey Method in general.
I started out at the Dailey Method when I worked in Downtown SF about 2 years ago. I fell in loved almost immediately! Over the years I’ve tried other exercise classes but ALWAYS come back to the Dailey Method as the tried and true workout that gets me the legs, arms and stomach that I love.
About 6 months ago I started working in Sausalito and my workout schedule got tossed out and I started to lose my figure I worked so hard to get. Lucky for me, I found the Corte Madera location! All the instructors here are really amazing and I’ve never felt uncomfortable (except when in seated pretzel) and everyone has always been super welcoming.
The other thing I like about this location is that not everyone looks like they just stepped out of a pilates magazine and are all looking for the same results as I am.
Since I still live in the city, I still try to take classes at the Cow Hollow or Downtown locations on the weekends but having a studio 10 minutes from my office is amazing!

After a spirited night of cocktails with some friends of ours, the magic words were spoken: «have you ever done the dailey method? it is the best workout ever!» Me: «what is this dailey method you speak of?» Her:’ «You have to go. Tomorrow. You will be hooked.»
Went the next day. OMG. How did I not know about this place??? Best hour workout EVER, and the teacher, Cindy, was the nicest! I can see why there seemed to be a group of loyal patrons in the class. I will be becoming one of them!

the most time efficient, effective, fun workout ever! Saw results in one week! I’m on week three and cant believe my body… so toned.
All of the instructors are amazing, and the results you see are ridiculous! The facilities are super nice, and everyone is so friendly, it’s like a mini community.
try it once, and you’ll be hooked!

I wanted to include my review on Corte Madera studio since this is where I found you all!
The teachers at the Dailey Method are great. I go to both the SF and Corte Madera classes either really early or late and all the teachers I’ve met are amazing. I have to admit I was worried about the other women in class but most of them are really nice, and they all are very helpful. I was a Bar Method student, and they’re okay but I prefer the Dailey Method. I have lost quite a bit of inches around my mid-​section and a lot of my friends have noticed. I have to tell you that I“m not a thin girl. I am larger than most but at least I feel comfortable around everyone me and I don’t feel out of place. I can’t wait until they open the studio near my office (Financial District). I will be there anxiously awaiting!