Defy Gravity Studio Spins into CDM

A pilates and cycling studio devoted to providing personalized attention to its students is now open in Corona del Mar.

Defy Gravity Studio -- located at 3100 E. Pacific Coast Highway -- was created by co-owners and instructors Laura Fox and Shannon Barbadian. The pair say their state-of-the-art equipment and unique teaching styles will fill a void in the fitness community.

“It’s such and active community but these types of classes were lacking,” Barbadian said.

Defy Gravity’s cycling classes are as close as you get to riding on the road, Barbadian said. Students participate in ride routines that have an interactive and impromptu relay style format and the instructors create teams in which individuals in the class can race each other.

“You don’t come in and just ride, you come in and you do things. You actively participate and you have goals within goals in every class,” Barbadian explained. “We all know you’re not going anywhere, but you have to create a sense that you are doing something and you are moving toward something motivational and having teammates to help give you goals within the class.”

With the biking equipment offered at Defy Gravity, each ride is personalized based on a console that is attached to the bike that assesses rpm speed and the amount of calories burned. The ride is divided up into four or five stages that varies based upon what is planned for the day. Riders can note their total mileage for the day and the next time they come in they can attempt to go a little bit further. Classes can accomodate between 10 - 18 students.

Split classes, half cycling and half pilates are encouraged. Students can expect to become more fit, lose weight, be kinder to their joints and have less susceptibility to injuries.

“One of the consistent things we are hearing from people who have ridden other places and ridden here is that it is so much harder here," Barbadian said. "They are getting so much more out of their workout and it’s because our clients can gage their numbers and create goals for themselves."

To find out more information about Defy Gravity Studio, visit their website at www.defygravitystudio.com or call 949-719-2900.