BEST OF L.A. #7
Best Of...
Move It
BEST EX-SECRET GYM
Revolution
Fitness. Tucked in the back of a beautiful 1920s vintage Cal-Mex building
that began as a theater, Revolution has been a well-kept Santa Monica secret
for the past four years. The gym offers 40 spinning classes a week
(including theme sessions where you work your body exclusively to Prince,
the Rolling Stones, Sting, etc.). But the high-ceilinged space, wall-to-wall
with mirrors, offers more than stationary bikes. The staff is helpful and
friendly, and the classes run from extremely early in the morning until late
at night, making it convenient for those with day jobs. Owner Stephanie
Fargo, a gorgeous, Amazonian former actress with an uproarious laugh, has
integrated her own personal-fitness preferences into Revolution’s schedule,
offering an eclectic mix of other classes. Included are sessions in the
Lotte Berke Base Technique (a kind of ballet/calisthenics mix) taught by
Nancy Norby, circuit training and even belly dancing. After your workout,
you can relax at Café Dana, which shares the bougainvillea-covered
courtyard.
1211 Montana Ave., Santa Monica; (310) 393-6399. (Pleasant Gehman)