8 Spring Studios – Lynn Hazan

I am a fitness freak; I am the type of person that lives for the next best fitness fad. Part of being in shape is always changing things up in your fitness routine, and I am all about that. That being said, I was never big into Pilates. I just didn’t feel like I was getting a workout (yes, I know I probably wasn’t doing it right! and will be getting hate mail from pilates fans).

I first heard about 8 Springs Studio at the First Annual JC Fitness Fair back in May and met Li one of the owners and the first thing I noticed was her hard body. So when she invited me to come take a class, I was like “hell yes”, only if I can look like you after!

I went to try a class last week at their new location inside Cast Iron Lofts on the border of Jersey City and Hoboken. Mike Demoya, my communication manager and photographer, tagged along to help me take photos (he is an avid butt photographer) and I dived right in not knowing what to expect.

8 Springs is the Reformer on Meth! They use a torture contraption called the Megaformer that basically works your body to a point of exhaustion. I swear to you after one 40-minute class my butt and legs felt tight AF, I was shaking everywhere and praying to the butt gods to have mercy on me. I was hooked and going back for my next torture class next week. I can’t wait to see the results. Want a lean, long and h3 body? this workout will do the trick.

What are your names?

Li and Dani.

What do you guys do?

Li: We own this 8 Springs Megaformer Studio.

What is the 8 Springs Megaformer?

The name came about because within a Megaformer there are eight springs that create the resistance and control of all the movements. That is the magic of this workout.

What is a Megaformer? It’s a torture contraption.

Dani: It’s the next evolution of what a Pilates reformer has been since the 40s. Sebastien Lagree created The Lagree method on the Megaformer engineered for efficiency. My favorite Lagree quote is “You don’t need more time to workout, you need more intensity.”

The Megaformer is designed for fluid transitions creating a non-stop, total body muscle-shaking experience. There is nothing like it!

I’m shaking right now, and I work out. I used to be a personal trainer; I’m in pretty good shape.

Dani: I know, you are in good shape. The Megaformer flatlines most people the first time they are on it! That’s the draw – you can be super fit and still not be able to get through an entire mega class! That is the challenge and the addiction that is the Megaformer!

What does it do to the body?

It targets and tones the slow intrinsic muscles that usually get overlooked by a lot of other exercise regimes. That’s why you get such paramount results in five classes, and people feel different after one or two classes. I’ve been teaching fitness for seventeen years, and it’s by far the craziest results driven workout I’ve ever done. It’s changed my body.

How did you guys get into it?

Dani: I was teaching Pilates for many years, and a friend of mine urged me to come and take this class on a machine called a Megaformer. I was on the machine and within three minutes I was like, “Doing this!” So I opened up a studio in Red Bank.

Li: Dani is a fitness guru; I, on the other hand, am more on the business side of things. We decided to partner up to bring Megaformer to my backyard, and we just made it happen.

Is it affordable?

Dani: We have a range. The more commitment you have here, the cheaper the classes. There’s no more than ten people in it, so it is more like semi-private training than a class experience. You get hands-on cueing to ensure proper alignment and a lot of attention. You can’t get this kind of workout anywhere else.

Who did this mural?

Li: Nanook. Great guy.

Oh wow, that’s awesome.

He wanted to incorporate Jersey City’s history as a Dutch settlement into the mural, hence, the Dutch-inspired floral scene.

So you have classes every day?

Dani: Seven days a week!

How many classes a day?

Li: We have between five to six. We will quickly build out our schedule, as more people know we are here!

What about personal training?

Dani: We have privates.

Do you live in Jersey City?

Li: Yes, I live in the Heights.

Dani: No, I was in the city for about ten years, and now I live near Red Bank.

Do you have a favorite Jersey City hangout spot?

Dani: I’m excited to check out Porta because we have one in Asbury Park, and I freaking love it.

Li: Cork Screw up on Congress and Webster – awesome chicken and waffle brunch!