Why The Yard Gym in Carlton is the ultimate high-intensity workout

I’m a serial lover of testing out new workout programs and boutique fitness studios.

I truly believe the more ways you challenge your body the fitter you’ll become, but I have to confess in recent years I’ve stuck to my tried and true Pilates classes.

I really got into it during COVID and even went on to become a fully-fledged Pilates instructor, so I haven’t been doing particularly high-intensity workouts for a little while now.

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Just a lot of downward dogs.

When asked if I’d like to check out the nearly year-old digs at The Yard in Carlton, NSW, I was initially apprehensive and assumed — based on a quick look on Instagram — that it might be similar to F45 (I did one class at F45 and passed out shortly thereafter).

But never one to back down from a challenge I decided to attend a few classes before jetting off to Europe.

The space is next-level luxurious with a comfortable waiting area, a creche that operates during certain classes of the day, plenty of fresh sweat towels and a host of very friendly and accommodating personal trainers running each class.

Initially I was very confused by the classes because there were only two types to book each day — Turf and Rig.

It turns out that a “class” is split into either weightlifting (Rig) or a combination of weights and cardio (Turf) and you can choose which “side” you’d like to participate in on any given day.

So, you might alternate each day or stick to your favourite side for a week or two — either way you’ll be getting a killer workout (and muscle ache, the good kind).

Despite being an amateur in the weightlifting department I was never made to feel incapable.

The bevy of personal trainers are quick to show you the ropes and support you through every movement because the classes are quite small in size, so there is plenty of time to fix your form.

Every 45-minute class is different and you’ll move through everything from burpees, to Arnold presses, to rowing (on a machine) so it’s very difficult to get “bored” (nearly impossible I’d say).

I was absolutely wrecked after my first session — I could barely walk — but slowly your body does get used to moving in ways it hasn’t before and the adrenaline rush is palpable.

I feel as though the classes go very quickly because you’re moving between exercises so often, too.

Memberships, which are $69 per week, are locked in for eight-week periods before they auto renew, so you can opt out after two months if you like.

Even in such a short period of time I can see physical changes in my body so I can imagine what a full eight weeks would do.

While I do still believe in the art of stretching and lengthening there is something to be said for increasing your strength training in between — and what better community to do it with than The Yard.

To learn more about the exercise style, visit the website here.