Animo Studios - Brugmann — Local services in Uccle - Ukkel

Newly arrived in Brussels, I was excited to try Animo gym nearby. I bought a discovery pass and attended three classes: Yoga, Move (Pilates), and Reformer.

The facilities are beautiful, and the reception staff are very warm and helpful. But the problem lies in what is presumably the most important aspect: the classes.

The Yoga class was great, with a supportive instructor offering alternatives for different levels.

However, the Pilates class was my first disappointment. Despite the very friendly and encouraging instructor, the class was too advanced for the many beginners present, leading to frequent stops and awkward moments. Trying to keep up, I ended up hurting myself because it's difficult for a beginner to do a movement both correctly and quickly. I believe a class for each level is highly necessary here.

Lastly, and this is where I decided to stop: the Reformer class. Brace yourself, you’ll need a lot of patience because even trying to book a week in advance and clicking to reserve the minute registration opens, you could still end up number 12 on the waiting list (my record was number 37!). I arrived at the class 20 minutes early, checked in at the front desk, and waited. The instructor opened the room at class time and invited us in. I had the impression she was saying something else, but I couldn’t hear her in the commotion. I settled in front of one of the machines, and the instructor started giving instructions on the settings. I indicated that I was new and didn't know how it worked. She responded rather curtly, "You should have told me before, I don't have time to help you now." Quite taken aback, I wondered if that’s what she had asked when I couldn’t hear her. But regardless, I mentioned it as soon as the class started.

Throughout the class, I struggled because, although the exercises were manageable for beginners, I didn't know how to configure my machine. It was so obvious that another participant ended up helping me because I couldn’t do the exercises. I thanked her warmly, but it wasn’t her responsibility to intervene. The instructor also saw that I was struggling but didn’t step in. I considered leaving the room at one point because what’s the point of being there if I can’t participate. So, once again, I left Animo with a bitter taste.

With 2 out of 3 classes disappointing, I can’t recommend Animo. I initially planned to purchase more sessions to try other classes before getting a membership, but I think I’ll stop here. I don’t think this place is suitable for beginners and leaving workouts feeling this way doesn't make me...

I've been taking Reformer Pilates classes at Animo Brugmann for a while now, and I have to say that Melissa's classes are consistently fantastic. She's an amazing instructor who truly makes the experience enjoyable and effective.

One of the things that sets Melissa apart is her clear communication and attention to form. She explains each exercise clearly and concisely, and she's always watching to make sure everyone is performing the movements correctly.

She brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm to each session, and she's always coming up with new and interesting ways to challenge us. She keeps things fresh and engaging, which makes me look forward to every class.

The facilities of the studio are amazing as well! Great showers and service by the entire...

Plus: a beautiful studio with all the amenities, just like the original studio in Flagey. I loved the hot yoga with Victoria! Cons: it is impossible to book a reformer class if you are not a subscription holder. The classes are always full, which is of course a good sign, but they are full with subscription holders, who have priority in booking. And it’s not that I want to book a class a day before or so, but exactly a week before when the slots become available to the “general public” they are already waitlisted by at least 15 people. This is an unfair practice and although communicated to them, they do not seem to be interested in...