As1 Fitness
1845 Broadway, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10023

On a freezing evening in January, I headed over to As1 Fitness on Columbus Circle, hoping for an invigorating 65-minute class to warm me up and help me shake the bone-chilling cold that had set in on the walk over from work. The studio, whose core focus is on group fitness classes, had invited me to join a group class for this article. And as the evening unfolded, I didn’t stay cold for long. They don’t pull their punches at As1.

Upon entering the large, single-room studio I was greeted by co-owner and class instructor GeorgeVafiades. George and his fellow owner, Mark Merchant, opened the studio a little over two years ago. Both have extensive experience as personal trainers and endurance athletes, and they’ve developed their small group training programs to be both creative and challenging.

While As1 does allow private trainers to use the space, the focus is on group fitness classes. The four classes they offer are all designed to train the entire body and are based on bread-and-butter exercises like squats, pull-ups, and push-ups. Interval sessions that combine strength training and cardio also play a prominent role in most of the classes.

George explained to me that the number of participants in each class is limited, not only to allow for personal attention from the instructor but also to foster a sense of camaraderie among the group. And it seems to work. The class I attended had a friendly, informal atmosphere, and the participants chatted easily with both each other and me. Many made a point of telling me how much they enjoy the As1 classes. And the group encompassed a wide range of fitness levels, from ultra-marathoners to folks who appeared to bejust looking to drop a few pounds. From my conversations with them it was clear that most of them takeAs1 classes on a regular basis.

During the class we worked in pairs and groups of three and moved quickly between many different kinds of exercises, often spending just 30 seconds or one minute on each. The exercises included push-ups, pull-ups, squat thrusts, mountain climbers, squats, band exercises, and turns on spinning bikes and StairMasters.To end the class, we got out foam rollers for a well-deserved cool-down. Throughout the class George paid close attention to each person and offered advice and encouragement.

You can expect to find all the usual amenities at As1. Clean bathrooms with showers, safe storage areas for your bags, towel service, and filtered water are all available.

What impressed me most about As1 was the intelligent, challenging, and imaginative approach to group fitness classes. Each class allows everyone to go at their own pace—the most fit people can push as hard as they want and those who are new to fitness can take it as fast or as slow as they want. And everyone has a friendly attitude and a sense of fun.

It’s clear that George and Mark have put a lot of thought and effort into both the studio space and the class structure. Anyone following the As1 program will find a fun and engaging workout, and trainers looking for space near Columbus Circle will find a well-equipped studio with a focus on fundamentals.  

Chris Granville is an ACSM certified personal trainer. A former NCAA Division 1 and professional athlete, he’s a managing editor in book publishing and lives in New York City.