WORK TRAIN FIGHT
636 Broadway, #204
New York, NY 10012

By Chris Granville

Nestled amongst the lofts of NoHo is a unique private gym called Work that aims to match the neighborhood’s lively downtown spirit. I recently had the opportunity to chat with Work’s founder Alberto Ortiz in order to learn what it is about Work that makes it stand apart from other fitness facilities in the city.

The Centerpiece

The first thing you’ll notice about Work is the regulation size boxing ring that overlooks busy Broadway below – one of only a few in New York. It was originally modeled from a few boxing gyms in Texas. Alberto shared an amusing story about the difficulty of getting the ring into the second floor space when it first arrived, perhaps something the shipper from Texas had not considered when selling a boxing ring to a New York City gym.

The ring offers trainers the opportunity to work with clients of all levels in a professional environment. From experienced kick boxers and pugilists to someone who has never before hit a bag make use of the ring and, as Alberto mentions, “people enjoy hitting things”. And I have to agree – climbing into the ring and strapping on a pair of the complementary Work branded gloves sounds like a fun alterative to a routine treadmill session. Rounding out the experience are numerous heavy bags on offer filling a nearby space with ceiling hooks that also allow for other options such as TRX.

Not Just For Boxing

While it may sound like Work is a boxing gym it’s actually much more.  Over the years the space has grown by leaps and bounds and is en route to take over the entire second floor of the Broadway building. Starting with just one room four years ago it now includes an extensive collection of weight training and cardio equipment, locker rooms with towel service in addition to an impressive studio for group classes.

There is an area for plyometric training, kettle bells and equipment for speed and agility drills. Given these options it has a list of clients that include people of various ages, injuries, limitations, goals and fitness levels. 

Group Fitness

The studio, in the rear of the gym, offers over thirty classes a week. The classes are kept small allowing for both personal attention and plenty of room to maneuver.

Each participant has access to their own station complete with free weights, jump rope, kettle bells and more. A cushioned floor allows for other activities that aren’t often performed in a hardwood studio. One of the most impressive features is a custom built overhead hoist system that at the touch of a button transforms the general fitness studio in to a boxing studio.

As Alberto turned the system on nearly a dozen heavy bags hoisted from the ceiling emerged from behind the wall and eventually moved into position stretching the length of the room. And once we were done they quickly disappeared back into the wall again.

Great for trainers

Work offers a great deal of flexibility for both trainers and clients. Allowing trainers full use of the gym and studio in addition to extending a first session for free encourages an entrepreneurial spirit. Clients can work with a trainer of their choice, ask for a referral or partake in the classes. They even have an app that allows for online scheduling and membership management.

There’s quite a lot going on at Work these days. Given the range of options and unique equipment I can easily see myself getting a fun and thorough workout here and understand why many trainers choose to use it as their training space of choice.  

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.

@neighborhoodtrainer