Some workouts leave a mark on you. I was introduced to Levelup Hot Yoga by my bestie, who’s an avid Pilates junkie. We’d been friends for a while, and she’s seen my varying degrees of fitness strides, HIIT bootcamps and (half) marathon training. My struggles and triumphs are on display with her. So it was telling when she took me to my first Inferno Pilates class and warned me, “You probably won’t make it through this entire class.”
And she was right. A decade of training with Nike Master Trainers, hours of bag skates at hockey practice, nothing could prepare me for this class. And that’s why I keep coming back…
Levelup Hot Yoga Gets a Glowup at Bayview Village
The classes, at 60 minutes, are now shaved down to 45 minutes while allowing for some post-class stretches at your own pace. I never once made it the full hour. Ever! And that’s okay. While I am a competitive person, at Pilates, you’re only competing with yourself. Not a good look.
Now, the 45-minute class is designed as a total body effort. Using your own body weight, hand weights and sometimes bands, the heated classes take place in a 104 degrees Celsius room. Guided through Pilates breathwork, polished practitioners lead you through a dynamic and challenging workout, all done on your mat.
A typical Inferno Pilates class begins like this: first connect to your Pilates breath, adding bridges to light up your glutes. Arms join the bridge work, and then abs and core, before eventually working through some standing moves, like squats, lunges and burpees.
Modifications make this an inclusive workout for everyone. Weights are at your discretion. Teachers don’t just talk through the moves; they’re connected with you on the mat, leading with purpose and pride.
Sepideh, whose chorus of being intentional and never sloppy, is a Pilates warrior who ensures every student pushes past their comfort zone. Her brand of fitness is of function and poise. She reminds us that committing to being present for every movement is a way we can show up for ourselves.
A New Lease on Life for Levelup Hot Yoga
Aimei and partner in life and business, Cheemun, reopened their studio after taking over the business in 2020. The new space at Bayview Village is a huge departure from Levelup Hot Yoga’s original space, just a block west of the mall.
Kitted out with a flashy air exchange system, the new dedicated hot room has 56 infrared panels supplying pristine and purifying heat for Inferno Pilates and Hot Yoga classes (see the schedule here). I had a tour before the grand opening, with Cheemun beaming at the obvious upgrades from a new buildout.
The discussion to buy the business began in September 2019, and by January, they had the keys to Levelup Hot Yoga. The place was a bit rundown, and they knew the building was subject to demolition in favour of new condos.
Cheemun describes his wife as his life, his partner, his world. “We had no experience at all. I was in finance. Aimee loved fitness, and I quit my job to join her. I was sick of the corporate world. 3 months later, the pandemic hit. We hung tight; a lot of studios closed in that period. We had phenomenal support from our members. There were no subsidies from the government, as we had no recent business history. We were denied any loans.”
They say timing is everything. Only months into this new business, the future was bleak. But Levelup Hot Yoga didn’t throw in the towel. Cheemun was uplifted by members who bought annual passes and even just tried to give them money. “They believed in us.”
Betting Big at Bayview Village
Post-pandemic, the studio was still in need of some serious refreshing. With memberships growing, its brand of feel-good fitness was proving popular. The move supports the added interest while cementing its future in North York. Now with two dedicated rooms, more lockeroom space and a better layout, the stage is set for some serious sweat sessions. The classes are some of the hardest workouts to battle through, but they’re also some of the most equalizing. Men, women, the elderly, 20-somethings. We all meet on the mat. We all rise together.
Now, the studio is buzzing with fitness enthusiasts, seven days a week. And Bayview Village is the perfect location, with TTC access and plenty of parking. Now in its 5th year, Levelup Hot Yoga is really living up to its name.
All images by Libby Roach.
Follow @Leveluphotyoga
Find Levelup Hot Yoga at 2901 Bayview Avenue.