MOVE Fitness is a boutique gym dedicated to women’s fitness. At the Leslieville gym each workout is different, designed to strengthen and condition through a combination of rowing, pull ups, TRX and pushing heavy weights across the gym floor.

Classes are displayed on the Movement Menu broken down by Mains and Dessert. The 50-minute workout includes a combination of squats, deadlifts, chin-ups, and a conditioning workout like battle ropes or burpees.

Initially, MOVE can seem intimidating. Even as a fitness enthusiast, seeing a full length monkey bar and battle ropes intimidates me. But, during my workout, dare I say, I had a really fun time.

Not only was it a great way to start the day, but the atmosphere of comradery amongst my group of women was so satisfying and impressive.

It didn’t feel competitive, we weren’t opponents but rather supportive in offering advice and discussing our meals after the workout.

That friendliness extends to the change room, where we talk about the workout, the benefits of the infrared sauna, and general just acknowledge each other’s work rather than silently shouldering past one another.

MOVE doesn’t have conventional machines found in gyms that isolate just one body part, but rather focuses on full body movements – enter 34-foot rigs and barbells, kettle bells, assault bikes and coming soon, boxing!

To make it easier and accessible for moms to participate in fitness, MOVE offers daycare for a small fee. The studio was designed by Pulsinelli, the same design team behind Nike’s Toronto Loft. The change rooms are equipped with Kiehl’s products, showers and an infrared sauna.

MOVE offers monthly memberships, with the option to add personal training and nutrition consulting also.