Bodyworks Fitness Studio

Those who know me know that I am quite the health and fitness nut(!?!)

A few years ago when I moved back, finding a good-quality gym and fitness centre was quite the headache as the options were limited and expensive. Today it's a rather different story. There are several new places to complement the few old faithfuls.

One of such services is Bodyworks Fitness Studio. I love Pilates for it's strengthening and toning benefits, but I could not find it offered anywhere.

Then I heard about Bodyworks and of course I had to check it out immediately. This was October 2006. I spoke to Oyinkan Talabi the founder and CEO of Bodyworks and I started working out with her in her rented facility in Ikoyi.

About 2 year later, Bodyworks moved to its Lekki studio, which is where it can still be found. Classes on offer range from Pilates, Dance Aerobics, Salsa, Hip Hop and TaeBo. There is also a gym and personal training services offered.

Check it out: Bodyworks, 3 Obafemi Anibaba Street (Behind Biscourt Apartments on Admiralty Way), Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

UPDATE: The building is not sign-posted. If you turned into the road from Admiralty Way (by Ebeano Supermarket), Bodyworks is, I believe, the 3rd building on your right. It's a small creamish-coloured bungalow with a black gate. The building is set-back from the gate with a little parking space in front.

They are open from Monday to Saturday.

Phone: 0806.778.4977

Pilates

Pilates is not at all popular in Nigeria. In my time here, I have searched for a gym that offered classes. Pilates lengthens and strengthens the body. It especially focuses on developing core strength (i.e. in your back and stomach area).

I tried it for the first time in 1999 and absolutely hated it. Infact, I think I fell asleep in the class. It was that boring. Fast-forward 3 or 4 years and I heard of so many celebrities who swore by Pilates. I don't have to do something just because a celebrity is doing it. However, most of them did have fabulous bodies. So, what the hell? I could at least give it a try.

I bought a tape of basic-level Pilates and worked out to it at home. I was intrigued and over the next few months, bought many more. Eventually I found a gym near my job that offered Pilates. By then I was hooked. Pilates does deliver what it offers, but you have to stick with it. It doesn't involve a lot of jumping around like Step or many forms of aerobic exercises, so you might feel like your body isn't really being exercised. Never fear! As you advance and move on to more advanced classes, the pace quickens and a session can leave you as breathless as an aerobic class. You also start to develop a lot of overall tone, especially in the stomach area.

So why this spiel? Well, today I finally found somewhere that does offer Pilates (Bodyworks in Ikoyi). Well, I actually discovered it two months ago, but the procastinator that I am, I only got around to trying it out today. I really enjoy Pilates and am so glad to have it back in my life.