Wilhelmina Models and The Daily Take Over Equinox West Hollywood

While we were in Los Angeles this weekend to celebrate our second annual Fashion Los Angeles Awards, we stopped by Equinox in West Hollywood with a bevy of Wilhelmina beauties to try the Headstrong class. Based on the knowledge that mindful movement helps drive optimal brain health, the class incorporates the heart pumping and muscle toning of a conditioning class while pushing physical and mental boundaries. Expect a mixture of yoga moves, cardio, and weight training all in one session. Co-founder of Headstrong, Michael Gervais, and Equinox group fitness director, Amy Dixon, taught the class.

“I thought the class was amazing. I do all kinds of training and I feel like they try to capture every kind of aspect of fitness in one class in 45 minutes,” said model Anthony Gomez, who is also an Equinox member. “It varies from a lot of balance work to going into some yoga movements and then into body weight resistance and then some squat jumps. If your cardio isn’t up to par it’s going to be pretty challenging.”

Most of the models we spoke with work out at least six days a week (they don’t look that good without putting in the work), but they all found the class to be challenging. Tyler Wood does circuit training but admitted the class was hard. The biggest challenge? “Honestly, I was just trying not slip because I was sweating so much.” Vanessa Curry does sculpting classes daily and also incorporates dance and hiking into her fitness routine. “It was super intense but really awesome,” said Curry about Headstrong. “I liked the visuals. It kind of felt like a brain game. You were trying to do foot work, like make an X with your feet, or when there were three different steps to a set. You really had to focus. It was intense, but I loved it and I feel great.”

For any Equinox or future Equinox members now fully petrified of taking this class, let us add that we made it through and consider ourselves beginners. We were, however, sore for four days, which we take as proof that the class really works. We used every single muscle in our body. Plus, the warm down left everyone calm and relaxed and everyone picked up beverages provided by Lifehouse Tonic + Elixirs before leaving for a pick me up for the rest of the day. “I do a lot of meditation so I thought it was nice that they incorporated that into the warm down,” said model Chelcie May. But it was Wilhelmina’s Tony Zakhar who really summed it up: “Basic movements that really kick your butt.”

Membership for Equinox West Hollywood (8590 Sunset Boulevard) is open. Sign up now for the new location, Equinox Hollywood (6201 Hollywood Boulevard), set to open this Fall. Please enjoy more eye candy below.

Photography: Jessica Pons