The Verandah Club is alot like the country club you always wished you could join, but never quite wanted to cough up the fees. Or maybe you don’t golf or play tennis, but you still wanted a club membership because there’s no better place to wear that sweater vest.

That’s why you should go to the Verandah Club. I echo everyone’s sentiments about how it’s an urban oasis of country clubby chicness.

The layout is kinda tricky.  Depending on where you park, (Anatole) you either hike across a lush “garden”, or you actually figure out to park at the club (entrance off Wycliff) and park next to tennis courts to wind your way around to the annex. If you make it this far and actually find the club, you’re in good shape. Next, you have to find the front desk. Lest you’re not in scavenger hunt mode, I’ll just tell you: It’s down a hallway and not visible from the front doors. Yeah Muffy, that’s that country club exclusivity feeling hitting you right between the eyes.  Members only!  Once you finally find the front desk, you realize the actual gym is upstairs, even though you might have already had your workout navigating the labyrinth. It has a decent array of equipment. However, a gym is a gym for the most part. I’m here today to talk about the coolest equipment this side of Milan’s Design District, located in the fitness studio downstairs. (Gym . . upstairs.  . . fitness studio . . downstairs . . . tennis courts, to the left. Ok, got it?)

The Kinesis machine. Kinesis is what James Bond would have in his house. It’s a wall unit of sleek sexiness that relies simply on cables, pulleys, and resistance for movement. It’s like an upright Pilates machine, but it’s not. This makes a cable crossover machine look as clunky and elementary as . . .well, an elementary school P.E. class. The finish at the Verandah club is woodgrain, but I hear there’s a mirrored facade too . . . .and maybe *THAT* version is for Austin Powers vs. James Bond . . .

The concept of Kinesis is hard to explain, but Cara is an awesome instructor and after a session with her, you just feel cooler, stronger, leaner, tighter. She does both personal training on the machine as well as group classes. She will put you through the alpha, beta, and gamma movements and makes it really easy to follow her lead. (Yes, really! – forget the SQUAT. Ugh. What an ugly word. Give me some GAMMA!) You get an incredible workout like nothing you’ve ever had before AND you feel like a superhero while doing it. I personally can’t think of anything better.

Verandah Club

214.761.7878

http://www.verandahclub.com/

Hilton Anatole

2201 Stemmons Freeway

Dallas, TX 75207

(214) 748-1200