Body Movin'.

Join the Crowd at The Gym of Social Mechanics.

Welcome to Body Movin', our new recurring feature where, each week, we take a closer look at wherever you'll find health-minded folks jogging, crunching, lifting or otherwise moving their bodies in the name of fitness. Because, listen, we all need to get off of our ass from time to time. Hey: No pain, no gain. Check out this feature's archives here.

This week, we got friendly with The Gym of Social Mechanics.

Fast Facts on The Gym of Social Mechanics.
• Degree of Difficulty Scale For Beginners: 3 out of 10.
• Calories Burned in One Hour: 200 to 400.
• Muscle Soreness After The Fact: 5 out of 10.
• Location: 2010C Greenville Avenue.
• Classes Offered: Functional fitness classes seven times daily, yoga three times a week and an open session on Fridays.
• Introductory Offer: The first three classes are complimentary.
• Price: $150/month unlimited with no contract, $100 for two classes a week or $150 for a 10-pack class credit.

Overview.
It's no secret that Lower Greenville has experienced a tremendous amount of growth and change in the past year, but seeing someone open a private gym amongst the many popular restaurants and bars on the Lowest Greenville strip wasn't something we ever expected. And that's why this week we paid a visit to The Gym of Social Mechanics — to learn more about the why, as well as the what.

And learn plenty we did.

At first glance, the Gym of Social Mechanics looks just like any other workout facility — well, maybe a bit smaller, but with equipment that's still on point. Then there's the fact that the place is conveniently situated in a prime stretch of real estate just down the street from some of your favorite bars and restaurants.

Basically: When you spot this place, it's going to catch your eye.

And Social Mechanics fitness coach Christian Soberanes says that's a big part of the gym's appeal — and part of what he hopes help make people feel both comfortable and excited about heading to the gym.

“If you treat people like they're people, and you show them that you can have fun while working out, they will be more inclined to work out,” he says. “We all know we need to work out — it's a given. But getting to the gym is hard.”

On the other hand, it's a whole lot easier when the gym is located within spitting distance of the bar.

But that's only part of the equation here. Soberanes and his colleagues also aim for The Gym of Social Mechanics to offer a more fun, relaxing and and convenient environment than other gyms. The big target here is the average working person and/or parents. For the latter, the gym even offers an available kids' room with a TV and games so that attendees that have to bring their little ones along with them can rest easy.

Class Structure.
Every night, the SM team posts the upcoming workout schedule for the following day so that students know what to expect. All they then have to do is show up.

“We create the workout,” Soberanes says. “It's almost like having a personal trainer, but in a group setting. You really get the best of both worlds because we do all the thinking for you.”

For these workouts, Soberanes and Co. stick mostly with basic movements, incorporating things like cardio, dead lifts, squats and bench presses into the mix. While this might not be the ideal workout setting for Olympic weightlifting hopefuls, the workout plans here are targeted at different muscle groups each day, making it easy to keep coming back for more.

Getting Started.
Here's the big thing about Social Mechanics: When you join up at this spot, you're not just joining a gym, but a community.

That spirit begins with SM's next-door partner restaurant, HG Sply Co. (The two spots share the same ownership.) If you're looking for a reason to get to the gym on a Saturday morning, they've got you covered: SM offers a “burpees and brunch” special with HG for the small price of a $20 donation to a local charity.

And this is only the beginning for this up-and-coming community gym. In the coming months, Social Mechanics will begin offering a 30-60-90 program in conjunction with HG Sply Co. This 30-, 60- or 90-day program will consist of pre-packaged, portioned meals made by the paleo-centric restaurant, plus unlimited fitness classes next door. It also includes a weekly personal meeting with a trainer to assess your progress and fitness goals for the future.

In other words: The Gym of Social Mechanics wants your fitness future to look as bright as its own.

Grade.
Overall, I'll give The Gym of Social Mechanics a B-.

Previous Body Movin’ Grades:
• CorePower Yoga: A+.
• Flywheel: A.
• Title Boxing Club: B+.
• Bikram Yoga Dallas: B.
• East Dallas CrossFit: B-.
• El Centro Tai Chi: C.
• White Rock Paddle Co.: C.