Boutique fitness studio, Sala, is renowned for creating the unexpected. First brought to life by Sarah Lindsay back in 2019, it has continued to help people find a new relationship to movement while staying true to its ethos that each of us is already enough.
The concept was a long time in development as Sarah grappled with trying to find a way to frame telling people to run faster within the context of the actual goal which is to “ascend into being the whole of your wholeness.” Of course, Chroma HIIT delivered—it was always going to. Every class on Sala’s timetable is a perfect blend of science, authentic connection, and whimsy.
In true Sala style, a new series needed a novel, purpose-built space. The Chroma HIIT studio, which cost an impressive $950,000, is spacious with a row of treadmills and individual weights stations. The room is wrapped by mirrors and diffused light walls packed with 36,000 LED lights that morph and glow, choreographed to the music. Hours were spent sculpting the space with a sound engineer so participants can consciously feel the music in their body. It’s unlike anything we’ve ever seen before, in a gym or anywhere else. Want a sneak peak? Check it out here.
Chroma HIIT is based on colour therapy, where the vibrational energy of colours influences physical, mental, and emotional states. It’s a series of three classes: Blue, Yellow, and Red. “When you look at colour you’re actually seeing vibration,” Sarah explains. “Red sits lower in the body—it’s primordial, it’s about security and the frequency of the sound is bass-forward, it’s quiet, it’s deeper. You can feel it in the lower part of your body.” Naturally, Red is focused on working your lower body.
A perfect pairing, Yellow is an upper body workout. “Yellow is a higher frequency, it’s a sort of optimism, it’s dopamine, it’s the sunrise, it’s waking up in a good mood.” How does this translate into a workout? Through sprints, burpees, and similar dynamic, sweat-inducing shapes.
Now, if you’re looking for a full body workout, you’ll want to book into Blue. “Blue is full body integration and that vibration is much higher. It’s felt in the upper portion of the body and brain and it’s meant to be—in spiritual jargon—the bridge between the physical realm and the subtle realm. It’s the ascension of you as nothing more than an expression of energy momentarily contained in this incubator of form which is your physical body,” says Sarah.
Each class starts with a warm-up and then moves into high intensity intervals switching between the treadmills and weight stations under the guidance of a trainer with videos of the exercises appearing on TV screens for reference. And if you're not feeling the cardio? There are extra weight stations for anyone wanting to double down on the strength work. The experience ends with a cool down where attendees are bathed in violet light to boost mental clarity and spiritual growth.
We’re spellbound.
While Chroma HIIT will inevitably be a sweat session, Sarah hopes the class will help participants feel like they’ve connected to something bigger than just movement—that they’ve connected to themselves.
All three iterations are live on Sala’s timetable with bookings available through their website, the Sala app, or Classpass and until 18 August you can snag a 10-class pack for $160 (40% cheaper than usual). Turn up in fitness gear and get ready to experience this new series in glorious technicolour.
Want more wellness? Check out:
- 21 Stunning Walks In Tāmaki To Take At Least Once
- Everything You Need To Know About Cult Skincare Paula's Choice
- Refuel Post Workout With Auckland's Best Breakfasts
Image credit: Sala | supplied.