In the Victorian era, people made their cores look tight by wearing corsets, which doubled as bulletproof vests during pistol duels. Strengthen your core until it's naturally impervious to bullets instead with today's Groupon: for $49, you get 12 beginning or experienced Pilates mat classes at SweatShop Health Club (a $204 value) in St. Paul.

SweatShop's Stott Pilates-certified instructors focus on client goals and customized results inside a positive and friendly exercise environment. During Pilates mat classes, students work out using props such as foam rollers, bands, and weighted balls. A 12-class beginning mat program meets three times per week for four weeks teaching neophyte noggins the Pilates basics. Those with some Pilates training can try experienced classes, which place a longer list of demands on one's core. Benefits from Pilates’s controlled, core-strengthening movements include improved posture, skeletal alignment, and the ability to finally balance work, play, and a half-dozen lemons at the same time. Mat classes are scheduled almost every day of the week, and SweatShop provides child-care on select weekday morning and evening hours and Saturday mornings.

Reviews

Nine Yahoo! Locals give Sweatshop Fitness Training Center a four-star average, and four Citysearchers give it a perfect five:

• The Sweatshop has the best Pilates instructors in Twin Cities. Whether you want mat, reformer or jump board Pilates this is the place to come. – gymrat, Yahoo! Local
• The SweatShop Health Club is a hidden gem in St. Paul. At the corner of Snelling and Selby, this is a highly personalized fitness experience. – Mandy Klein, Citysearch