Things to do in LA just got a whole lot sweatier, and I am here for every second of it.
Let me set the scene: it’s a regular Tuesday in Studio City, and I walk into BURN Studio City not entirely sure what I’ve signed myself up for. I’d heard whispers about this new workout concept called BUILD, and naturally, as your go-to LA lifestyle guide, I had to find out firsthand. What happened inside that studio? My muscles shook, my sweat dripped, and my entire understanding of strength training was flipped upside down, in the best possible way.
What Is BUILD?
BUILD is the newest fitness concept to hit Los Angeles, and it lives inside the already-beloved BURN Studio City. It was created by BURN founder Maria Chase and Shaya Charvet, yes, the son of actor David Charvet and fitness personality Brooke Burke, so you already know the genes for looking incredible are deeply embedded in this brand’s DNA.
Here’s what makes BUILD unlike anything else on the LA fitness scene right now: it combines heavy strength training, infrared heat, AND red light therapy, all packed into a 45-minute session that somehow delivers both the workout AND the recovery simultaneously. Recovery built in. Results built up. It’s the kind of concept that makes you wonder why no one thought of it sooner.
I Was WRONG! Strength Training Won’t Make You Bulky
Okay, I have to be completely honest with you, because this is important. For years I avoided heavy strength training because I was convinced it would make me look bigger, bulkier, and less like the lean, toned version of myself I was working toward. Sound familiar? This is one of the most common fitness misconceptions out there, and I fell for it completely.
Here’s the truth that BUILD made crystal clear to me: strength training does not bulk you up, unless you are intentionally eating in a caloric surplus with high protein intake to support muscle mass gain. Bulking is a deliberate nutritional strategy, not an automatic side effect of lifting heavy. If you are simply strength training without eating in excess, your body will not pack on size. On the contrary, it leans you out. Heavy lifting builds and tightens muscle tissue, which actually elongates your silhouette, burns fat more efficiently, and gives you that long, sleek, sculpted look. The kind of look that makes your jeans fit differently. The kind of look that has people asking what you’ve been doing.
When you combine that strength-building with the metabolic boost of infrared heat, you’re torching calories and building definition at the same time. Red light therapy then steps in to support muscle recovery, reduce inflammation, and help your body repair and rebuild faster. It’s a complete, intelligent system, and my body felt the difference immediately.
What to Expect in Your First BUILD Class
Walking in, I was greeted by a sleek, energizing studio environment that immediately felt elevated. This isn’t your average gym floor. It’s a curated experience. The infrared heat kicks in early, warming your muscles from the inside out so you’re primed and ready to actually work.
The class itself is 45 minutes of focused, intentional strength training. We’re talking real weights, real effort, and real results. By the end, I was shaking in the best possible way (you know that deep muscle fatigue that tells you something actually happened in there). My muscles were trembling, sweat was flying, and I was already mentally planning my return visit before I’d even walked out the door.
The red light therapy component adds a recovery dimension that you rarely get in a group fitness setting. For anyone who’s ever skipped a workout because they were too sore from the last one, BUILD essentially removes that excuse. You work hard and you recover, right there, in one session.
BUILD Is One of the Best Workouts in LA Right Now
If you’re searching for the best gyms in LA, the best workouts in Los Angeles, or honestly just some fresh things to do in LA that also happen to transform your body, BUILD deserves to be at the very top of your list. This is exactly the kind of concept that makes LA’s fitness scene the most exciting in the country.
Whether your goal is to lose weight, tone up, build functional strength, or finally get your summer body right, BUILD offers a path that’s rooted in science, guided by expert programming, and delivered in an experience that doesn’t feel like a chore. It feels like a lifestyle.
Final Verdict: We Are BUILDING
We came. We lifted. We shook. And honestly? We’re not stopping.
BUILD at BURN Studio City is the real deal – a next-level strength training experience that delivers results without the bulk, with recovery baked right in. If you’ve been sleeping on strength training because of the same misconceptions I had, consider this your official wake-up call. Those long, lean muscles you want? This is how you get them.
BUILD is located at 12080 Ventura Place, Unit 1&2, Studio City, CA 91604. For more information, please visit build-la.com.
Follow along at @hooplablog for more of the best things to do in LA, the best workouts in Los Angeles, and everything in between.
