Sid’s Gym
Home of the Sidmill – a first-of-its-kind treadmill experience – found only in NoMad.
149 west 27th street.
The NOMAD team stopped into Sid’s Gym to try out the SIDmill, a patented and reimagined treadmill, which was created by robotics engineer Sid Raman. The SIDmill offers an immersive indoor running experience unlike anything we have tried before. It took Raman over four years to create the SIDmill and the team is still working on improving its performance.
SS: Class started with a warm up peppered with light conversation from Sid’s Gym founder and coach Ethan Blauner, who had a joy that was contiguous. Typically, this class maxes out at about 12 participants (ensuring that everyone has a chance to be seen and supported) whether it is their first or 100th time doing the workout. As someone who is a self-proclaimed “non-runner,” I was happy to have the extra help.
KG: When starting the SIDmill, everyone chooses an avatar. Sophia and I ended up choosing the same one, a cute little space-aged mouse, which appeared on the screen alongside the avatars of other classmates.
SS: There were three settings for the incline — beginner, intermediate, and advanced. The first leg of the workout was eight minutes long and had less incline, giving everyone a chance to get used to the roller coaster feeling of the treadmill — which mimicked the feel of running outside and up and over small hills. I’ve been on many treadmills in my day but none like this one. There were no buttons or controls, other than a small screen which let you choose an avatar and hit start, but the rest was left up to hand motions. To increase speed you raise your right hand in a similar fashion to when you get scanned by TSA at the airport. To slow down, it was the left hand that went in the air. And finally, to stop move both hands out and toward the ground.
KG: Normally when I run on a treadmill, I am looking down at a screen to monitor my progress or adjust the settings — with the SIDmill, there is a large projection screen that allows you to look up instead of hunching over. I was able to easily monitor my pace, time, and distance, and I felt that my running form was improved since I could keep my head and eyes up, chest and knees up instead of running in a hunched position to focus on a line of small controls.
SS: As we began running, so did our avatars, trotting through virtual sandy beaches and a tropical setting. Our second set of running moved us uphill to a virtual temple while our last round left us to finish on a virtual indoor track. The change of visuals helped motivate me — and kept me from fixating on the clock.
KG: The class was broken into sections. After the warm up, we did an eight minute run, followed
by eight minutes on the floor, then a six minute fun/floor segment, and ending with a four minute segment. Knowing the finite time at the start of each run, helped me better plan my pace and the duration of exertion. I pushed a little harder, but not in an uncomfortable way. I left feeling accomplished. Sophia however, ran right past me.
SS: As someone who does a modge podge of work outs every week, from circuit classes to yoga to one of my favorites called “sleeping in,” I found the class to be thrilling. It pushed me outside my comfort zone and left me sore the next day. That said, this is a class I’d love coming back to over and over again.
KG: I self-describe as a bit of a gym rat, I love group classes and will try most any new fitness trend. I first met Blauner when he was at Switch, another NYC gym, where he was one of the most dedicated and helpful instructors.
Sid’s Gym was founded by Blauner, and named after his father Sid, who passed away in October 2023. Coincidently, the SIDmill was also invented by a Sid — all of which made naming the gym an easy task.
Blauner, who grew up in New York City, always loved sports. And though he was active, he claims he was “the most un-athletic person on any team.” He lost his way a bit in high school, quitting the basketball team when he found himself warming the bench more often than lighting up the court. Later, at the University of Florida, where he studied psychology, he turned to a local boxing gym to help deal with his anxiety. Soon he was boxing five days a week, following a healthier eating plan, and committed to staying fit. “Exercise helped me to be a better human,” he said.
After graduating in 2017, Blauner moved back home with the goal of working as an instructor for Rumble, a boxing workout gym that was just launching in New York City. At the same time, he saw an interview Steve Uria, a fitness instructor who had created Switch Playground, a fast-paced and unique gym experience based in Cape Town, South Africa. Switch was also opening in New York City and Blauner decided to apply and was hired. Unfortunately, Switch didn’t survive the Covid lockdown, but Blauner found a way to power through.
Blauner launched an online class during Covid and his business thrived. Within a few months he had hundreds of people joining his online workouts. Cut to a few years later and he finally turned the dream of owning his own gym into a reality. He opened Sid’s Gym in the fall of 2023. He watched the gym fill up with some of his online friends, NoMad locals, and those staying at nearby hotels. Since working out is such a big part of Blauner’s journey to living life to the fullest, he takes that love of the sport and brings it to each class.
Currently, there are three to five class options each day with more planned for the fall, including dedicated running and strength offerings. The space is ideal for corporate team building classes or private events. Blauner also has packages available for personal training.
Trial week is only $21 and classes start at $42, with discounts for multiple classes and membership packages. Available on ClassPass.