The first thing you notice about Kaya is the smell. Not the sweaty gym bro smell you'd expect in a gym, and not the overly disinfected chemically smell that comes with trying to cover that gym bro smell. Kaya smells like a day spa, perfumed and delightful with its own bespoke scent. Even the lift on the way up to Kaya (it's on level 5 of Emporium, and it has its own lift in Caledonian Lane) has the same smell, so you feel more like you're in an Aesop store than on your way to pump iron.
The feeling continues throughout the space, with soft greys, inspiring city views and the ubiquitous sunshine yellow gym bags, which come free with membership and are designed to spike your serotonin levels. The faux-stone showers have rainfall showerheads and shampoo, body wash and conditioner (at least in the women's change rooms, the shampoo and body wash smell like coconut and the conditioner smells like watermelon). Amenities such as hair dryers, straighteners and deodorant are provided.
But this is not a gym for dilettantes to show off their Lululemon – with two Pilates studios, a barre studio and a yoga studio running classes throughout the weekdays and slightly less often on weekends, there's a lot of work being done here. There is also a full weights and cardio area, as well as a fitness studio offering boxing and circuit classes before work, after work and at lunch time.
Membership is $20 a week for a fitness membership (which gets you access to all equipment and the fitness classes, but you can't do Pilates, barre or yoga) or $35 for a core membership, which includes all classes. There is also a dual membership, which costs more but also gives you access to Kaya's Prahran venue.
The clientele is between 80 and 90 per cent female, so dudes who want to draw attention to their manly grunts as they lift should probably go elsewhere.
Best for: Pilates enthusiasts