I LOVE First Wind, I have friends that love First Wind, and I have gotten a co-worker hooked on First Wind. I have bounced around trying different studios in Charlotte, but I consistently come back to First Wind.
All of the spin classes (or spinning portion of class) are hosted in party atmosphere lighting (overhead lights are dimmed, but there are colored lights throughout and spotlights on the instructor) with great music and a large screen that either helps you visualize the ride or plays loops of video clips that range from street dancing to music visualizers. The bikes are awesome because you can turn them so there is a little extra workout in terms of overall stability, but nothing that would be a barrier for a first-timer.
The barre and circuit components of some of the classes have been awesome as well. The barre movements are generally larger than Pure Barre, but still target the same areas and have the same foundation (repeated movements that target specific muscle groups with very light weights). The circuit gets me every time. I have seen fit men busting their butts right along with class regulars getting just as tired and people just starting their fitness journey gradually transform themselves through these classes.
ALSO, First Wind is totally committed to their clientele and always working to create a better experience. They recently added graffiti-style art from a local artist throughout the studio and just introduced a new system that syncs with heart rate monitors and tracks and stores your whole workout. I'm really excited to see how my workouts end up trending overall with this system. The instructors are wonderful, welcoming, and friendly and remember clients. They also are extremely motivating throughout the workouts. Finally, the studio does a great job of having regular themed classes and partner events with other businesses in the community.