Barre workouts are so 2014. If you’re bored with the same old grippy socks and pulsing, I’ve scouted five cool classes/studios to reinvigorate your fitness routine.
Muv Method
Based in Salt Lake City, this yoga studio specializes in programs designed to improve flexibility, range of motion and core strength. In each class, participants release muscular and fascial tension for enhanced performance, injury prevention and pain relief. Specifically, their program was created for dancers. Honestly, though, all bodies can benefit from their methods. If you’re not in Salt Lake, they’ve recently released a couple of classes online.
FloorLab
Another workout borrowing from the world of dance. FloorLab takes traditional ballet floor barre and turns it on its head (much the way barre classes borrowed from ballet barre). Like those, these classes combine strength and flexibility with cardio for a complete workout.
GoRow (and others)
I discovered this studio when I went to a spin class – they were attached and was enthralled. They took an often ignored piece of equipment from the gym and turned it into a group fitness experience. This class is great for anyone with a body. It’s as intense as you make it but incredibly easy on your joints.
CardioTap
I almost feel a little silly telling you about this one. It’s a class that merges traditional tap dance steps into a class the style of Zumba. Or other cardio dance classes where you follow along. My personal mantra is tappy is happy, but this type of class is probably best for people with some tap dance experience.
Renaissance Swordsmanship (Forteza Fitness)
Nerds need fitness too, and this studio is helping them get buff. From renaissance swordsmanship to Bartitsu, (the Victorian martial art practiced by Sherlock Holmes) and all the modern martial arts and personal training in between; you can get strong and fit like a knight of the roundtable.
What unique or interesting fitness classes have you found that you would love to take?
Mary Fran Wiley is a well known gluten-free and positive living blogger from Chicago where she writes Curiouser and Curiouser, maintains the Chronic Positivity Project, and has been featured in Allergic Living Magazine, Care2.com and Today.com.