No matter your specific fitness goals, there’s probably a workout class (or several) out there that can help you achieve them. Now, deciding on a class can feel overwhelming, but don’t worry—we’ve got you covered with a list of nine fun and trendy workout classes you might want to try, including offerings from boutique fitness studios, on-demand apps, and larger gyms. Read on for all recs.
- Lyra at Crunch
If you’re looking to try something new, this one might be a good option: It’s an aerial dance class that uses a suspended aerial hoop, or Lyra. “Lyra is amazing because it requires so much power to keep your body sustained on the free-flowing steel hula hoop suspended in the air, and yet, it’s so graceful and beautiful to experience,” says Marc Santa Maria, Vice President of Group Fitness at Crunch Signature who is based in Los Angeles and New York City. The class is designed to build strength, balance, and flexibility while teaching you choreography for an “impressive acrobatic finale.” If that sounds like a good time, look for Lyra at a Crunch location near you.
- Pilates Sculpt from The SLR Life
The SLR Life, created by international fitness expert Sarah Louise Rector, has over thirty-seven thousand followers on Instagram and an extensive library of workouts on its app. The selections range from five to 50 minutes and use body weight, resistance bands, medicine balls, sliders, and more. No need to be overwhelmed by all the options, though: Pilates Sculpt is our pick. It’s a slower pace, 25-minute class that uses a Pilates ring to sculpt your whole body. And take note: Pilates-style classes are great since they focus on smaller stabilizer muscles that sometimes go unnoticed or unworked, says Katherine Campbell, DPT, CPT, a physical therapist and certified personal trainer at Blue Iron Physio based in New Jersey.
- Top Shelf A$$ at Crunch
As you might have guessed, this class is all about sculpting the “perfect peach.” The key elements? Dance, resistance bands, and great tunes. “Top Shelf A$$ is the most fun way to work the booty that I’ve ever experienced,” says Santa Maria. “Plus, the bands add extra resistance that makes it challenging, yet encouraging to keep going because it’s a blast with the easy-to-follow choreography.” Search for it here.
- Foundation at Row House
Row House is a boutique fitness studio that specializes in indoor rowing, with over 90 studios in the United States and Canada. (Find a location here!) In just 45 minutes you’ll conquer a low-impact, total body workout that is accessible for all levels and is said to build both cardio endurance and muscular strength. In the Foundation class you’ll specifically master form with emphasis on your rowing stroke to set you up for success. With over 1,000 positive reviews and a 4.9/5 star rating on ClassPass, we think it’s worth checking out.
- Tuff Turf Circuit at Crunch
In a nutshell, this circuit-style workout (led on the HIITZone, Crunch’s “turf” area) focuses on building endurance and strength. “Tuff Turf Circuit is phenomenal because you have so many ‘toys’ that challenge your body in unique ways, and the time intervals are short enough that you can just get through it,” says Santa Maria. “It equally challenges strength and our cardio needs.” You can search for Tuff Turf Circuit here.
- [solidcore]
The [solidcore] group fitness class is billed as a 50-minute, “high-intensity, low-impact full-body workout” that uses a Pilates-inspired reformer and slow, controlled movements, to break down muscles, like the core muscles, so they build back stronger. With over 2,500 reviews and 4.9/5 stars on ClassPass (plus booming music and cool blue lit studios), we think it’s worth a try. Find a location in one of 24 states here—or, if you’re looking to train at home, you can also use sliders to nail movement patterns, thanks to modified at-home versions created during COVID-19 studio closures.
- 30-Minute Pop Ride with Cody Rigsby on Peloton
“If there’s one fun, high-intensity workout that you should try in the new year, it’s [an indoor cycling] class on a Peloton or at your local gym,” says Ryan Koziol, CPT and founder of RYKO Fitness based in Chicago. “With consistency, [indoor cycling] classes will help you build muscle in your core and lower body, and boost your endurance, all while providing a strong community to support you and your goals,” he adds. If you have access to a Peloton, you can choose from a variety of classes ranging from 5 to 90 minutes, but the 30-minute Pop Ride with Cody Risgby from October 7, 2022 is a Paceline pick that’s guaranteed to make you sweat and smile.
- Alpha Fit Club
If you’re looking to perfect your form and build strength, Alpha Fit Club is a great HIIT-style workout class, Campbell says. “Each class utilizes a different cardio machine every time, so if you’re someone who only does low-intensity strength and hates cardio, it’s a useful way to get some cardiovascular benefits without doing pure cardio,” she explains. The group fitness class also emphasizes plyometric exercises (using speed and force to build muscle power), which are crucial for “springier and healthier tendons,” Campbell adds. We love this option for our east coast friends, since Alpha Fit Club has locations around New Jersey.
- MashUp at Crunch
“MashUp is awesome because it is a fusion of our most fun dance styles from hip-hop to Zumba to Broadway to African,” Santa Maria says. “The benefits are major cardio without even knowing you’re burning calories because it’s so unique and fun.” Our takeaway? It might just be a great way to rack up minutes toward your Streak. Look for it here if you want to give it a try.
