6 New and Trendy Workouts to Get Your Heart Pumping
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Fitness is a lifestyle. But if you do the same 30-minute workout all the time, that lifestyle can get a little… well… boring. Luckily, so many people getting into exercise means there’s a huge range of classes available, with more cropping up on the reg. While some fitness trends truly are fads (Prancercise, anyone?), most of them serve as exciting alternatives to your routine. Super specialized fitness classes with really creative concepts are beginning to emerge, making it even more fun to try out new studios. Since there are so many ways out there to get your sweat on, we’ve selected the freshest exercises to elevate your heart rate.
1. Water Balance Workouts: Want to work your core *crazy* hard? Try a pool-balancing session, like Holy Water at TMPL Gym in NYC, where you’ll be taken through a yoga-inspired flow while trying to not crash into the water. If you do, it’s obviously NBD, but as you get the hang of things, you’ll be honing your muscle stabilization skills — which will help you out in lots of other kinds of workouts like running, yoga and even weightlifting. If you’re lucky enough to live somewhere warm where you can do this kind of workout outdoors, go for it! YOGAqua in Marina del Rey, CA and Yoga-Water in Miami are awesome options.
2. New Twists on Boxing: Celebs like Gigi Hadid, Shay Mitchell and Ellie Goulding made boxing all the rage in 2016, which might be why there are so many boxing studios opening. The up-and-coming group of fight-friendly spots we’re seeing all have fresh, fun takes on the sport. These interpretations are especially awesome for a total beginner who finds traditional boxing intimidating. Box + Flow in NYC splits the class between high-intensity heavy bag work and a much more chill yoga sequence afterwards (as you may have guessed from their clever name). Rumble, which just opened its first location in NYC and plans to expand soon, combines traditional boxing moves with strength training and conditioning to give you a well-rounded and seriously effective sweat session.
3. Zumba, But Better: People who love dance workouts are in luck, because they’re not going anywhere. Pon de Flow — a Caribbean and reggae dance fitness class that incorporates HIIT intervals — is like Zumba… except harder. Dance workouts with these kinds of intervals are more accessible for those who aren’t naturally the best dancers, but remember not to sweat it if you still feel silly getting your groove on. Over time, you’ll master the moves and get more confident shaking it on the floor. If you’re still not totally comfy getting down in front of others, there are countless dance cardio classes you can do via streaming video in the privacy of your own home, like the ones from AKT InMotion, Tracy Anderson Method and DanceBody.
4. Return of the Stair-Stepper: These retro machines are making a major comeback. Popular new LA exercise spot Rise Nation focuses on the Versa-Climber, a really badass upgrade to the classic stair-stepper. This class does not mess around: You spend a full 30 minutes going through all the effort of a real vertical climb. Celeb fans like Hilary Duff, Ashley Greene and Nina Dobrev can’t get enough and have been spotted snapping sweaty post-workout selfies there. Even the Tone It Up girls are getting behind this trend, creating a special workout you can do at your own gym if they happen to have a stair climber. Warning: You will feel the burn, but it will definitely help you reach those #bootygoals.
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5. Low-Impact Revolution: With all the high-impact workouts out there (think: anything where you’re jumping up and down a lot, like running, CrossFit and traditional HIIT), the need for low-impact workouts that still get your heart rate up has become apparent. That’s probably why LIT Method in LA is so popular. The class incorporates resistance-band work, rowing and active recovery to create a session that’s tough AF but easy on your joints. If you don’t live in sunny Southern Cali, they also offer a streaming option (complete with an equipment kit) so you can get an awesome, joint-friendly workout at home. Another studio making strides in this area is Solidcore, which already has over 15 locations across the US and more coming soon. They’ve got their own machine — similar to a Pilates reformer — and while the exercises might look easy, they’re actually extremely challenging. If you want to get some serious strength training in without lifting weights or relying too much on your body weight, this is an amazing option.
6. Barre Gets Badass: Classic ballet barre classes have a reputation for being a bit prim, but Pop Physique is definitely changing that. Though they use the usual barre moves (expect lots of pliés and tiny isometric movements), their attitude toward getting your burn on is playful and cheeky. At the moment, they’ve got locations in California, New York and Atlanta. More are on the way, so if you’re outside those areas, keep your eyes peeled for them to open in your neck of the woods soon.
Would you try any of these new classes? Tell us which ones you’re interested in @BritandCo!
(Featured photo via Getty)