Random post topic today! After a several-month hiatus, I just reactivated my ClassPass account and it got me thinking about all the workouts and studios I want to visit. I feel like my workout regime is just about as varied as it gets, but there are actually a ton of popular studios and practices that I’ve never tried. Once I started thinking about it, more and more kept coming to mind. I might make it my goal to cross these all off the list by the end of the year.
Mat Pilates
It’s kind of ridiculous I’ve never done traditional mat Pilates seeing as Lagree Fitness (which I’ve been teaching for a year and a half now) was born from it. But in that same vein, I worry it will seem too easy compared to the megaformer. Would love your input if you do both!
CorePower Yoga
I hear such great things about Core Power! The chain studio has tons of locations around Boston (and the country) and I even have a few friends who teach it so I really need to get in for a class.
Aerial Yoga
Photo credit @amandabisk
I want to try this SO BAD. It looks so cool, but I’m sure there’s a bit of a learning curve. I know they offer it at South Boston Yoga so I’ll have to trek back to my old Southie stomping grounds soon.
CrossFit
I’m scared to type this because I know so many people are OBSESSED but … I have not even the smallest inkling of desire to ever try CrossFit. It’s ironic because a lot of the workouts I post here are a little CrossFit-esque in structure (I love AMRAPS and completing a given number of reps for time!), but CrossFit is just totally unappealing to me. I could elaborate, but my opinions are just unfounded judgments until I actually try the workout. One day I’ll sip the Kool-Aid… 😉
Bar Method
I’ve tried barre classes before but never the oh-so-popular Bar Method. I’ve never given Pure Barre a chance either for that matter (I did one class but I think the teacher was new and I don’t want to judge it based on that one bad experience).
Orange Theory
I LOVE Barry’s Bootcamp, so I feel like I’d love Orange Theory. I know they’re different, but the whole varied bootcamp aspect is similar. I’ve heard it’s easier than Barry’s and I’ve also heard that it’s harder so I’ll have to make it to a class and see for myself.
Kickboxing & Piloxing
I know, kickboxing has been around forever but somehow I’ve never done it! And Piloxing (pilates + kickboxing) … I mean, that has me written all over it.
BodyPump
What even is Body Pump?? I have no idea, I just always read about it on Julie and Gina’s blogs and I’m intrigued (haha).
What popular workouts have you never tried? If you’ve tried any of the ones on my list, I’d love to hear your thoughts on them!
Hey there! I'm Nicole, a group fitness instructor, healthy lifestyle blogger (you probably figured that one out by now) and Certified Personal Trainer living in Boston, MA.
I haven’t tried a lot of these! Sometimes it is access or time or whatever. Ha…I tried Body Pump a few months back and was so curious because people love it so much. It wasn’t totally my cup of tea, but it was interesting to see what everyone was talking about!
Went to Body Pump this past Tuesday, still can barely walk.
It’s weight lifting set to high beat tracks. Cardio and strength training in a hour. AMAZING.
The best part about it is that you can lift as heavy or light as you want. You get a bar and plates and add weight depending on which body part you’re working. Feels like a customized workout every time.
Try it!
Ok I’m sold — searching for a class near me as we speak! 🙂
They have it at The Seaport Hotel, in their workout facility (who knew it was open to the public!) – I want to check it out!
They do?? I had no idea!
Healthworks locations have it, too
Be very careful at Pump class – no one really checks anyone’s form (its impossible in a large group) and there is a lot of awful lifting happening when you look around the class. I know its usually light weights but there are multiple reps and if done incorrectly…not good.
I haven’t tried a bunch of these either and REALLY want to (especially Orange Theory and Core Power). And you HAVE to make it to BodyPump one of these days. I’ll just cross my fingers that one day we may be able to take a class together… 🙂
Let’s make it happen! After baby Fagan arrives 🙂
I absolutely love Bodypump. It’s sort of like a class of choreographed weight lifting with a barbell. It has improved my strengths tremendously. Oh, and A Lady Goes West give a great overview here: http://aladygoeswest.com/2014/04/09/bodypump-overview-and-tips-for-first-timers/
I am excited to give Orangetheory a try. They are opening up a studio near me soon. I feel like South Carolina is the last to get any type of fitness related class haha.
Bodypump sounds awesome!!
I gave CrossFit a shot. I went to 4 different gyms and took 6 classes. I still hated it for some reason (which is weird because I love the team environment and lifting weights). I digress. Orange Theory is actually pretty awesome. I love that you can start wherever you like (floor/rower or treadmill) and that you can monitor your results in real time and make the necessary adjustments. The instructors are all so talented because they can work a room where participants are doing 7 different things at once (based on where they started).
That’s so impressive — I teach a class where I’m coordinating just 2 groups doing different things and even that makes my brain hurt haha
I just had to respond to your concern about mat Pilates being too easy…my first thought was HAHA 🙂 you may be in for a (pleasant?) surprise when you finally try it. I’ve done mat Pilates a few times a week for years and have also been to classes at Btone a number of times, and I love them both. They are different, but mat Pilates can definitely be just as hard if you take the right class. I highly recommend Jenn Phelan at North End Yoga or Equinox Franklin St. I’ve taken her classes for years and they never get easy 🙂 You would probably especially love her Pilates Fusion class which mixes it up and incorporates cardio and HIIT type circuits
I have heard AMAZING things about Jenn’s class! Looking forward to eating my words after trying one out 🙂
I used to love me some mat Pilates, but since I’ve been doing reformer Pilates, the mat pales in comparison. With a good instructor, a reformer Pilates class will give you a solid, full-body strength training session that you just can’t get on the mat.
I was always anti crossfit until I decided to try it and I’m obsessed. I really love the community. Come an try Crossfit Southie!
I need to!
I’ve tried a lot of these and even a variation on CrossFit. I’m absolutely obsessed with Bar Method right now, so you need to give it a shot! I’ve been using it as a supplement to my cardio.
They have an awesome intro month special so I think I’ll give it a go when the craziness of summer dies down and I’m actually in the city every week — so excited to try it!
So glad I’m not the only one completely uninterested in Cross Fit. I compare it to bungee jumping or skydiving. Some people are “omg, I totally want to do that” and I’m in the corner going “WHY?????!!!”
I’m biased because I teach it, but I highly recommend Piloxing! I usually describe it as an awesome mix of boxing, core, and balance work. It’s not as challenging as a bootcamp workout, but as someone with workout ADD, I love it for the variety and fun factor. 🙂
I’m with you on the Crossfit. Mayyyyybe I’ll try it one of these days, but I don’t really have a desire to. I’d LOVE to try Orange Theory and also arial yoga! Being a former gymnast, flying through the air again sounds like a great time.
One workout/studio I’ve wanted to try (but they don’t have any in the New England area) is FitWall. They’re all in California right now, but it sounds AWESOME.
Kickboxing is so much fun! I’m a kickboxing instructor and it’s seriously really fun! Especially if there’s a heavy bag involved. Punch and kick all your week’s frustrations right out of your system. 🙂
I forget how many awesome and different classes are out there. I haven’t been to a lot of these since I workout so early in the morning before work, but I have read so much about BodyPump and OrangeTheory on other blogs that I want to try them real as.OTF may be harder as there aren’t any studios around my area.
Love Orange Theory. They call it the plateau-busting workout. You never get “too good” or “too fit” for it because you just increase intensity (for the cardio portion) or weight whenever you feel like it’s become less challenging. And it’s definitely one of those workouts where you hate your life at certain points during the class, but afterwards you’re like, “YEAH I JUST KILLED THAT!”
Great post idea! Give Core Power a try, especially their core power with weights. I’d love to hear what you think of it!
Give Pure Barre another try too – the instructor definitely makes or breaks it but I’m a long-time supporter.
xo, Jen
http://www.comfortably-chic.com
I think you should give crossfit a whirl, but be VERY SELECTIVE about where you do so. I was super into the crossfit haterade for a lot of reasons and finally let a friend drag me into her gym. A year and a half later, I love it so much that I’ve given up distance running to work on fast-twitch muscle. The important piece is finding a gym where the coaches are knowledgeable, understand scaling, emphasize technique, and actually coach the class. I’ve visited a couple gyms that definitely reinforce some negative stereotypes about crossfit; but I’ve seen some that are great places to learn and challenge your body in new ways.
I use Classpass in Chicago and LOVE it. I love Corepower’s sculpt class, one of my favorites in the city. It is always teacher dependent, but I’ve never had a bad workout. I also love flywheel, you should see if there is a studio near you. I also love Shred415, which I hear is similar to Orange Theory and Barry’s, and also my favorite because I love workouts where I leave completely exhausted. Something I also found that works is going to the more popular class times. Like after 5pm– even though they are busier I found the more popular teachers teach the more popular classes.
YAY Class Pass boston! Orange theory unfortunately isn’t offered on it (but you should definitely still try!) I like CorePower but also like Baptiste yoga (both on CP) and Body Pump is the best (I have taken it both at Healthworks Back Bay and at Commonwealth Sports Club in Packards corner). I love all the classes I’ve taken at BURN (none of yours yet unfortunately), also love Btone mega former and rowing (also haven’t managed to make one of your classes haha) and the variety of spin studios on CP is amazing!
I LOVE body pump! Maybe it’s more popular in the UK? My boyfriend does CrossFit and is obsessed but it doesn’t appeal to me either x
http://www.wonkylauren.com
I’ve taken one class at Bar Method and felt that it was similar to Pure Barre, which I do here and there but don’t love it. I am a FlyBarre girl all the way!
I loooove Aerial yoga! I’d definitely recommend it if you are into training with a TRX. All the cool poses where you are upside down and all are fun too!
Also- love love LOVE BodyPump…you gotta try that!
I’ve never taken a Megaformer class, but you make me want to try it!
It is funny to read everyone’s different comments and see how different we are! Thank goodness for variety!
I LOVE Crossfit. I mean, LOVE it. The fact that it is always different, the community, the feeling of accomplishment you get when you lift heavier, or can do a few more wallballs than before. It has changed the way I see myself and my abilities AND it is amazing for crossing over into other things – I used to go running but hadn’t done it for about a year and 6 months after starting CF I ran 10km faster than I ever had before.
I get that it isn’t for everyone but you should give it a try (with a well respected Box) and then decide.
I find BodyPump to be really boring (sorry to the lovers of it) but love pilates and kickboxing classes.
I’ve tried all of these except Body Pump, Bar Method (I’ve tried Pure Barre), and Aerial Yoga. I’m dying to try Aerial Yoga/scared to try it at the same time haha. CrossFit I tried a couple years ago one time and never went back… just not my style. I felt like I was walking into a room of people whose motto is “no new friends” lol. I’d be willing to try it again though because it was a tough workout!
I haven’t tried any of these either! I would really love to give the aerial yoga a go! It looks so much fun, although I do think I would come away with a few bruises from falling out! 😀
So the theory behind Orange Theory is amazeballs and as an instructor you would totally love it. I’m a certified instructor and a med student so the fact that it’s like workout science is so cool. I just had a crappy instructor at my first class who was congratulating people on being in the red zone for 36 minutes of the class (you aren’t supposed to be in red zone at all) and it really turned me off. I really want to go back with a different instructor and try again!! I’m obsessed with bodypump, I used to go twice a week religiously and never got sick of it. I changed gyms and then my new gym got rid of the class 🙁 I’ve tried crossfit a few times and just can’t get into it. I think I am turned off by how obsessed everyone else is? Haha
I’m a fan of body pump, so if you still haven’t had a go, I really suggest you do 🙂 I had never heard of ariel yoga until now, sounds fun. Thanks for some insight with some of these forms of exercise. Check out what to eat before and after your workout on my latest post at https://bitsinblogs.wordpress.com/2015/07/17/3-ways-to-refuel-your-workouts/
This is the exact conversation my friend and I just had after going to Orange Theory! I went to Orange Theory for the first time with her at a new-to-her studio and liked the concept but was in major sensory overdrive. Orange lights, TVs, teacher yelling, loud music, watching the animated guy show you the strength workout…and then doing the workout and watching heart rate….WOAH. I usually workout at home so this was different. We noted that Orange Theory is a franchise and has way different owners and like anything, teacher quality so that definitely affected my experience. My friend really did not like the location compared to her usual one. And Bar classes I love and usually do Define Body and Mind in Houston (also starting to franchise now too) and their method is TONS better than Pure Barre. Those carpeted Pure Barre rooms are weird…..
Mat pilates is a must, there is no momentum in it very precise and controlled movements. Definitely something you should try. Piloxing is a lot of fun, bar method and pure barre I like too.
Orange theory is on my list to try.
There are a TON you have never tried… I’m kinda shocked! I love body pump, pilates and I’m a kickboxing instructor so that one I KNOW You have to try! Get to some classes girl!
I was SO with you on crossfit. I really dislike group exercise (yoga doesn’t count because while it’s technically a group environment, it’s a very individual practice, if that makes any sense), and I don’t agree with some of the things about crossfit (like doing AMRAP when you’re trying to snatch 100+ pounds – something about that just screams DANGER to me haha). However, I am really into olympic lifting, so I sipped the kool-aid once because the owner of the box agreed to work with me one on one to fine-tune my cleans, deadlifts, etc, which I felt were *pretty* good but could still use some tips. The guy was super knowledgeable, I felt like I learned some good tips, and I liked the overall vibe of the box – everyone was genuinely welcoming, and really supportive which seems to be a trend among boxes. Ultimately, though, it’s not for me for two reasons: 1. I la-la-love working out alone. It’s like a meditation for me. and 2. I can’t get over the AMRAP thing. I am down for AMRAP burpees or push-ups, but doing AMRAP olympic lifts with lots of weight just makes me feel like I’m going to hurt myself.
This is exactly how I feel about Crossfit…Glad I am not the only one! I just left after six months…the box I went to didn’t have AC and I was dying with the summer weather and high intensity. I love muscle and lifting heavy….but I didn’t like the speed aspect….I didn’t want to hurt myself.
…and As supportive and wonderful everyone is in the community….I like exercise to be about “me time”, too.
I tried out Orange Theory in brighton and really enjoyed it- I wasn’t in the zones they wanted me to be in as much as they wanted me in them, but they said since I’m an instructor and fit it doesn’t happen as often. Regardless- it was a good class! not as hard as barry’s, but I loved the water rowers! http://burpeestobubbly.com/2015/07/06/my-first-class-at-orangetheory-fitness/
I LOVE Orange Theory! I’m horrible at working out in general though and this class just gets me pumped up and focused and it’s the only thing that really works for me.
I tried Bar Method and while I felt my legs shaking a lot (that means it’s working right??), it was kinda boring. It was kinda predictable and not really for me. I just love my bootcamp and old fashioned lifting.