Fitness
From aerial acrobatics to exercising with the help of electrical pulses, these workouts will shake up your fitness routine.
Tired of doing the same old exercise class over and over? If you’re finding your regular workout is becoming dull, you’ll be pleased to know that a whole host of new workouts are out there. From aerial acrobatics to high-intensity dance routines and even working out with the help of electrical pulses, we have scoured the country for 2020’s best offerings. Read on for ten exciting new workouts to try this year.
1. EPulsive, London
Getting in shape using ‘as little effort as possible’ will sound pretty good to many people – which is what the people at EPulsive promise from their workouts. It basically involves working out while wearing a special suit designed to conduct electrical impulses – so you feel a pulse every few seconds. By using electrical muscle stimulation, each 20-minute session equates to a 90-minute HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) class. The one-on-one classes are said to work 98% of your muscles (compared to around 50% in regular workouts), and the people behind it claim you’ll see noticeable results after just four sessions. e-pulsive.co.uk
2. SHRED, Nationwide
This new group exercise from Fitness First combines compound lifting with HIIT – and promises maximum results in minimum time. Over 40 minutes, you’ll test yourself over five disciplines of athletic performance – speed, high-intensity, resistance, endurance and dynamic (which gives the acronym SHRED). Sessions have been designed for optimum calorie burn, as well as bone and muscular strength and flexibility. The classes – which will see you do everything from squats with weights to bar stretches – are available at Fitness First clubs nationwide. fitnessfirst.co.uk
3. Soma, London
Based near Spitalfields, this new studio claims to offer ‘the ultimate yoga fitness hybrid experience’. Classes take place in a ‘Hot Room’, and you can choose from a range of options such as TRX yoga core – which focuses on cardio and flexibility – and Barre Crossfire class, which uses a circuit-style format to boost strength and endurance. Sessions last between 40 and 60 minutes so can be squeezed into a lunch hour. You’ll leave ready for whatever the afternoon throws at you. Soma.House
4. F45 Training, London and Dublin
Fancy burning 800 calories in one fun, 45-minute session? That’s what’s being offered by the people at F45, which will soon have eight studios in London and three in Dublin. The group fitness phenomenon from Australia is circuits-based and features screens overhead, so you can see each exercise and count down to your rest period. Pick themed classes including Romans Resistance and the Hollywood workout, where you work your way through 27 tough stations to music from a live DJ. F45training.co.uk
5. HEAT, Nationwide
HEAT stands for ‘High Energy Athletic Training’ – and involves burning up to 1,000 calories during an hour-long class. The sessions use functional and athletic cardio equipment, and see you work through three phases of exercises, with the intensity building as the class goes on. Don’t forget to bring your towel – this is one class that will make you sweat! virginactive.co.uk
6. Flying Fantastic, London
How about getting fit while learning some impressive circus skills? With four locations across London, Flying Fantastic offer aerial fitness classes ranging from the hoop to the trapeze, with a bit of aerial yoga thrown in for good measure. The concept was launched at the end of 2016, with new classes being added all the time. Perfect to try with friends, you’ll leave having worked your core, and with a newfound strength and all-over flexibility. flyingfantastic.co.uk
7. SoulBody Barre, Nationwide
Push-ups, planks, core mat work and abdominal work all feature in SoulBody Barre, a new one-hour class from Fitness First. The sessions blend pilates, yoga, dance and interval strength training, and use the barre as well as exercise equipment, including balls, bands and a weight bar. The movements – which are choreographed to upbeat tunes – will eventually leave you with a more defined body and better balance and posture. fitnessfirst.co.uk
8. Power of Boxing, London
Instead of concentrating solely on getting a workout, the one-hour sessions at Power of Boxing teach you how to box, and you’ll burn around 1,000 calories in the process. Set in two locations in the capital, the classes enhance fitness, endurance and stability – so you can focus more on your technique and less on how exhausted you are. Workouts involve pad work, skipping and lower-body exercises and they attract everyone from former professional boxers to special forces soldiers. powerofboxing.com
9. SwingTrain, Nationwide
Turn your dance moves into a high-intensity cardio workout with SwingTrain, which rose to prominence on the BBC show Dragons’ Den. Classes burn up to 500 calories an hour and feature moves from vintage street dances like the Charleston and 'shag' swing routines. As well as working your muscles, you’ll also develop coordination and mental agility. Classes have been launched in locations including London, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Canterbury, Exeter, Manchester and Southend-on-Sea. swingtrain.com
10. Calm by Candlelight, Nationwide
Don't underestimate the healing benefits of stretching. Calm by Candlelight aims to quieten the mind, combining breathing techniques, long holds while using props like blocks, bolsters and blankets. The candlelight helps remove distraction, ideal after a hectic day at work, while the props support different body parts so that you can sink deeply into each pose. You’ll leave feeling stretched, without tension, and mentally recharged. Available at Virgin Active gyms nationwide. virginactive.co.uk
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