The Hype on Boutique Fitness Classes Explained

Everyone views fitness as a different concept and has separate workout routines that drive them towards their individual goals . To some, the concept just doesn’t exist. No judgement here! Whether you are looking to change up your current routine or just dip a toe into the world of boutique fitness classes, here are some that I’ve tried and I'm presenting my 100% honest opinion on them in case one of these could be a complete fitness game changer for you.

Orange Theory:  Mainly a circuit-style class that transitions between cardio and strength training. It incorporates the treadmill (or a bike), rowing machines, and free weights. For the treadmill portion you can choose to partake in walking, jogging, or running, but there is always a “push” phase that forces your maintenance level to intensify. There are always modifications for the weights and you get to choose how heavy you want to go based on the exercise and amount of repetitions you need to complete. The class is definitely high intensity and gets your heart rate up, which is what a lot of people look for in their movement of choice. The two reasons I personally love this class are that it’s a different structure every time with entirely new moves to work every muscle and what you put in is what you get out of it. It’s for all levels of fitness, but the beauty of the class is that it always manages to push you no matter what level you’re at, and doesn't shy away from telling you to save your gas in the tank until the exact time that you will need it. Membership prices can be high depending on your city, though they do have class packages available so if you like high intensity workouts and don’t want to think about it, try this one out for sure.

[Solidcore]: This class is very focused on core stability and engaging your muscles for peak performance. There are individual reformer stations, very similar to Lagree fitness which encourages slow movements using heavy mid-weight with a goal to fatigue your muscles as much as possible. It’s low impact, but high intensity in terms of really challenging your muscles and how much you will surprisingly be dripping sweat and out of breath. Form is important in order to engage the correct muscles and so there is no added stress on joints, but the slow movement is the king to getting in the burn. When I took this class for the first time I noticed the studio itself had an inspiring and modern vibe. This is a class where you can really focus on your individual progression while getting stronger and leaner. Similar to other fitness classes the membership and single classes alone are pricey, but it's definitely worth trying out and it may not break the bank if this is what you look for in a workout.

Barre: This workout is the king of low impact combined with a burning sensation. The studios typically have mirrored walls for you to check your form and is lined with a bar for gripping. Light weights, such as 1-6lb dumbells are recommended since the class focuses in on working tiny muscle groups, engaging your core, pulsing, and your breath. The workout has an objective to fatigue tiny muscles that we typically don’t work throughout the day or in other workouts so you leave feeling as if you discovered an entirely new part of your body. The burn really begins to take affect when the constant pulsing creates extreme muscle fatigue, which is meant to strengthen your muscles while other exercises throughout the class are meant to lengthen them. Some instructors have you move and pulse to the beat of the music, which I think is a great fun way to promote natural movement. The instructor plays a big part in how you vibe with the workout, but if you’re looking for low impact burn that you never knew you could feel, I recommend trying it. Every time I have taken barre, I am the one that is sweating bullets in the corner while the yogis are flawlessly moving through the movements with what seems like no effort at all. Though the workout is fun, challenging, and doesn't wipe me out for the rest of the day like a high intensity HIIT workout. Different studio brands have different prices for memberships, but some I recommend are Pure Barre, barre3, and any local barre studios in your city or town.

Kickboxing: A great mix of cardio and body weight strength training that gets your heart rate pounding. The structure of this type of class is what makes the workout so much fun, whether it be circuit style or boxing to the beat of the music, you feel like a total badass for the duration of your sweat session. No equipment is needed except a punching bag at the studio in addition to your hand grips, which a lot of studios have available for sale with a membership. This fierce workout is a great way to let out some stress after a long day, boost your mood, burn some major calories, or just punch it out because you're in that mood. Membership prices are probably cheaper than most boutique fitness classes, but I'd say it depends on the company because if you have ever heard of Rumble, an intense kickboxing inspired class that is next level could be comparable to Barry's Bootcamp and Solidcore.

Barry's Bootcamp: Speaking of hard core and intense, this class is the ultimate sweat session with animated and lively instructors, hype music, and constant movement. You spend half of the class on the treadmill and then the other half on the floor, which mixes a combination of weight lifting and resistance band moves. The burn is real and the reps are non stop. If you are looking for a pure high energy and music blasting type of workout then this is for you. Every time I have taken this class, I am walking out of there with a soaked ponytail and sore legs because the environment pushes me to my limits. Another high intensity workout that I recommend doing 1-3 times a week depending on your fitness level and what you look for in movement. The memberships are probably the most expensive of all of the ones listed so you have to be dedicated in order for it to be worth it. If you do, you will reach peak fitness in no time.

Yoga: I feel as if yoga can get a bad rap in terms of "getting in shape" but that could not be further from the truth. The workout is centered around the breath and the mind-body connection while incorporating strength because the moves challenge your muscles requiring engagement from every part of your body. If I’m being honest, I’ve only taken maybe one official class in my life. Just like ballet, I felt impatient when holding the same move for a long period of time like a statue. Coming from a former college athlete who lived off of high intensity workouts for years, yoga was a complete change of pace and required a shift in my mentality and approach to fitness. Once I found yoga sculpt, I knew it was something I could stick to. Rather than traditional yoga that practices a flow between the same moves, yoga sculpt is a blend with pilates inspired movement and uses lighter weights for pulsing and higher repetitions. A lot of yoga studios such as Bikram and CorePower offer different types of yoga classes with a mission to present fitness as inclusive, which is extremely empowering to the impatient ones out there like me. Yoga is an exercise that benefits the body in so many ways and gravitates towards people who want to feel centered , connected, and strong. Yoga isn’t cheap, but what I’ve learned is utilizing YouTube for some shorter videos and becoming familiar with the basics of a yoga flow to practice in the comfort of my own home before committing to a studio.

Inferno Hot Pilates: This is probably my favorite fitness class and will always be my workout of choice. This movement is very low impact similar to barre in that it uses lighter weight options, but it focuses on more compound movements to engage your abs, arms, booty, and legs all at the same time. Plus, I’m always sweating, burning, out of breath, and finishing the workout feeling stronger. The compound movements target tiny muscles to create muscle burn and fatigue, but combines cardio moves to get your heart rate up throughout the class. Along with lighter weights, some classes add in resistance bands to increase the intensity of the workout. The experience is not just a fantastic form of full body movement, but it’s also a practice that focuses on the mind-body connection similar to that of yoga. You are in complete control of your body for the entire class while you move and are guided to intentionally focus on self-love and self-gratitude. For those 60 minutes of work, it’s your “me time” and you feel so much more appreciative of your body and what it can do by the end of the workout. The pricing of the class can vary depending on your local studio, but a lot of places offer different class packages, promo codes, and deals on memberships through Groupon.

Every body is different and everyone has different needs, sparks, goals, and motivators.  I am not a creature of habit, so I need to switch things up to keep me motivated so if you’re similar, try out some of these great classes! If you already have a fitness program that you’re loving then continue to embrace the current state of your journey.  Do what gives your body those endorphins, enhances your mood, and makes your smile brighter!

XO stay vibrant