There’s hardly a fitness enthusiast who doesn’t know how wild a group workout at the gym can get. But besides the familiar classes, such as aerobics, Zumba and CrossFit, there are also workouts that are not only beneficial, but extremely unusual and innovative.
We’ve put together a short collection of invaluable group workouts that aren’t very widespread, but are incredibly interesting and effective.
Read more: What are the benefits of group workouts?
Team Pole Dance
Pole dancing emerged in America in the 1920s. It was performed by traveling entertainers, with its origins in Chinese acrobatics. It is considered an art form that combines dance and gymnastics. For this reason, pole exercises are recognized worldwide as a form of fitness that works the whole body, including muscle groups that standard gym exercises cannot develop. They also tone the body and contribute to good posture, confidence, flexibility and grace. In addition to acrobatics and aerobics, pole dancing involves plenty of emotion, grace and sensuality.
Read more: The secret to the great shape of America’s famous women
Pole dancing requires considerable strength, flexibility and endurance. The dance includes athletic movements such as climbing and spinning around the pole, using your limbs to grip it. Pole dancing is a very intense workout and takes a lot of practice to master. During a session, you burn plenty of calories, tone your muscles, improve your dancing skills and flexibility, and work all your muscle groups.
Team Spinning
Spinning has been a hit among group workouts in recent years. It’s an aerobic activity involving organized indoor cycling on specially designed bikes called spin bikes. Spinning is led by qualified instructors and can range from low to high intensity. The bikes and choreography are designed to simulate cycling over uneven terrain. You adjust the resistance using a knob on each spin bike. The workout engages the whole body, helping reduce excess body fat and improve heart health.
Read more: How to recover your muscles after a workout
In New York, however, high-intensity spinning workouts have reached a whole new level. One popular gym in the US offers spinning classes where participants are split into teams. Their bikes are connected, so in addition to their individual results, they can see their team’s performance. That means you can’t quit halfway through the workout, or you’ll let your team down—and nobody likes a traitor.
BoxFit
In 2014, George Foreman moved beyond the familiar formats of group classes. He created classes in a new sport—BoxFIT. This group workout concept is unique: it builds proper posture, teaches basic combat techniques and works the whole body. The workouts are an innovative mix of several disciplines, including boxing, yoga, running, Pilates and CrossFit.
Read more: CrossFit in the spotlight: Why is it such a hit around the world and here at home?
This effective combination of sports focuses primarily on working the lower body. The workouts are intense and burn plenty of calories. They also improve endurance and flexibility and boost our energy levels. Plus, BoxFIT offers something different, and everyone who works out tries to vary their routine so their results don’t plateau.
Aerial Yoga
Everyone has heard of yoga. Many of you have probably even attended a yoga class. But aerial yoga is something different and certainly less common. It’s a relaxing and fun system of exercises inspired by traditional yoga. The difference is that the exercises are performed in a hammock suspended in the air rather than on a mat on the floor. Aerial yoga’s advantage over traditional yoga is that it allows for a greater range of movement and puts the body into new and different positions, helping you stretch more effectively. Other key benefits of this group workout include strengthening the muscles, improving flexibility and promoting better posture.
Read more: Vitamins: What are the benefits and how can you get them?
During a hammock workout, gravity has a strong effect on the body. To overcome it, the muscles work harder than usual. This tones both the superficial and deep muscles. The body visibly begins to firm up, and with regular practice and a healthy diet, those extra inches literally disappear into thin air. To maintain stability during “flight,” the core muscles work hard. And that also means well-defined abs.
Raft Yoga
As summer approaches, we’re increasingly eager to be at the beach, surrounded by fine sand and refreshing cocktails. When we’re on vacation, we don’t seem to mind working out—even if it’s swimming, beach yoga or a gym session with a sea view. In the US, they’ve managed to combine all of this into one. Water workouts are extremely beneficial for toning and shaping the whole body, which is why San Diego offers an innovative workout that combines sunshine, sand, sea, surfing and an intense muscle workout.
Read more: Beauty standards: How have they changed over the years?
Well, raft yoga may not be exactly the same as surfboard yoga, but the idea is to warm up dynamically on the beach before heading into the water for different variations of cardio and bodyweight exercises on a floating raft. The board’s instability and constant movement on the water make the workout even more challenging, as you try to keep your balance while doing the exercises. After a few sessions, you’ll notice a significant improvement in concentration, endurance and overall strength.
BONUS: The craziest gym in France
Paris Navigating Gym
Designed by Italian architects, this modern gym will leave you speechless when it becomes a reality one day. Although it is still just a concept on the drawing board, its technological concept is fascinating: the gym floats along the River Seine, powered by the human energy generated as people work out. The energy from pedaling is converted into electricity and used to propel the boat. The glass roof lets gym-goers enjoy views of the Eiffel Tower as they exercise, making the whole experience even more incredible. The gym boat will be 20 meters long and will accommodate up to 45 people. It will have stationary bikes and screens showing current weather conditions along the River Seine using augmented reality. The best news is that in summer, the gym will have an open roof.
Read more: The evolution of fitness and group workouts over the past 100 years
Did any of the workouts listed catch your interest, and which one would you like to see at Pulse Fitness?
Leave us a comment on the Facebook post!