Every year, the fitness world is bursting with up-and-coming classes, trends, and new workout styles gym lovers can’t get enough of. (Remember when no one knew what “W.O.D.” stood for?)
If you’re not digging the minimalist style (or burpees) of 2015’s CrossFit or you’re looking to mix it up this year, there’s a new crop of fitness fads to test out—many of which already exist within North Texas.
Grab your climbing chalk, strap on your FitBit, and get ready to sweat it out with these workouts across DFW.
Listen To Your Heart
Maybe you’ve already tried it for yourself, but Orangetheory Fitness, a heart-rate monitoring program that elevates the effect of a workout, is popping up throughout the United States with five studios in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area.
So what is it? Orangetheory is an hour-long class that uses high-intensity interval training to reach excess post-exercise oxygen consumption, where participants continue to burn calories after their workout. During each class, participants receive a heart-rate monitor and POD to monitor the five-zone interval-training sessions, which feature anything from rowing and treadmills to spinning and ellipticals. The theory behind the program is that if you train for a certain amount of time at 84 percent or higher of your maximum heart rate, you’ll reach an “afterburn” effect, which is an increased metabolic rate for 24 to 36 hours after the workout.
Find the studio’s Texas locations here or head to the Preston Hollow studio to give this heart-pumping class a whirl.
Raise the Barre
Barre classes have long been a fitness favorite to help tone and elongate muscles for a dancer-like physique with a low impact-style class. More recently, the Pure Barre‘s classes have received a facelift to become whole-body workouts that cover everything from thighs to abs in a 55-minute class. The program focuses on specific muscle groups in a highly impactful regimen. You don’t need anything extra to participate–not even shoes. Ready to give it a shot? Head to 5919 Greenville Ave. in University Park or visit PureBarre.com for more Dallas-area locations.
Reach New Heights
Maybe your goal is to summit Washington’s Mt. Rainer or The Grand Teton in Jackson, Wyoming, or maybe you just like to reach new heights and test your strength. No matter the reason, Texans can now summit to their hearts’ content without mountains or boulders nearby.
At Texas’ Summit Gyms, with locations in Carrollton, Dallas, Denton, and Grapevine, climbing enthusiasts can choose from a number of climbing-focused classes to strength train, better their skills, or learn a new sport.
Looking to take your climbing love outside? Lead Climbing 101 helps climbing enthusiasts hone their skills so they can pursue their hobbies on real rock with the help of specialized summit instructors.
Sign up for classes at SummitGyms.com.
Take It Outside
Some fitness fanatics prefer to not be constricted to a class schedule, gym hours, or a building. The American College of Sports Medicine fitness trends for 2016 include an increased desire to work out in the great outdoors with friends. Although North Texas may seem more city-centric, outdoor meet-up groups are readily available to help you take your workouts to the trails. Bonus? You’re trying something new, meeting new people, and working up a sweat.
Meetup.com.DFW-Explorers is an active group of 21- to 38-year-olds. Sure. Sometimes this means a pub crawl or two, but they also try out different sports such as wakeboarding and kayaking. In early February, this adventurous group is hitting the ice to play Broomball (think ice hockey without the skates and with a broom instead of a stick).
If Broomball isn’t your forte, there are also a number of guided walking, running, and hiking groups ready explore Texas’ trails. The Dallas Sierra Club hosts Backpacking 101 Classes and group trips.
