New offerings turn typical cardio and strength classes upside down to beat workout boredomand deliver better, faster results.
Bay Clubs (BC), operator of private luxury athletic clubs and sports resorts in California, reveals five of the hottest new workout programs for the new year. This latest crop of fitness classes promises resolution-makers more ways—and more motivation—than ever to finally reach their goals. Says Jennifer Beaton, Vice President of Fitness, “This year it’s all about getting off the treadmill—both literally and figuratively—and shaking up your routine to make it more fun and more challenging.” Aren’t the two mutually exclusive, you ask? Not with this hand-picked selection:
1. MyRide+ Indoor cycling torches calories, but the experience is hardly a substitute for hitting the pavement or trail. Until now: MyRide+ combines the usual energizing music and instructor encouragement of indoor cycling classes with first-person-style HD video of spectacular rides throughout the world displayed on a large projector screen at the front of the studio. Designed to create the experience of climbing a picturesque mountain pass, riding singletrack down a sandstone canyon, or gliding through the autumn foliage of a New England back road, MyRide’s exercise-to-video program has been research-proven to have an ergogenic effect, boosting motivation and conditioning. Find classes at Bay Club Marin, free for Bay Club members.
2. Danceation Sick of your cardio soundtrack being stuck on the Latin station? The dance workout concept is experiencing its own British invasion: London pop musician and choreographer Heath Hunter’s brain child, Danceation, features calorie-torching moves and addictive music from all genres. With easy-to-pick-up combinations and improvisation encouraged, those with two left feet can groove right alongside more experienced dancers to everything from hip hop to jazz (still love those Latin beats? Don’t worry, there’s some salsa thrown in too). Classes are led by Heath Hunter at Bay Club Silicon Valley and are free for Bay Club members.
3. SurfSet Appropriately enough, you may have first heard about this new workout on a recent episode of ABC’s Shark Tank. Eliminating any bite risk, SurfSet takes participants through a series of strength and core-stabilizing exercises performed indoors on a specially designed surfboard that mimics the motion of the ocean. When you can’t get out to your favorite break (or you prefer to stay on dry land), SurfSet delivers a cardio, muscle- and balance-building workout that’s anything but boring. Find classes at eight Bay Club locations throughout Northern California, free for members.
4. SOfree No matter how cute your gym sneaks are, there’s something about working out in clunky, sweaty footwear that makes you feel less than graceful. One of the unsung perks of yoga is finally getting to kick off your shoes after a long day—why can’t cardio be the same way? SoFree is a barefoot cardio and conditioning class created and choreographed by trainer Lillian So to give participants the sensation of letting go and liberating themselves from whatever holds them back. Classes are free for members at Bay Club San Francisco.
5. Less Mills’ GRIT Former Olympic shot-putter Les Mills takes HIIT (high-intensity interval training) into overdrive with this series of three short, sharp, and demanding 30-minute workouts focusing on either cardio, plyometrics, or strength. No wimpy dumbbells or resistance bands here—the strength class uses full-on barbells and/or their weight plates as resistance. Classes are free for members at nine Bay Club locations in Northern California and San Diego.
About The BAY Club
Founded in 1977, the Bay Club is the owner and operator of 11 private health, fitness, athletic, sports, and lifestyle resorts on the West Coast. Featuring six regional campuses, the Bay Club provides club members with the finest quality programming catered to the entire family including traditional fitness elements and convenient solutions to daily work, family and life demands. For 35 years, the Bay Club has maintained the highest standards of professional service, earning a reputation as one of the leading private club companies in the United States. The company employs approximately 2,000 people and is headquartered in San Francisco, California. For more information on the Bay Club, its clubs or services, visit: www.explorebayclub.com.
- Submitted by Heather Brown