Written by The Strategy
After spending more hours at the local bakery and donut shop than we’d like to admit, it’s about time we turn our attention to the gym. Donuts are more fun, we know, but they won’t have our buns’ best interests come summer. Rather than renewing our generic gym memberships that we’ve never made use of, we decided to scope out some alternative fitness classes to help get our butts in gear. Much like switching up your regular workout routine, it doesn’t hurt to try out new fitness classes, especially in a city where there’s something for everyone (hello, Toronto).
Our first stop was over at EnergyXchange (698 Queen Street East) with Josephine, who introduced us to the world of body eccentrics: lengthening and strengthening muscles with elements of ballet, physiotherapy, and tai chi. This is certainly not your average workout, but has been highly popular amongst athletes and celebrities over the last 15 years. And what a workout it is! A little awkward at first maybe, but body eccentrics is not one to be overlooked as an ‘easy’ workout: it delivers strong, lean muscle while improving flexibility and posture. What’s more is that EnergyXchange stands out from the crowd as a ‘whole health studio,’ catering to individual needs and wellness: “It’s all about wellness, getting better, and feeling good in your body,” says Josephine. We couldn’t agree more!
Our next venture was at Barreworks on Queen West (625 Queen Street West, 3rd Floor), where our friends Michelle and Paulina introduced us to a barre-inspired workout to help get us get lean, long, and strong for summer. Barreworks was the first barre-based studio in Toronto and offers a variety of sculpting and toning, spin, and yoga classes, all under one roof. So why Barreworks? “We’re everything you need in one space. We’re the platform of functional fitness. Everything we teach, you will use outside of this class so it’s important that you are doing things correctly to avoid injury down the road. Injury-prevention is a major focus of ours – we care about our clients,” says Paulina. Call me bias, but this was evident from the moment I walked in the door; fitness isn’t the only thing you’ll find around here: friendship and support exist here too.
Last, but certainly not least, was our visit to Flirty Girl Fitness on King West (580 King St West), where fun meets serious fitness. We met with Gill, who was quick to get us moving through a total body circuit. Maybe it was the fact that everything within touch was pink and feminine, but it was some of the most fun I’ve had at a gym. Don’t get me wrong – this was a mean circuit – but it didn’t carry the same intimidation as other gyms. Gill was like a sister or personal cheerleader for that matter, and that’s one thing you won’t find at your local big-box gym. “Flirty Girl strictly offers women’s only fitness classes making it easy for women of all shapes and sizes to feel comfortable about getting into shape,” Jill says. “We like to have fun.” And what fun there is to be had when you have ‘Waisted Wednesdays’, bachelorette parties, girls night out, and an in-house hair extension service, ‘Locks & Mane.’ Their most popular class? Bikini bootcamp. And somehow I’m not surprised. This is definitely the spot to get beach-ready with your girlfriends!
Overall, a special thanks goes to Josephine, Paulina, and Gill for bringing new meaning and light to getting fit in the city. Making time for the gym isn’t always easy, but feeling at home with enthusiastic instructors who clearly love what they do, makes it that much easier during the colder months. We know we’ll be paying a visit back to these three spaces soon, and you should too!
Your buns will thank you later.
Written by Shannon Sauder
