Keeping up with a consistent workout schedule is something that requires a lot of discipline and willpower.
I mean, waking up 2 hours earlier just to hit the gym isn’t fun for many people. And even if you do enjoy it and you are doing well in keeping up with your workout routine, sometimes repeating the same thing over and over again can start to feel like a chore. You feel like you’re just going through the motions, and you are no longer reaping the maximum reward for the time you put in.
Why not beat the plateau and update your workout routine with some unconventional fitness classes? Or if you hate the gym, we’ve got some suggestions that will make you actually want to workout. From Kung Fu yoga to cycling in water, these unconventional workouts will change the way you feel about exercise.
1. Parkour
A daredevil by nature? Maybe you dream of leaping across railings like the martial artists you see in movies?
At Superfly Monkey Dragons, you will learn to conquer your fears and learn to use your mind and body to do the seemingly impossible. Through carefully crafted sessions and a focus to strengthen your body, develop coordination and balance, you will have a solid foundation to master movements at your own pace.
Prices for a one-hour parkour class start from $35 and they are held in various public venues.
2. Aerial fitness
This unique exercise combines traditional yoga, dance, and acrobatics techniques into a workout for your mind and body. They not only pack a punch but also enhance body confidence and self-love.
Using silk hammocks to stretch, strengthen and tone the body, the end result will be a stronger core, increased flexibility, better posture, and relief from back and neck pains. Try out the beginner classes at Upside Motion, where wellness is brought to you with two studios conveniently located at City Hall and Orchard.
A single class pass starts from $40, while private sessions start from $130.
3. Stand-up paddling
We might not have rolling waves in Singapore, but the flat conditions make it perfect for stand-up paddling. An unassuming sport, stand-up paddling is a full body exercise that tests your balance, endurance, and strength by just standing on the board. Enjoy the sun and surf at Tanjong Beach while getting a solid workout with SUP School.
Classes are cheaper in a group and the sport is also family-friendly, so rope in your family and friends for some fun at sea! Reservations have to be made at least 48 hours in advance. Lessons are an hour long and prices are from $100 for an individual and $75 per pax for a small group of two to three. Larger groups of four or more will be at $60 per pax.
4. Pulse
Does partying and dancing in the dark count as a workout? Dance company Clubbercise® has created the Pulse workout which consists of high energy dance moves, club anthems, good vibes and glow sticks!
Their expert instructor will be there to guide you through every step of the moves, but if you’re feeling extra creative feel free to improvise and go at your own pace. The 45-minute cardio session will give your lower half a really good workout, but with a glow stick in each hand it means your arms are not spared as well! This fun and energetic class is offered at Virgin Active‘s Tanjong Pagar outlet.
To join a Pulse class you will have to be a Virgin Active gym member, and the weekly fee for a 6-month membership is $55.11 along with a $212.92 activation fee (both inclusive of GST).
5. Kung Fu Yoga
A dynamic practice which combines the essence of yoga with various forms of martial arts, experience this unconventional yoga class at True Yoga.
The 90-minute session will improve your balance, hand-foot coordination and reflexes while encouraging mobility, strengthening joints and help you develop a greater sense of body awareness. The class is suitable for everyone of all fitness levels, except those with heart conditions, joint inflammations or have just had surgery.
Classes are only available for members, but first-timers can sign up a free trial!
6. Barre
You may not be able to truly realize your childhood dream of being a ballerina, but with Barre workouts, you will definitely be able to achieve a ballerina’s lean and graceful look. Specially made to work the hard-to-reach muscles, this workout isn’t a walk in the park.
At WeBarre, you will build strength and sculpt your body using the best of ballet, yoga, pilates techniques and strength training. They offer different types of Barre classes, and even cater to pregnant mums-to-be!
The seven-day trial goes at $49 and is a great way to start. Simply create an account on their website to get started!
7. Aqua spinning
Once a rehabilitation sport for athletes with knee injuries, aqua spinning is now a popular sport whether or not you have leg injuries.
A total body workout that harnesses the buoyancy and resistance of water, aqua spinning will burn calories like no other sport (up to 800 calories per hour!) It is also much easier on your joints than land-based activities like running. Why not consider classes at Aquaspin? The sport has also proven to reduce muscle soreness since the water provides an aqua massage that prevents lactic acid from building up in the muscles. This means that you will be able to work at your maximum throughout the 45-minute sessions, and not even feel sore the next day!
For first-timers only, you can try all of Aquaspin’s classes for a week at just $60!
8. BOUNCE Fit
Jumping on a trampoline isn’t as easy as it seems. BOUNCE Fit classes are high-intensity, low-impact cardio workouts that are designed to work your core, increase your heart rate and improve muscle tone. You know something is good when NASA describes it as the most effective form of exercise devised by man.
A study conducted found that ten minutes of bouncing on a trampoline works better as a cardiovascular workout than half an hour of running! Not to mention, bouncing is definitely way more entertaining than running for many people. The classes at Bounce Inc. are also the opposite of a gruelling ordeal, and you’ll be in for a session that will make you laugh and sweat at the same time.
Bounce Inc. offers multipasses if you’d like to take regular classes, but you are not obliged to commit to a fixed class schedule. Like to give bouncing a try to see if it’s for you? A single session costs $25.
9. SURFSET
Inspired by the sport of surfing, SURFSET fitness is one of the most unique workouts in the world. By performing elements of core training, aerobic fat burning, lean muscle building, balance and stability on top of a custom made (and unstable) surfboard, SURFSET challenges you to work your body in new ways, away from traditional static workouts.
Set aside your fears if you are worried about gaining bulk because SURFSET sessions will build long, lean and nicely defined muscles that are very much like a surfer’s. Since the instability of the board forces your body to react to a constantly shifting platform, SURFSET is the perfect sport to shake things up and break you out of your usual workout routine if you’ve hit a plateau.
Also, another reason for you to book your SURFSET session right now – the first class is free! Subsequent single sessions are at $35 or you can also purchase a package.
10. Pole dance
Set aside old ways of thinking – pole dancing is so much more than just R-rated entertainment. Over the years, pole dancing has gained popularity as a legitimate sport and workout.
By using your own body as weights while you practice pole spins and gravity defying inversions, pole dance fitness will improve your core strength, muscle tone, and endurance, while its acrobatic nature will increase your flexibility and motor skills. Pole dance fitness appeals mostly to females (although there are men too!) and the instructors at Acro Polates are incredibly encouraging.
The supportive atmosphere creates a safe space for women to freely express themselves and there are no judgemental people here, only great friendships to be formed through the shared passion of pole dancing.
A pole dance fitness course lasts eight weeks and costs $205, which is slightly more than $25 for each session.
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