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I Tried 8 Popular Group Fitness Classes — Here's How They Stacked Up

From Barry's Bootcamp to Soulcycle, which is right for you?
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Physique 57
These hour-long barre classes will get your heart rate up and leave your muscles quivering. It's a mix of movements centered around a ballet barre with added light weights (at high repetition, what they call interval overload). You will also move through a series of body weight exercises, including intense ab work, all to a mix of upbeat music that makes you want to dance. The workout focuses on strengthening the core and developing long, lean muscles like a dancer's physique.

Image via @physique57

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Rise Nation
If you're looking for a class that maximizes your time and calorie burn, this is it. In just 30 minutes, you will have gotten a full-body workout and will be drenched in sweat. You spend the entire duration of the class on a versaclimber that utilizes your arms, legs and core to keep it constantly moving. Each climber is positioned to face the instructor in a room that is basically lit up like a club. With the music bumping, your instructor will push you through different climbing intervals designed to get that heart rate up. The climber itself promotes healthy spinal alignment so you won't walk out of there with any aches or pains in your neck and back — you will walk out with your quads and abs on fire and a satisfying puddle of sweat under your machine.

Image via Instagram@risenation

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Orange Theory
These group fitness classes are designed to give you a total body workout in one hour. During that time, you wear a heart monitor that you can view feedback throughout the workout. The idea is to get to the orange zone (84-91% of your target heart rate) for at least 12 minutes of your workout. Your hour will be spent in an orange-lit room alternating between a rowing machine, strength training with free weights and TRX bands and cardio on your choice of a treadmill or stationary bike. The whole time you will be coached through your workout and you can tailor the cardio and weights to your abilities and needs.

Image via @orangetheory

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Box Union
Ever wanted to hit a punching bag? Box Union lets you take out life's frustrations, learn some boxing technique and get a killer total body workout in these unique group fitness classes. In 45 minutes, you'll learn how to punch, jab and move like a boxer. You'll also do a bunch of HIIT drills and body weight exercises to jack that heart rate up and sculpt those muscles. You will walk out of there totally sweaty and your arms and shoulders will feel like they are made out of lead. You'll be less-stressed and feel like a total boss babe after sticking it to the punching bag.

Image via @boxunionstudio

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Y7 Yoga
If anyone can get you to clear your mind and coach you through vinyasa, it's Y7. These expert yogis demonstrate and help you achieve the poses (to the best of your ability) to the tune of current upbeat, sometimes hip-hop music. The candlelit, heated room is the perfect place to relax and turn off that overactive brain as you move through the flow with the music. It will challenge your body and your mind as you hold the poses (sometimes, through shaky muscles) to make it to the end feeling stronger, lighter and all stretched out. And yes, you and your yoga mat will be soaked.

Image via @y7studio

BY HANNAH SAVIN | OCT 30, 2018 | SHARES
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