A fitness routine dramatically elevates your life, especially in a bustling city like London. As a cosmopolitan and health-conscious capital, London's fitness realm is truly remarkable, abounding with countless gyms and fitness abodes.
The Best Workout Classes in London
The city’s dynamic gymscape also boasts a plethora of fitness classes that demonstrate diversity, dynamism, and inventiveness. From mindfulness and yoga to martial arts and intensive cardio, there’s a fitness class that will fit your profile and needs accordingly. Here’s a rundown of the best fitness classes in London.
1. Circuit Training at the Circuit Society
Circuit Society is a fitness centre dedicated to circuit workouts. Notwithstanding its dauntingness, the holistic routine entailing weights and cardio with short and intense sets is a workout guaranteed to build your stamina.
Circuit Society's training follows the quintessential format, with 50% cardio and 50% strength training. Every single session is different, enticing circuit enthusiasts to return for more. From working your legs on the airbikes to refining your form with deadlifts, a 45-minute session at Circuit Society will keep you on your toes, challenge your dexterity, and sculpt you into shape. The Circuit Society also has Pilates, boxing, and TRX sessions, which have garnered praise.
2. Warrior at Bodyism
Bodyism takes pride in its pioneering approach to fitness by focusing on five facets: movement, mindset, nutrition, recovery, and connection. From warm-ups to recovery, and physical form to mental wellbeing, Bodyism taps into every aspect of self-care. Bodyism’s group workout classes are intimate, with every individual receiving personalised attention. The Warrior class entails an intense circuit session and a HIIT-inspired routine using heavy-duty equipment. A full-body workout, every muscle is tested in this class. The Warrior class is ideal for gym-goers who love a challenge, given that the class headlines “Be prepared to unleash your inner warrior.”
3. BarreSignature at Barrecore
Barrecore is renowned for its utterly unique workout programme, designed to leverage body weight and isometric movements in order to achieve a chiselled physique and formidable strength. Barrcore’s famous BarreSignature classes combine bodyweight resistance, light props, and long sets to push all muscles to their limits. While the ballet-inspired workout may not make you break a sweat, it is deceptively simple. As per a review by the Evening Standard, “Push your way through a class a few times a week and you’ll tone up fast.” Poppy Delevingne, Pippa Middleton, and Jourdan Dunn swear by this workout. London’s elite, from professionals to models and aristocrats, can be seen at BarreSignature classes.
4. Athlete at John Reed
Spanning 2000 square metres, John Reed is a luxury fitness centre. Cutting-edge equipment, bespoke personal training, a live DJ, exhilarating atmosphere, and stunning interiors can be expected at this gym. With over 300 classes taking place per week, fitness enthusiasts are in for a treat at John Reed. Their Athlete classes in particular, are extremely popular. The 50-minute workout encompasses weightlifting, bodyweight resistance, and cardio. Additionally, there are sessions dedicated solely to strength, cardio, yoga, barre, and Pilates.
5. Lift at Third Space
Third Space is a luxury chain of health centres in London, designed to be the “third space” for their members that guides them to become their personal and professional best. The Lift classes are the perfect stepping stone for weight training. Form, technique, and strength are the leading goals in this class, intended to progressively improve one’s brawn. Led by experts, with a spa and nutrition bar on-site, the Lift classes are set to help you achieve your most unattainable fitness goals. Kate Maxey, the lead trainer of Lift, has highlighted the effectiveness of the workout by subtitling the class with, “Squat, press, and lunge your way to the strongest version of you.”.
6. Master of One at Equinox
A gym in London’s West End, Equinox certainly embodies the postcode’s splendour. The art deco establishment is equipped with a yoga studio, boxing arena, strength floor, and cycling studio. A “luxury fitness playground,” Equinox presents a range of new classes every week in the niches of running, yoga, Pilates, boxing, TRX, dance, and cycling. Equipped with a merchandise centre and eatery, members’ overall wellbeing is Equinox’s priority. Their signature “Master of One” class is a 45-minute routine using just one weight. By working each side of the body alternately, balance, form, and core strength are achieved.
7. Vinyasa Flow at Triyoga
Triyoga is London’s premiere yoga and Pilates centre, with a focus on mindfulness, physical fitness, and relaxation. Vinyasa yoga is defined as a series of postures that are executed in a single, seamless flow using breath. Philosophically, Vinyasa Yoga recognises the fleeting nature of life’s events – an event occurs, persists for a while, ends, and life progresses. Triyoga’s Vinyasa Flow classes are perfect for beginners who wish to foray into yoga, as the classes are divided based on skill level. Members have reported steady progress in stamina, cardiovascular health, balance, and breathwork.
8. Reformer Classes at Psycle
Psycle’s core ethos is centred around the “transformative power of movement,” which can truly catapult one into optimal physical fitness. They employ this philosophy by furnishing five key workouts – ride, barre, strength, reformer, and yoga. Additionally, Psycle is outfitted with a chic smoothie cafe, quirky celebrity-themed classes, and also provides online classes. Reformer Pilates is in vogue, and Psycle is a brilliant fitness centre to begin your reformer journey. The Reformer workout enhances the principle stretch movements of traditional Pilates by leveraging the resistance of reformer machines, such as foot bars, carriages, and pulleys.
Psycle offers three Reformer classes– the signature, the fundamentals, and the advanced. The fundamentals classes cover the rudimentary principles of the workout as well as the workings of the machines. The advanced classes address those who have attended at least 20 fundamentals classes, and the signature classes are for seasoned reformer enthusiasts who are looking to push their bodies to their highest limits.
9. Muay Thai at BuddhaBox
BuddhaBox certainly stands out in London’s fitness realm, with inventive boxing and kickboxing classes. With state-of-the-art equipment and awe-inspiring arenas, seasoned pugilists as well as aspiring combat fighters throng to BuddhaBox. In its arsenal of boxing classes, Muay Thai, a Thai martial art, has been gaining notoriety. Known as “the art of eight limbs,” Muay Thai involves the use of fists, elbows, knees, and shins in combat. BuddhaBox has built a reputation for body-bending Muay Thai classes that spotlight traditional Thai fighting techniques and truly shape individuals into robust fighters.
Their Muay Thai classes encompass bag work, pad work, partner drills, body weight conditioning, mobility training, and striking drills with all eight parts of your limbs. Besides physical adroitness, Muay Thai classes aid in developing strategy, foresight, and mental acuity.
10. City Strongman at the Foundry
The Foundry is a fitness centre that aims to be an inclusive space where everyone can be the “best versions of themselves.”. In addition to classes and personal training sessions, Foundry stands out owing to its people-first philosophy and sociable atmosphere. Bereft of unrealistic body goals and menacing targets, gym-goers can train at their own pace, become fast friends with the trainers, and receive kind guidance at every step of the way. “City Strongman” is Foundry’s signature class, inspired by the World’s Strongest Man competition. The 45-minute classes begin with gruelling warm-ups of squats and burpees, which are followed by a series of relentless sets using Strongman equipment. From “sled-dragging” to “prowler-pushing” and “farmer’s walks,” one’s body is pushed to its limits. It has been touted as one of the toughest workouts in London, designed to deliver exemplary results on the fronts of strength building, fat burning, and heart health.
As a multifarious and dynamic city, London has plenty to offer on all fronts – the realm of fitness is no different. Holistic wellbeing can be achieved through countless routes, and the city presents all of them on a platter. To elevate your fitness with London’s exceptional fitness classes, all you have to do is take the first step.
