STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Kitty · Hermes

Recommend fitness classes?

HeatherLynn · Gucci

I do aerobic kickboxing 3 times a week with bags. I really, really enjoy it. It is hard at first, but it is such a good workout. I know some classes offer it without bags, but I don't like those classes as well. It is so nice to go to class and kick and punch the bag when you have had a really crappy day!

wetbandit42 · Marc Jacobs

I've never been to a fitness class (I don't even have a membership to a gym), but I like to do workout dvds. They keep me from getting bored since I have a billion of them (I'm a little bit addicted to buying workout dvds). My favorite ones are by Self magazine.

alagirl · Kenneth Cole

I started doing step aerobics in college and I still love a good step class.
Also if your gym offers BodyPump classes they are great too. It's a choreographed weight training class that is super tough but fun too.

blubirde · Chanel

Do you like tennis? I sometimes go to Cardio Tennis at a local tennis center. It's not a local thing - there are tennis centers all over that host cardio tennis classes.

Anyway, it's a fantastic workout. You can be at any tennis level - the tennis is just the fun part. It's a ton of cardio and a bit of pilates/strength training thrown in. It's honestly one of the best workouts I've ever had and it's a lot of fun.

I also go to a regular pilates class. The local ballet school offers them in all kinds of different ways (along with other dance classes). There's a pilates boot camp, group classes, individual classes, etc. Sometimes it lacks in cardio but the strengthening can't be beat.

Are there any Gold's Gyms near you? I belong and they have a couple of different classes that are good. One is called BodyJam and it's crazy cardio all in a dance class format. Another is Body Pump which is kind of a fast-paced weight lifting class. You can usually download a free pass from their website (or call them up, they're easy) to see if you like them. Or maybe your gym offers something similar?

My BFF joins all kinds of running groups. It's not a class exactly but it is a group of people that meet at a certain time, date, etc. to run/jog/walk fast/whatever. She changes running groups depending on what her goal is, i.e. 5k, half marathon, adventure race (involving biking, rowing and running), etc. It's not my cup of tea but she loves it. Plus most of the time they're free, which is a bonus.

Where do you take a pole dancing class at? The only ones offered in our town (that I know of) are at the local sex shop and it's not exactly a regular, fitness thing.

Kitty · Hermes

Blubird -- I take pole dancing at a studio. Actually, this is the website: www.poletential.com. I am obsessed with it because it's so much fun and I don't even realize I'm working out.

greendiamond · Marc Jacobs

I have loved all the cardio-kickboxing classes I have taken.

More and more places are offering belly-dancing lessons which is supposed to be teriffic exercise. It sounds like a lot of fun to me. I haven't tried it yet though.