The Best Workout Classes for Every Goal

With the recent explosion of fitness classes available, gym-goers have more options than ever to find a fun, structured setting to learn new skills and achieve their health goals. However, one complication of this abundance of choice is finding the best workout classes for your specific goals.

In this article, we’ll break down four general types of fitness goals and what class highlights from each group. By the end, we’ll have you ready to build a new routine from the ground up and shatter limits like never before.

As always, we invite all our members to check out our extensive list of Crunch group fitness classes. At Crunch, we know that community can be the difference between success and failure, so we work hard to promote a supportive, no-judgment atmosphere that lifts every member to their greatest fitness potential.

How to Assess Your Fitness Goals

Before we get started on what classes are best for which goals, it’s important to identify your goals. While it may be that you already know, take a moment to consider what types of health improvements would have the most profound effects on your quality of life.

If you’re an athlete, maybe an area of your sport or skillset needs special work. Or, if you’re managing a health concern, a specific type of exercise may help minimize symptoms and improve outcomes. Maybe you’re training for your first marathon but struggle to put in consistent cardio on your own.

Regardless of which it may be, your unique circumstances will determine which workout classes are best for you. And, if you’re still struggling to choose the right classes to try, remember that Crunch’s instructors and trainers are always happy to help.

Classes for Strength Training

Regardless of whether your priority is strength or building muscle, high-quality strength training will give you both. Luckily, strength and weight training have become some of the most popular workout classes in the last several years. Although this type of workout class can be relatively intense, there are nonetheless classes for people of all fitness levels. If you’re interested in strength training, look for the classes below.

Pilates Classes

Pilates and strength training go hand in hand and may be the best overall choice for people looking to build full-body strength. Low-impact movements and specialized resistance training come together to target all the muscle groups but focus especially on improved core strength.

Resistance Training

For those interested in an iron-and-sweat-based workout class, weight training can be an excellent choice. Using a range of equipment from bands to barbells, these workouts build the strong, lean muscle you want most. And, because of the recent resurgence in the popularity of weightlifting, Crunch offers new classes of this type almost every season.

Classes for Cardio

Nothing beats the pure, sweat-fueled calorie burn of a good cardio workout for cardiovascular health and weight loss. A cardio class, however, can take the same workout you might do on your own and propel it to the next level. Motivating instructors, exciting exercises, and the addition of a high-energy studio setting all turn cardio from a chore into something you look forward to every week.

Dance Cardio

Whether you’re a professional dancer or have no prior dance experience, choreographed cardio can provide an upbeat, fun workout class you’ll look forward to every week. With our Retro-Robics, loud music and flashy colored workout gear make members feel like pop stars in their very own music video, adding new choreography or different playlists every few weeks.

HIIT Classes

If you’re looking for slightly more advanced classes, high-intensity interval training provides some of the best workouts for cardio-related goals. Guided by an instructor who ensures correct form and safety, a HIIT class alternates between high-intensity training and short cool-down periods. By following this structure, members gradually expand their comfort zone and reach new levels of fitness excellence.

Tread n’ Shed

For members wanting to shred through calories and build cardiovascular health, our Tread n’ Shed class takes HIIT to the next level. With state-of-the-art, disco-style headphones pumping jams and your instructor’s motivation into your ears, you’ll tear through jogs, walks, sprints, and incline work. In this class, you can leave boring, old-school jogs in the past and start running the world instead.

Classes for Stress Relief

If you’ve worked out for any length of time, you know that exercise can offer enormous mental health benefits. When life threatens to overwhelm you with complicated problems and anxiety-inducing situations, getting out of your head and into the gym can be exactly what you need to refresh and realign. The added structure of a workout class only increases this benefit by allowing you to follow along with expert instructors as they guide you through custom-built exercises.

Yoga Classes

Perhaps the first fitness class that comes to mind when we think of relaxation is yoga. With only your body, a yoga mat, and the guidance of your instructor, you’ll move through poses at your own pace. This type of full-body movement, combined with structured breathing, offers an effective workout and meditative peace of mind. By the time you come out of your first class, you’ll feel like a brand new person.

Boxing-Style Classes

Although the exact opposite of what you can expect from a yoga class, combat-inspired workouts can provide the same impressive level of stress relief–just in a different way.

Whether unloading punch combinations into a heavy bag or flipping tires bigger than yourself, a high-intensity workout like these provides the opportunity to release frustration and aggression. An added benefit of this class type is improved coordination, as your body learns to recruit different muscle groups for large, complex movements.

Classes for Injury Prevention

While some exercises may focus on sculpting muscle or burning calories, other classes prioritize the development of a sturdy, injury-resistant body. And, regardless of whether you’re an athlete in a high-risk sport or someone with a history of inflammation and joint injuries, these holistic exercises are immensely valuable.

Hot Yoga

In addition to its relaxation benefits, Hot Yoga can drastically reduce soreness, alleviate some types of inflammation, and teach you how to use your body in safe, healthy ways. Because this type of class takes place in a heated room, members can slowly relieve tight muscles and sore joints as their instructor guides them through familiar movements.

Barre Classes

From basketball to boxing, ballet-based exercise has long been a trusted way for athletes to improve coordination and reduce their risk of injury. This is largely due to how Barre workouts teach members to use their bodies in healthy, holistic ways. Additionally, the core strength developed by ballet movements is second to none in the sports world, further reducing your likelihood of common injuries such as back pain.

Which Classes Are Best Overall?

At the end of the day, the best workout class is one that addresses your needs in a fun, effective way. While we fully believe in each and every class listed here, it may be that a different Crunch class will help you achieve your goals. Luckily, our online class list helps you explore options at all our locations, so finding a new weekly class is only a click away.

Join Crunch!

Group classes are one of our highest priorities at Crunch, and we make it a point to improve and update our class list continually. If you’re looking for a fun, no-judgment environment where you can get real results and build confidence, consider trying out one of our group exercise classes and revolutionizing your fitness experience. Even if you’re still on the fence, our free class trial pass allows you to experience these classes with no commitment required.

Crunch’s group fitness classes promote a culture of fun with no judgments. It’s an environment for all types of individuals with various goals. Find a Crunch gym near you to try our free trial membership, or join Crunch now. Your goals are made to be crushed. With Crunch, you’ll have the tools, resources, and support to make it happen.