If you like barre . . . try SUP Fitness
Standup paddleboarding is a great workout on its own, but add
pushups and planks and you’ve got the greatest balancing act ever. SUP
Fitness is the newest class offered by Key Bridge Boathouse, along the
Potomac River. Find your sea legs during a quick paddle session, then
start the 75 minutes of boot camp—think mountain climbers, lunges, and
paddle sprints—on the water.
Why you’ll like it:
As you try to squat on a board without tipping over, you’ll
experience the same leg-shaking that happens at the barre. The next day,
you’ll feel the results in the same muscles, from your quads to your
triceps to your core.
Key Bridge Boathouse, 3500 Water St., NW; 202-337-9642.
$35.
If you like CrossFit . . . try Soldierfit
At Soldierfit boot camps, personal trainers, many of them
military vets, coach “troops” through an hourlong, full-body workout with
kettlebells, dumbbells, medicine balls, and sleds. All fitness levels are
welcome; trainers provide modifications for every exercise and pair you
with a “battle buddy.”
Why you’ll like it:
As with CrossFit, Soldierfit will push you, but without the
competitive atmosphere. Soldierfit fosters camaraderie as 20 of you—from
teens to moms to athletes, all dressed in Soldierfit T-shirts—slog through
another set of pushups.
Rockville, 301-302-2326; Gaithersburg, 301-407-1800; Frederick,
240-457-4630; Chantilly, 240-751-6776. First session is free; monthlong
memberships start at $69.
If you like triathlons . . . try Off Road Brick
If training solo for your next triathlon is unappealing, head
to Off Road on DC’s U Street to sweat it out with a group of fellow
triathletes. The Off Road Brick class begins with 30 to 45 minutes in the
cycling studio with instructor Tammar Berger, followed by an outdoor run
with coach Kristi Martin. You have the option of running one, two, or
three miles.
Why you’ll like it:
In an hour and 15 minutes, you’ll get two workouts in one,
perfect for the triathlete who normally squeezes in multiple training
sessions a day. And whether you’re preparing for your first triathlon or
your fifth, you’re sure to meet some future training partners.
Off Road, 905 U St., NW; 202-681-1319. $20.
If you like yoga . . . try Yoga Hikes DC
Yoga enthusiasts and out-doorsy types come together to explore
DC’s hidden trails during an hour and a half to two hours of hiking and
yoga. Yoga instructor Danielle Reyes leads the quick-paced hikes through
Rock Creek Park, Dumbarton Oaks, or Dupont Circle, stopping at various
points to perform 15 minutes of yoga.
Why you’ll like it:
The cardio workout from hiking will loosen your muscles for a
deeper bend or stretch while you’re in “downward dog” or “warrior II”
pose. The yoga/hiking combo is also a welcome break for runners’ muscles
that suffer wear and tear during fall race season.
Yoga Hikes DC, 202-670-6120. $25.
This article appears in the September 2013 issue of Washingtonian.
