7 Of London’s Toughest Workouts
Reshape at 1Rebel
London is teeming with treadmill-based classes but 1Rebel’s Reshape gets our vote if you don’t live (or work) near a Barry’s. Designed to boost fitness and muscle tone, a 45-minute Reshape session incorporates sprint and incline intervals on the treadmill, as well as body-sculpting exercises on the floor, so no muscle is left untoned. Sessions focus on upper body and abs, lower body and abs or full body, so expect muscle isolation and focus within your sets. Whether you’re a runner, spinner or HIIT fan, this class will mix up your workout and push you to the next level.
WHERE? St Mary Axe, Broadgate and Victoria (opening early July)
HOW MUCH? Classes start from £20
Visit 1Rebel.co.uk
Barry’s Bootcamp
Dubbed ‘the best workout in the world’, Barry’s Bootcamp is where London’s fitness elite get their fix. Promising to change your body faster than any other type of training, a typical Barry’s session combines intervals of intense cardio and strength training against a background of pumping music. Prepare to burn 800-1,000 calories per class and receive a whole load of motivation – as opposed to other ‘bootcamp’ classes we’ve tried, there’s no shouting negative feedback at Barry’s.
WHERE? Studios are located in Euston, Shoreditch, Victoria and on Queensway between Notting Hill and Bayswater
HOW MUCH? £20 per class, but cheaper if you buy in bulk
Visit BarrysBootcamp.com
BXR Climb To The Beat
Only the brave need apply to BXR’s VersaClimber classes, which have been proven to burn up to 1,000 calories per session. The aim is to climb to the beat of the music – giving a full body, no-impact workout that leaves you with a perter behind after only a few sessions. The Hollywood PT squad back up the VersaClimber equipment’s ability to sculpt and slim silhouettes at breakneck speed – Dalton Wong, who trains the likes of Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone, is a fan. Unlike a treadmill or bike, the VersaClimber doesn’t hammer the body, meaning you can go harder and faster. Keep an eye out for Anthony Joshua post-class – he’s one of the studio’s founders.
WHERE? Marylebone
HOW MUCH? Individual classes start from £15
Visit BXRLondon.com
F45
With its winning formula of high-intensity, interval training-style circuits that promises to burn up to 1,000 calories in a single class, it’s no wonder Australian franchise F45 is causing a stir on the global wellness scene, with the UK alone boasting 18 studios and 25 more in the pipeline. If you’re stuck in a fitness rut, F45 will sort you right out – the 45-minute sessions are based around HIIT-style exercises and provide a real cardio hit that guarantees results and then some. You’ll leave exhausted but it’s addictive – you have been warned.
WHERE? Studios are located across the capital with more opening soon
HOW MUCH? New clients can get seven days for £20
Visit F45Training.com
U-Cycle at KXU
You’re not a true spin addict if you haven’t tried Chelsea hot-spot KXU’s U-Cycle Class. Unlike the majority of spin classes in the capital, this calorie-torching session is held on watt bikes, which are designed to feel more like the real deal and guarantee one serious workout. Made for competitive types, you’ll be pushed to your limits – your speed and power are displayed on a leader board at the front of the room, so there’s no scaling back. Book in for Alex’s morning classes and we guarantee you’ll leave with a serious endorphin rush – just one class a week for a month left us feeling fitter and stronger.
WHERE? Chelsea
HOW MUCH? £24 per class, but cheaper if you buy in bulk
Visit KXU.co.uk
Studio Lagree
Don’t be fooled by the reformer-style beds – this is no ordinary Pilates class. One for hardcore gym lovers, Studio Lagree – one the many US fitness crazes to make its way across the pond – offers a high-octane, bootcamp-style workout. The studio’s signature M3 Fusion class is a 50-minute full body workout that will have you aching in places you didn’t think possible, and despite its body-boosting credentials, M3 Fusion is impact free, making it ideal for those with weight-bearing issues or injuries who still want a good workout. Dubbed ‘reformer Pilates on steroids’, this isn’t for the faint-hearted.
WHERE? City, Canary Wharf, White City and the Nobu Hotel in Shoreditch
HOW MUCH? Your first class is £15 and £30 each thereafter, but cheaper if you buy in bulk
Visit StudioLagreeUK.com
HIIT at Another_Space
If you’re a Kobox fan looking to take your boxing game to the next level, or wanting to tone up before a holiday, Another_Space’s HIIT class comes highly recommended. A combination of punchbag boxing and interval training, every class is different and unique to the instructor, so we guarantee you’ll never be bored (Jay’s class is one of our favourites). Switching between the bag and the floor, one week you’ll be lifting weighted sandbags between burpee sets and the next you’ll be mountain climbing faster than you ever thought possible. The studio is compact, meaning there’s no escaping the instructor and the quick sets mean the 45 minutes really do fly by.
WHERE? The original studio is a two-minute walk from Covent Garden tube and a new studio is now open in Bank
HOW MUCH? £20 per class, but cheaper if you buy in bulk (keep an eye out for introductory offers too)
Visit AnotherSpace.London
DISCLAIMER: We endeavour to always credit the correct original source of every image we use. If you think a credit may be incorrect, please contact us at info@sheerluxe.com.