New Gym Classes: Karaoke on Wheels to Stiletto Heels

Jan. 3, 2006 — -- Yawning at yoga? Pooped at Pilates? Does cardio striptease seem passé? If so, it might be time to check out some of the newer fitness classes now offered at gyms nationwide.

Gym-goers can be a demanding and fickle bunch, and while old standards like step aerobics and yoga aren't going away anytime soon, gyms need to be on top of the latest fads to keep customers coming back.

"There seems to be a trend toward hybrid classes, like classes that combine yoga and Pilates," said Kendall Hogan, regional group fitness director at Crunch gyms in Los Angeles, the mecca of abs.

"We're also doing a lot more smaller group classes, where people get more one-on-one training," Hogan said. And strength training has become more popular with both men and women. "We're seeing more classes that involve body sculpting and weight training."

Spinning and Grinning

But to keep the customers coming, Crunch and other gyms across the country have added classes that push the fitness envelope. Take Cycle Karaoke, for instance.

"Basically, it's a spinning class with karaoke," said Hogan. The idea came to him while watching participants in a spinning class. "They're singing along, so I thought, why not take it a step further?" he said.

Sometimes the instructor will take the lead and belt out "Hungry Like the Wolf," or a class member will volunteer his rendition of Prince's "Let's Go Crazy." Spinning classes with a Broadway musical theme are also offered.

The classes have caught on with closet crooners. "It's something more interactive and it makes the class more fun," Hogan said.

Fun, it seems, is what may be missing from some workouts, which is why they lose steam after a few months.

"It's not just about going to the gym," said Hogan. "We have these fun classes so people won't say, 'Oh God, I have to go to the gym now.' People can get so serious about fitness. We're trying to put the fun back into it."

Downward-Facing Doggies

The fun isn't limited to gym members, either. At Crunch's popular Ruff Yoga class, which takes place in a park, participants can bring -- and practice yoga with -- their pooch.

"You don't get the greatest yoga, but you definitely get some fun elements, and you get an opportunity to bond with your dog," Hogan said.

Another gym innovation is Disco Yoga, which pumps a "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack into what is normally a quiet, meditative practice. "You do some disco moves to get from one position to another," explained Hogan.

And if you're looking for an even more sweat-inducing, booty-shaking workout, try Crumpin' & Clownin'. Based on the urban dance moves featured in the recent film "Rise," the class is described as a "full-bodied, adrenaline-driven, freestyle form of dance and expression."

Stiletto Heels: The Latest in Gym Wear

While you'll find most of these unusual classes at gyms in large cities, not all these new workouts have the same appeal everywhere. Whipped, for example, is a class taught by a strutting, leather-clad dominatrix brandishing a riding crop. It took off in New York but fizzled in mellower Los Angeles.

Stiletto heels are used in the new Stiletto Strength class. "It's a class all dedicated to the lower body and having great legs," explained Hogan. "It's a lot of sculpting and lower body workout -- and we supply the stilettos."

And if your local gym doesn't offer these classes yet, don't fret -- it might soon.

"We start a lot of things here [at Crunch] and eventually someone gives us the sincerest form of flattery," Hogan said of imitators. "Cardio striptease just celebrated its five-year anniversary, and it's all over the country now."

The fun isn't limited to gym members, either. At Crunch's popular Ruff Yoga class, which takes place in a park, participants can bring -- and practice yoga with -- their pooch.

"You don't get the greatest yoga, but you definitely get some fun elements, and you get an opportunity to bond with your dog," Hogan said.

Another gym innovation is Disco Yoga, which pumps a "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack into what is normally a quiet, meditative practice. "You do some disco moves to get from one position to another," explained Hogan.

And if you're looking for an even more sweat-inducing, booty-shaking workout, try Crumpin' & Clownin'. Based on the urban dance moves featured in the recent film "Rise," the class is described as a "full-bodied, adrenaline-driven, freestyle form of dance and expression."

Stiletto Heels: The Latest in Gym Wear

While you'll find most of these unusual classes at gyms in large cities, not all these new workouts have the same appeal everywhere. Whipped, for example, is a class taught by a strutting, leather-clad dominatrix brandishing a riding crop. It took off in New York but fizzled in mellower Los Angeles.

Stiletto heels are used in the new Stiletto Strength class. "It's a class all dedicated to the lower body and having great legs," explained Hogan. "It's a lot of sculpting and lower body workout -- and we supply the stilettos."

And if your local gym doesn't offer these classes yet, don't fret -- it might soon.

"We start a lot of things here [at Crunch] and eventually someone gives us the sincerest form of flattery," Hogan said of imitators. "Cardio striptease just celebrated its five-year anniversary, and it's all over the country now."