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Beyond Aerobics: What's Hot in Fitness Classes Now

Group fitness isn't just about step and floor aerobics anymore. Recent innovations help you blend fitness with fantasy. Come inside the latest trends.

Dreading that next 60-minute treadmill stint? Why not shake up your workout routine with a group fitness class? Working out with others can bust boredom and build camaraderie, says Donna Cyrus, senior vice president of programming for Crunch Fitness. But if you think you've done it all, think again.

The New Look of Fitness
The new twist on today's fitness classes means you can boost your cardio and sculpt your body while learning how to pole dance, swing on a trapeze, or walk like a star in stiletto heels. It's about realizing a secret dream you've been harboring for years that you never quite got around to fulfilling. "These classes give you an opportunity to do something new in your life," says Cyrus. "They can help you feel young."

Finding Your Fit
Obviously, such classes aren't a great idea if you've been couch surfing for years. But Cyrus doesn't see that as being an issue for much of the baby-boomer demographic. "If boomers worked out regularly in their 20s and 30s, and have a continued history of fitness, these classes may be within their physical range, says Cyrus. She does caution against choosing high-impact or repetitive-motion classes, such as kickboxing, that may cause damage to joints. When searching for health clubs with innovative group fitness classes, the quality of the instructors is key. Here are some of the latest offerings you might find:

Pole Dancing
What: Learn how to flip, climb, spin, and hold your body weight using a vertical pole. Why: Build cardio and overall strength.

Circus Sports What: Learn how to ride the trapeze, tumble, and walk on your hands. Why: Build cardio and upper-body strength.

Stiletto Strength
What: Train (in sneakers) with a weighted body bar, improve balance, and build arch and lower-leg strength. Participants walk in heels at the end of each class. Why: Build strength and balance to walk more confidently and safely in high heels.

Tread and Shed
What: Perform low-impact intervals on a treadmill, alternating with hand-weight exercises. Why: Build cardio and overall strength.

Flylates
What: Combine no-impact trampoline jumping and Pilates moves. Why: Build cardio; improve stability, flexibility, and strength.