Fun and Unique Fitness Opportunities
How long have you been going to your local gym? Have you seen everyone there so many times that it feels like you all know each other?
If you are lucky enough to live in a DC apartment with a free gym for you to use then, of course, we are not suggesting that you abandon it completely.
What we are suggesting is that you get out there, switch things up, live a little! Try a workout that you’ve never done before while exploring your city at the same time. Grab a friend, make it a fun time, and learn something new!
All of these workouts are in the city, most of the accessible my metro, each of them with their own special charm. Time to break out a good sweat!
Highlights of Unique Workout Experiences in DC
- Unique Workout Options in DC: DC offers a variety of unconventional fitness classes, such as axe throwing, trapeze, and twerking, providing exciting alternatives to traditional gym routines.
- Axe Throwing for Fitness and Fun: Bad Axe Throwing offers classes and competitions, combining a cathartic experience with a workout.
- Trapeze for Adventure Seekers: Trapeze School New York’s DC location provides thrilling classes that build confidence and fitness.
- Barre Classes for Core Strength: Barre blends ballet, yoga, and pilates to develop lean muscles, flexibility, and a strong core, available at multiple DC studios.
- Aqua Cycling at SplashCycle: This underwater spinning class at the Embassy Row Hotel offers a unique way to strengthen thighs, hips, and core.
- Parkour at Primal Fitness: A dynamic workout for action enthusiasts, featuring an adult playground environment to build agility and strength.
- Cemetery Running with Warm Your Bones Run Club: Running in the peaceful Congressional Cemetery offers a calming and scenic exercise experience.
- Rowing at DC Row: This full-body workout at The Wharf combines the feel of sailing with fitness, guided by enthusiastic instructors.
- Twerk Fitness Classes: Twerk classes provide a fun and adventurous workout option that focuses on enjoying movement in a comfortable atmosphere.
- Balance Gym’s Pound Class: Combining drumming with cardio and pilates, this unique workout sculpts arm muscles while offering an energetic experience.
Axe Throwing
Time to give your inner lumberjack a chance to shine!
Attendees of these classes report it being cathartic, and the popularity of the activity has grown such that there is now a whole studio for it in the nation’s capital: Bad Axe Throwing, a chance to get properly trained before unleashing your new skills in their competitions. Yes! They host competitions!
$20/hour for walk-ins, $45/person for group bookings.
Where? 2419 Evarts St. NE
Trapeze
Trapeze is one of the most fun ways to get a workout that doesn’t feel like a workout. It feels like a high-stakes adrenaline-fueled adventure and gives you a huge sense of pride after having done it.
The Trapeze School New York’s DC location offers 2-hour classes 7 days a week at times that can fit into anybody’s busy schedule. Classes range in cost but you can expect to pay somewhere around $50 per session.
Their tagline? “Forget Fear. Worry About the Addiction.”
Where? The Navy Yard! 1299 New Jersey Avenue SE
Barre
Don’t let the ease of trained ballerinas fool you. Their exercise routines are not for the faint of heart. These classes are really a mixture of ballet, yoga, and pilates, and they are designed to develop lean muscle, make you more flexible, and strengthen your core.
At least you don’t have to wear any of those brutal ballet slippers!
The three main studios in DC that offer Barre classes are Barre 3, Bar Method, and Pure Barre. Costs change per studio.
Aqua Cycling
Ready to give up on SoulCycle but don’t want to give up on your hips, thighs, and core? Maybe it’s time to try SplashCycle, a spinning class where the bikes are, believe it or not, underwater. People report this to be the place to go if you want rock-hard thighs!
Classes range from $20-$30 depending on when you go in.
Where? 2015 Massachusetts Ave NW. (It’s on the rooftop pool of the Embassy Row Hotel! Try to resist going to the bar after…)
Be A Rockstar
Ever been to a rock concert where you watched the drummer and thought “they must be getting a great workout up there.” Well, first of all, you’re right. They are! But now, you can too.
At the Balance Gym on 14th St. you can take the Pound class, which is supposed to combine cardio, pilates, plyometrics and isometric poses along with offering you a chance to jam out with weighted drum sticks to help sculpt your less-used arm muscles.
We can’t promise you will actually learn to drum from this class! We can only promise you will be very sweaty by the time it’s done. Pricing not listed online!
Where? Balance Gym 1111 14th St. NW
Parkour
Parkour is the perfect exercise for someone who loves action movies and daydreams about having superpowers. If you are that kind of person, you might already be getting bored of your normal gym anyways.
Primal Fitness is a gym in DC dedicated to getting you in touch with this wild part of yourself in an environment built for just that, kind of like a huge playground for agile adults.
You can drop in on a class for $20, take 12 classes over 4 weeks for $90, or get a membership starting at $70/month.
Where? Primal Fitness, 219 M St. NW
Warm Your Bones Run Club
Want to go for a nice jog with a group who like to run….in a cemetery?
Sometimes a change of scene is really all you need! Something about running in an old cemetery can be calming and restorative, and running along with others who appreciate the peace and serenity can sometimes add to it.
Check their website for meeting times and updates!
Where? Congressional Cemetary Chapel, 1801 E St SE
Twerking
Yup, you read that right. Not for everyone, of course, but if you are bored of doing the same thing at the gym every day and you are up for an adventure, consider trying this one out.
Classes are usually about $20 and the instructor (also studio owner) Michaela is supposed to make everyone feel super comfortable — she’ll have you laughing and enjoying yourself in no time!
Check the website and reach out to her about class times, which are always changing, and see what else they offer!
Where? 617 Rhode Island Ave NE, Suite A
Come Sail Away
Actually, while this class is right on the Wharf, it doesn’t actually take you out onto the water. This is DC Row, a studio where you can learn with fun young instructors who encourage you to push yourself on rowing machines to get the full-body workout you’ve been needing!
One class is usually $35, though they do have a two-for-one offer for first-timers!
Where? 790 Maine Ave SW
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We are an Apartment Management Company in Washington DC that offers apartments in amazing locations all over the city. Get ready for an amazing DC city life combined with outdoor activities, national parks, and tree-lined streets.
And if working out isn’t your thing, go ahead and watch the incredible athletes from the Washington Ballet spin around in style.
We love keeping our residents informed about all the great things the nation’s capital has to offer them, and our DC Guide does just that.
Interested in reading about something specific? Feel free to reach out and let us know.
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FAQs About Unique Workout Experiences in DC
What is axe throwing, and where can you do it in DC?
Axe throwing is a fun and cathartic activity where participants learn to throw axes at a target. In DC, you can try it at Bad Axe Throwing, located at 2419 Evarts St. NE. They offer both individual and group sessions, with group bookings including competitions!
Where can I try trapeze classes in DC?
The Trapeze School New York’s DC location at 1299 New Jersey Avenue SE offers 2-hour classes seven days a week. It’s a thrilling way to get a workout that feels more like an adventure than exercise.
What is barre, and what studios in DC offer it?
Barre combines ballet, yoga, and pilates to help develop lean muscle, flexibility, and core strength. You can find barre classes at studios like Barre 3, Bar Method, and Pure Barre in DC.
What is aqua cycling, and where can I try it in DC?
Aqua cycling, or SplashCycle, involves spinning on stationary bikes submerged in water. You can experience this unique workout at the rooftop pool of the Embassy Row Hotel, located at 2015 Massachusetts Ave NW.
What is the Pound workout, and where can I take a class in DC?
The Pound workout combines cardio, pilates, plyometrics, and isometric poses while incorporating weighted drumsticks. You can take a class at Balance Gym, located at 1111 14th St. NW.
Where can I try parkour classes in DC?
You can try parkour classes at Primal Fitness, located at 219 M St. NW. It’s a gym designed for people who want to learn parkour in a safe and structured environment, offering drop-in classes and memberships.
What is the Warm Your Bones Run Club, and where do they meet?
The Warm Your Bones Run Club is a group that enjoys jogging in unique and calming settings like Congressional Cemetery. They meet at 1801 E St. SE. Check their website for schedules and updates.
Can you really take twerking classes in DC?
Yes! Twerking classes are available at a studio owned by Michaela at 617 Rhode Island Ave NE, Suite A. These classes are fun, energetic, and designed to make participants feel comfortable and confident.
What is DC Row, and what can I expect from a class?
DC Row is a studio located at 790 Maine Ave SW, where you can learn rowing techniques with energetic instructors. It’s a full-body workout that’s perfect for those looking for a unique and effective exercise routine.
