Skip to content

Seattle Culture

Which New Seattle Workout is Right For You?

Sorting through the offerings of each new designer gym that opens is enough to make you break a sweat, so we laced up our tennies to find the most effective new workouts around town

By Andrew Hoge April 6, 2020

Make_Move_fullsizeoutput_9b40

This article originally appeared in the April 2020 issue of Seattle magazine.

This article appears in print in the April 2020 issue as part of the Get Well Soon cover story. Click here to subscribe. While gyms are closed due to the current novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, check out our guide to at-home workouts and virtual fitness opportunities, with tips from local fitness pros. 

Exercise has many well-known physical and mental benefits, but sorting through the offerings of each new designer gym that opens is enough to make you break a sweat. So, to find the most effective workouts around town, we laced up our tennies to test out studios that have opened in the past year.

Shred415
The Shred415 workout involves four 15-minute sessions that alternate between cardio drills and weight training in an intimate classroom setting. Created by two young moms (child care is available on-site) frustrated by the lack of experiential workouts that met their schedules, Shred415 focuses on inclusivity and empowerment; attendees are encouraged to pick their own speed and endurance level for every class, which the studio claims will burn between 500 and 1,200 calories over the course of an hour. Denny Triangle.

Upbeats Fitness
If music is what moves you, stop by Upbeats Fitness for classes synced to high-energy tunes. Studio founder Allison Axdorff wanted to bridge the gap between single-format boutique gyms, like spinning studios, and the class experience found at larger chains. Clients can choose from more than 10 class styles including cardio dance, kickboxing and barre. Axdorff’s guiding hypothesis: “If you usually love cardio dance, but want to mix it up and cross-train, you’re also going to love sculpt classes that move to the beat of music.” West Woodland.

StarCycle
StarCycle put a new “spin” on group cycling in Seattle when the Oregon-based company opened its West Seattle location this past October. The intimate, 25-bike studio is proudly free of technology, with the exception of music, and lit by candles in an effort to foster focus during the 45-minute rides. Low-cost on-site child care is available for busy parents, which furthers the company’s mission to empower all riders. West Seattle.

Ekstasis Strength and Conditioning
If personal training seems daunting, with its typically high prices and sterile machines, Mike Seilo hopes to change your mind at Ekstasis Strength and Conditioning. The facility, which opened last October, offers group training classes with a customized routine for each participant, and at a cost that is significantly cheaper than most private personal training sessions. Ekstatis is the only gym in Seattle to offer group VersaClimber classes, designed by Seilo, that combine upper and lower body exercises to create vertical climbing motions. Ballard.

30 Minute Hit
This innovative kickboxing studio, with locations in Ballard and on Capitol Hill, might be the answer to fitting cardio conditioning, strength training and confidence building into our increasingly busy schedules. The 30 Minute Hit workout circuit is made up of 13 stations that combine boxing, kickboxing and self-defense in two-minute rounds. Certified trainers are always on the floor to guide clients, and because there aren’t set class times, you can walk in whenever it’s most convenient for you. Ballard, Capitol Hill.

Life Time
One of the swankiest gyms in the Pacific Northwest, Life Time opened its doors in 2018 and boasts a state-of-the-art fitness center with yoga rooms, a health-focused café and a spa. One of its newest fitness classes is dubbed “Upper Rx,” and, as the name suggests, features intense weight training for the arms, chest, back and core to build muscle strength and tone, extend your range of motion and burn fat. Bellevue.

Mind.Body.Hum
Scott Francis and Maria Gehl of the beloved Be Luminous Yoga studio know a thing or two about helping people slow down. Their latest studio, Mind.Body.Hum, opened this past February, and offers more than 70 yoga and meditation classes each week. Located in the historic Maritime Building, the studio is designed to optimize your physical and mental health, and showcases the building’s original wood structures, David Trubridge lighting and woodwork by Olympia-based Beech Tree Woodworks. For an authentic meditation experience, there are two 62-inch Tone of Life gongs to help you go out with a bang. Downtown Seattle.

Follow Us

Moxie on Monday: Go Take a Hike!

Moxie on Monday: Go Take a Hike!

No, really. You’ll thank me later.

I have the perfect antidote for you. Go take a hike! And I mean that in the best possible way. There’s something about lacing up your sneakers, breathing in crisp morning air, and immersing yourself in nature that flips the switch on your energy, clears the mental clutter, and leaves you feeling unstoppable. For me,…

How to Wake and Win

How to Wake and Win

Create a morning routine to power your day

The first 20 minutes of your morning can determine how you’ll feel 12 hours later! That’s right. Research from the University of Pennsylvania and Ohio State University reveals that starting your day with intentionality doesn’t just boost productivity. It can transform your life. The secret? A morning routine. Morning is a sacred space, a liminal…

Moxie on Monday: Ready to Wake Up and Take the Plunge?

Moxie on Monday: Ready to Wake Up and Take the Plunge?

No, not into another relationship or job. Something that jolts you awake in the best way possible.

Icy waters are part of the scenery here in the Pacific Northwest. Why not incorporate this free gift from Mama Nature into your wellness routine? Now, I know what you’re thinking. “Cold water? In the middle of winter? Absolutely not.” But stay with me, because this simple, slightly crazy practice could fire up your energy,…

Seattle Doctor: Quit Drinking Now

Seattle Doctor: Quit Drinking Now

Atossa Therapeutics founder Dr. Steven Quay praises the Surgeon General’s report warning of the dangers of alcohol

Dr. Steven Quay has a simple, direct message to those who drink alcohol: Stop. It’s bad for you, even in moderation. Quay, M.D., Ph.D., is the founder of Seattle’s Atossa Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in the prevention of breast cancer. He has spent 30 years in medical research, founded half-a dozen startups, and…