10 Workouts To Try That Are Effective And Fun

Having to find a workout that does not feel like an absolute chore is difficult and believe me, I have tried my best to find one that I will want to continue doing. Here are ten workout options you can try that work, but don’t feel like work.

1. 12-3-30

This viral TikTok workout caught my eye because it only is 30 minutes long but warrants big results. All you need to do is set the treadmill incline to 12, which is going to feel very steep but you can do it, and set the speed to three. Walk for 30 minutes at these levels for a few days a week each week and wait for the results. I have a movie theater in the gym I go to, so I like to do the 12-3-30 while watching a movie and the time actually flies by. Make sure to stretch before and after or else you will develop shin splints and have to take a break from walking. It’s an addicting workout that does not feel like working out because you are just watching television during it!

2. Power Yoga

Yoga can be everyone’s worst nightmare when it comes to a workout but it doesn’t have to be. I have been religiously going to hot power yoga for years and the results really pay off. If you don’t want a workout that makes you bulky like weight lifting can, doing workouts with your body weight such as yoga is a great alternative. If you take a power vinyasa workout class, you will focus on breathing, clearing your mind, and firing up your muscles in a 94-degree studio. You will sweat, but you will also clear your mind and tone up your body with such a fulfilling workout.

3. Spin

So I’m sure you’ve heard about SoulCycle or Peloton by now, because who hasn’t? It’s the newest workout obsession that seems to be sweeping the nation and it’s no surprise why. Spin classes are usually a good 45-minute workout that increases your heart rate and burns a ton of calories in the meantime. If you are lucky enough to have a Peloton, you can choose from a myriad of workout options catered to whatever vibe you are feeling that day. There are Britney Spears-themed workouts, a range of workout lengths, and different instructors you can pick from so you can find your niche.

4. OrangeTheory Fitness

Ah, OTF, a cult classic. Everyone I know who has entered an OrangeTheory workout class has come out absolutely obsessed. These workouts are for people who want to get a good gym workout in, but don’t really know what to do on their own. They offer instructor-led classes that focus on rowing machines, floor-free weight exercises, and treadmill blocks that burn the maximum amount of calories in only an hour. People who attend a workout at OTF can expect to burn well over 500 calories and they even offer at-home classes for those members who can’t leave the house.

5. BodyPump

Most gyms offer a ton of great group workout classes that you don’t think to utilize unless you are made aware of them. BodyPump classes focus on using barbells as your main source of exercise that tones you as you go. There is motivational music, instructors, and moves that are scientifically proven to warrant the best results that are more effective than if you were to work out alone. It is recommended to only do two or three classes a week to maximize your results without burning out or hurting yourself.

6. Barre

Get your inner ballerina on with a Barre class, because who doesn’t want to workout with a ballet barre and ballet-inspired moves? It’s a different form of cardio workout that gets you sweating and will leave you extremely sore after. Similar to yoga or pilates, you are relying on stretching movements and your body weight for this workout. A normal class burns around 300 calories and is a good introduction to exercise for those who are too timid to go to the gym.  You’ll increase flexibility and improve balance while toning your body with this great workout.

7. Kickboxing

Drop the gloves it’s time to take up boxing as your next workout. Sometimes you just need somewhere to let out that pent-up emotion and aggression you carry with you every day, so you may as well make it a workout! Kickboxing is another group class that lets you kick and punch your heart out while burning calories and toning up your body. There is truly no better way to let out excess energy than a boxing-inspired workout class, and I live by that.

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8. Pole Dancing

Pole dancing workout classes are super popular and trendy right now. If you have always wanted to give it a go and defy gravity, take a pole dancing class and burn those calories away. It is a bodyweight workout that is a lot harder than it looks, but it does not feel like a workout whatsoever. The classes are made to be fun and challenging, and by the end, you will feel like a pro. Even if you don’t feel like you did a good job, you will feel it in the morning!

9. Rowing

Try to hit the erg for more than 8 minutes and tell me it’s not an effective, full-body workout. Rowing classes or even just using the erg at your gym on your own is an insane workout that will leave you sweaty by the end. I have a ton of friends who did crew in high school and whenever they would have to hop on the erg for a long time, they would hop out sweaty and weak by the end. Do this workout and you will have trouble walking the next day.

10. Kettlebell Training

The kettlebell is a small, devious little weight that can really elevate your workout. I’ve seen many places dedicated to the art of kettlebell workouts and how you can complete a total, full-body workout with just that small weight that you think is harmless. Weight training is extremely important for weight loss in general, and pairing it with cardio in the mix is equally important for your weight loss journey. Workouts involving a small weight can help you tone up and slim down in no time, and it’s led by an instructor so you won’t feel lost with the weights.

Doing an instructor-led workout or simply switching up what you do can be effective and fun for you! Let me know your favorite workout in the comments below.

Featured Image by: Bella Bucchiotti