Are you tired of the same old workout? Looking for something new and fun to reinvigorate your training program? San Francisco is home to some of the hottest new fitness classes, so go ahead and add a little variety to your exercise routine. Here are a few of my recommendations:
TRX Total Suspension Training Classes at the TRX Training Center (1650 Pacific Avenue): The TRX was developed by a Navy Seal (don’t let that scare you) as a way to work your entire body in a small space using your body as its own resistance. This incredible two-pound strap is guaranteed to take your workout to the next level. San Francisco is the only city to have a dedicated suspension-training center, so take advantage of it. Offered are a variety of classes: from circuit training, body blast, and power stretch.
The Anti-Gravity Yoga "Wings" class at Crunch Fitness
Striptease Classes at Sheila Kelley S Factor Studio (2159 Filbert Street): Add a little spice to your workout; try this fun dance and striptease workout. The S Factor combines ballet, yoga, and striptease to get you in great shape. In order to take these classes, you must complete a Level 1 Series class, then the sky’s the limit. Don’t let the name fool you—this is a challenging workout.
Pilates Barre Classes at Informed Body (389 Grove Street): If you’re like me, you envy the dancers’ bodies. The Pilates barre class combines dance technique and Pilates mat work to help you achieve that lean dancer look. Classes start with the mat work, using added resistance, and then incorporate a ballet barre for standing work using fit loops and therabands for your legs and arms. Additionally, you will do tondues, dégagés, ronde de jambes, pliés, arabesques, relevés—just like in a dance class. Unlike other types of classes, there isn’t a lot of repetition; you do a combination and then it builds into the next set of movements.
Anti-Gravity Yoga “Wings” at Crunch Fitness (1725 Union Street): We have all heard that yoga is great for increasing flexibility. Now you can stretch further and hold challenging postures longer using a flowing fabric hammock as your only prop. The fabric forms a soft trapeze, and with it you’ll learn simple suspension techniques to move into seemingly impossible inverted poses, which relieve compressed joints and align the body from head to toe.
BURN classes at the Burn Studio (1043 Valencia Street): The burn class is a unique approach that merges Pilates, weight training, and cardio. This class incorporates Pilates springs to firm and lengthen the entire body while increasing flexibility and engaging the core; weights to tone and strengthen the muscles, increase metabolism, and prevent injuries; and cardio exercises to increase your heart rate, increase endurance, and burn calories between resistance training sets. Finish it all up with foot-bar and mat work for the core.
Krav Maga at the Krav Maga Training Center (1455 Bush Street): Krav Maga means “Contact Combat” in Hebrew. It is the official self-defense and fighting system used by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), Israeli Police and Security Services, and is the preferred training system for more than 350 U.S. law-enforcement agencies. This unique training method has been recognized as the most efficient self-defense system for real-life situations, emphasizing practical defenses against real violent attacks. With these classes, you not only get in awesome shape, but you learn some great self-defense moves.
CrossFit Classes (Outside in the Presidio): There are many things that I like about CrossFit, one of which is the ability to exercise outdoors. CrossFit workouts are comprised of constantly varied functional movements (like pushing, pulling, squatting, lifting, running) executed at high intensity. Every workout is different, and since you will rarely do the same thing twice, you are less likely to lose interest or get bored. Workouts are rarely more than forty-five minutes long, so they can fit into even the busiest schedules.
Train for a Cause (Anywhere!): OK, technically this isn’t a class, but it is definitely worth mentioning because it is a great way to break out of a workout rut by training for an event while contributing to an important cause. There are many options when it comes to training for a cause. You can either get assistance by training with a team, such as Leukemia Team in Training (many other charities also offer training assistance). This offers a great support system and is a nice way to meet like-minded individuals. If teams are not your thing, or your schedule doesn’t allow for it, another option is to train on your own, raise money, and donate to any charity you choose. Trust me, nothing beats the feeling of accomplishment gained from training for an event, accomplishing that goal, and being able to do good for 
those in need.
Ami Jampolis has a master’s degree in exercise physiology and is an NASM certified personal trainer. She is the owner of Focus Fitness Personal Training in San Mateo, fftraining.net, 415-250-2953.
