Kansas City’s Best Places for Every Work Out
** Image provided by https://www.ryderwear.com/
Ever uttered the phrase “I only run when someone’s chasing me”? Is the only “gym” you reference the “Jim” from accounting with 24-hour morning breath? If this sounds like you, you might be someone who hasn’t found the extreme fun, thrill, and benefit you receive from finding a workout you love!
The stigma that exercising is a chore needs to stop! It’s not a chore, nor is it something that you should dread.
One of the things I loved the most about moving to Kansas City was the new and exciting fitness opportunities this great city has to offer! So here is a list of the best places to check out in KC for every kind of workout.
Pilates – Club Pilates
Overland Park, KS | clubpilates.com/location/southop
Owner/Operator Andrea O’Dell opened Club Pilates Overland Park with one goal in mind; bring the benefits of Pilates to everybody. The functional strength and flexibility you will gain at Club Pilates won’t just benefit you while you’re exercising. It will become the key to living a happier, healthier and more fulfilling life. Club Pilates offers brand-new state-of-the-art equipment, including, not just Reformers, but the entire array of Pilates tools: the Chair, the Springboard, the Barre, and the TRX Training System. You’ll get a complete Pilates workout, every time.
Crossfit – Crossfit Matters
Rosedale Area in Kansas City, KS | crossfitmatters.com
Crossfit is a workout focused on your ability to perform many different physical skillsets at a high level of intensity. Whether it’s your first time stepping foot in a gym or you’ve been doing crossfit for decades, Kansas City’s CrossFit Matters is known for bringing a level of camaraderie to all its participants regardless of their skill level. With 8 different coaches on site, you will workout with ease knowing you can turn to a number of experts for any advice, questions, or concerns before, during, or after your workout. This CrossFit Matters gym strives to take the intimidating atmosphere out of the room while still constantly pushing you to improve!
Yoga – InBliss Yoga
Northland Kansas City, MO | facebook.com/inblissyoga
Founded by Marti Bowen and her daughter Starr, InBliss Yoga seeks to bring the authentic yoga sessions to Kansas City. Their sessions are dimly lit with incense aroma filling the air. There are genuine yoga symbols, statues, and artwork throughout the rooms as well as true yoga chants used to start and end each class. Once the posing starts, you are in for a full-body workout that caters to every physical/mental/emotional need imaginable including anxiety, flexibility, energy, metabolism, and so much more! The best combination of relaxation and exercise, you leave these classes feeling calm, collected and relaxed. It’s not until the next day or so you realize the boot camp you put your body through.
Fitness Center – Woodside Health & Tennis Club
Westwood, KS | clubwoodside.com
A January 2016 article on FindingKansaCity.com referenced Woodside Health and Tennis Club as “its own small city”. That expression is spot on in my opinion. This high end, luxury gym offers every sort of fitness outlet imaginable. As a member, you can enjoy basketball courts, various types of swimming pools, Yoga & Pilates classes, tennis courts, fitness facilities, and so much more! “Wait, don’t most luxury gyms have all those things?” Yes, but what sets Woodside apart are the numerous extras and indulgences their members get to enjoy. They include, a professional spa with massage therapists and estheticians ready to schedule you for a number of pampering sessions. Also, saunas and steam rooms are available to help relax your body after a good workout. As a member at Woodside, you even get to enjoy membership specials and privileges at one of Kansas City’s premiere golf courses, The National.
Spin Classes – Mojo Cycling
Country Club Plaza | mojocyclingstudio.com
Want a great cardio work out but hate to run? Look no further than Mojo Cycling. These extreme, upbeat cycling classes guarantee you’ll burn over 400 calories in just 60 minutes. The vivid light shows, energizing music, and entertaining instructors create a motivational atmosphere in a beautiful studio. Aside from getting in that all so important cardio, Mojo’s cyclists leave each class session knowing they have worked everything from their legs, abs, and even their arms.
And for those of you who seek to workout in more non traditional settings, we highly recommend you check out the following Kansas City fitness options . . .
Indoor Climbing Gym & Yoga Studio – RoKC
North Kansas City, MO | climbkc.com
The full body workout, adrenalin rush, and thrill of rock climbing in the safe and weather controlled atmosphere of a gym.
Barre Classes – Pure Barre
Overland Park, KS | purebarre.com/KS-overlandpark
Ballet inspired fitness classes that mix the elements of Pilates, yoga, and dance into one full body workout.
Aerial Fitness Training & Aerial Yoga Center – Learning 2 Fly
Mission, KS | iamlearning2fly.com
This one-of-a-kind workout fuses together stretching style exercises, core focused aerial moves, and silk hammocks to help create a strength training and balance-centered workout.
Zumba classes – Amore Dance
Overland Park, KS | amoredance.com
Dance exercise classes that incorporate Latin style dance moves to the sound of hip-hop, pop, & R&B music for a sweat-filled cardio workout.
If you’re not a runner, don’t sign up for the Kansas City Marathon. If the loud grunts coming from Crossfit classes make your ears bleed, then don’t join a Crossfit class. If you can’t handle a yoga session without bursting out in laughter, then put the yoga mat away. You don’t have to love every kind of workout, but you should try to find the one that works the best for your body and your personality!