10 fun fitness classes for people who hate working out

Your favourite childhood pastime will become your latest workout obsession. Build your core and tone your body in these high energy hoop dance sessions. Best of all? The class is taught at a steady pace (no hoop or dance experience is required).

Sugar Hoops ($10 drop-in class, sugarhoops.com)

Hang 10 with the latest total body workout taught on surfboards. These surf-inspired classes combine interval training with surfing and are a surefire way to burn calories while sculpting your body and building strength. Taught by certified fitness instructors and surfing junkies alike, you’re guaranteed to achieve a surfer’s body in no time (and you don’t even have to get your hair wet!).

Surfset Toronto ($20 first time drop-in class, surfsettoronto.com)

You can burn up to 1,000 calories per hour (that’s almost two McDonald’s Big Macs!) with Sky Zone’s insanely fun SkyRobics class. The class is a lively combination of calisthenics and aerobics. Oh, and did we mention you’ll be jumping on wall-to-wall trampolines? Enough said.

Sky Zone ($13 per class, skyzone.com)

You know you’ve been dying to learn the moves to Queen Bey’s “Single Ladies” since ‘08. Now you can in Nicky’s Beyography dance classes. In two hours you’ll learn a choreographed routine inspired by Beyoncé‘s hit music videos. Work up a sweat while dancing to songs like “Feeling Myself,” “Hold Up,” “Yonce,” and more. For a more diva-like vibe, dancers are encouraged to rock heels.

Beyography ($20 per class, beyography.com)

Quite possibly the greatest arm workout ever, Afterburn offers dragon boat clinics in Toronto’s only dragon boat paddling pool. This unique class combines one hour of in-pool paddling with one hour of strength and conditioning training. Not only will this class improve your fitness, but you’ll also learn the art of dragon boat: a paddle sport with deep roots in China’s history.

Afterburn Performance Fitness Inc. ($180 for a 10 week program, afterburnfitness.ca)

Work out and show off your sexy side in Toronto’s first and largest pole dance studio. Brass Vixens offers a full range of classes for students of all levels. Develop your upper body, core strength and flexibility as you learn all the pole-dancing basics. Getting ready for your first class? Don’t forget to wear tight-fitting workout clothes (preferably shorts and a tank top) that allow for easy movement.

Brass Vixens ($79 intro offer, brassvixens.com)

Fulfilling all of your Little Mermaid fantasies, AquaMermaid offers a variety of mermaid swimming classes. This new fitness discipline challenges individuals to use their core to propel themselves forward, seeing as legs are bound and have limited mobility. Mermaid tail rental included.

AquaMermaid ($60 per class, aquamermaid.com)

Traditional yoga? Somewhat boring. Suspension yoga? Totally cool. While the hour and a half class won’t make you exert too much energy, it’s a great way to rest and restore your body and your mind.

FLOAT Suspension Yoga (Accepts donations, floatsuspensionyoga.com)

TBH we’ve wanted to burlesque ever since Christina Aguilera showed us how it’s done in her hit movie. In this Burlesque Teaser class, individuals of all levels will burn calories while learning the basic art of tease.

Toronto School of Burlesque ($20 drop-in class, torontoschoolofburlesque.com)

The Monkey Vault is one place where you can literally act like a monkey. Their 10,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor space is ideal for those who love parkour basics: running, jumping and climbing (a.k.a. things that will make you break a serious sweat). Train on your own or join one of their many fitness classes.

The Monkey Vault ($20 per class, themonkeyvault.com)