The best workouts to kick off 2018

Barre on Ice with Define London
For a workout with a difference, head to Canary Wharf’s skating rink on 3 February for London’s first barre class on ice. Led by Define London’s founder Ashley Verma, a former Broadway actress whose unique ballet-inspired method is designed to elongate the body and improve strength, the invigorating mat-based class will incorporate 30 minutes of energetic postures and half an hour of relaxing stretches. Afterwards, you’ll be treated to a delicious Botanical Brunch at the D&D London restaurant Plateau and will take home a Sweaty Betty goodie bag.

Dynamic Pilates at Heartcore
The signature workout at Heartcore’s nine London studios, this highly effective class combines strength and conditioning with the mind-body focus associated with traditional pilates. Using reformer-style machines to adjust resistance levels and assist with posture changes, you’ll work through a series of exercises targeted at specific muscles, and will leave feeling energised and flexible.

HIIT & Chill at Frame
The London-based fitness studio, which has outposts in Shoreditch, King’s Cross, Queen’s Park and Victoria (with new branches opening in Hammersmith and Fitzrovia in late January), is launching a brand-new fitness concept combining 30 minutes of meditation with 30 minutes of HIIT. You’ll get all your muscles moving to a soundtrack of deep electronic music, before being submerged in a sound bath for a restorative meditation session.

Glide and Sculpt at Paola’s Body Barre
Created by Paola di Lanzo, this superb workout at the Fulham studio offers the best of both worlds, fusing fast-paced HIIT with ballet-barre conditioning to strengthen and tone your muscles as well as giving you a burst of cardio. Simple equipment, such as gliders, weights and resistance bands, aid your workout without being offputting to beginners.

Yoga at Triyoga
With six locations across the city, London’s leading yoga and pilates centre is popular for a reason: it guarantees results. Through the practice of physical postures, meditation, breath work and chanting, you’ll feel more relaxed and peaceful, better aware of yourself and the world around you, and on top physical form.

Boxing at Another Space
Free yourself of any lingering aggression – and test your body to the limits – at one of the high-energy boxing and HIIT classes at Another Space in Covent Garden, where you’ll boost your metabolism in order to burn extra calories for hours afterwards. Alternatively, visit the Bank site (launching on 15 January) to try a Mash-Up class, which blends two contrasting yet complementary disciplines.

Dynamic pilates at Ten Health & Fitness
If you’re already a practised yogi, up the ante this year and try a dynamic pilates class at one of Ten’s studios in Mayfair, the City, Notting Hill or Hatton Garden. Intense and dynamic, this workout incorporates elements from various disciplines, including circuits, weights and spin. You’ll end up with better posture, a stronger core and longer, leaner muscles.

Latin Burn at Danceworks
This Latin dance-based fitness class is a fantastic cardiovascular workout that’s so much fun you’ll forget you’re exercising. Set to authentic Latin music and taught primarily by Latin-American dancers, the session will help strengthen your muscles, correct poor posture, improve coordination and promote self-confidence.

Metcore at Form
This unique 50-minute workout at Notting Hill’s Form Studio blends pilates with metabolic conditioning to improve core strength, stamina, flexibility, balance and cardiovascular fitness. Your resting metabolic rate will remain elevated after the session, which will mean you’ll go on burning calories.

Personal training at Roar Fitness
You can’t train much harder than with an Olympic athlete, which is why Roar Fitness isn’t for the faint-hearted. Under the watchful eye of your personal trainer, and supplied with the highest-quality equipment, you’ll work steadily towards your agreed goal, whether that’s improved sports performance, fat loss or muscle building.

Dog Of The Week

Nearly there...