Fitness

As of 24 December, New Zealand’s adventure capital has officially welcomed a seriously luxe new wellness destination, with The Bathhouse Spa Queenstown now open and ready for soaking.

Meet Watershed: Queenstowns’ very own, purpose-built sauna, floating on Lake Wakatipu.  Just a stones’ throw from the CBD, it’s officially opening this December. 

If you’re a pilates addict or a cardio junkie, you’ll know that while both kinds of workouts are body sculpting in their own way, both are missing something. Pilates gets you that beast-level core and perky glutes, but it doesn’t really get the heart racing, while a good HIIT or cardio session will burn calories and have you out of breath—but won’t help you achieve long lean muscles and serious core stability. 

Formally a mezzanine micro-studio perched above a hairdressers in Auckland CBD, So Fitness has got some brand new digs and we’re here for it. 

Have you heard about the boxing gym that is taking Auckland by storm? Well, let us introduce you to Studio Box. With a Newmarket location already under its wing, a brand new studio has opened up in the city that has evolved the studio's signature workout into a 45-minute, 10-round, full-body cardio and strength class.

Let’s be honest, who has time to work out these days? Yep, we understand the struggle. But what if we told you, you can get fit in just 20 minutes a week?! It sounds too good to be true, right? Wrong! Due to high demand, Auckland's first and only boutique EMS studio fu/nis has just opened a second outpost in Takapuna, bringing their fun and efficient training methods to the grateful citizens of the shore.

Prepare to get your endorphins fired up in a blood pumping and strengthening sweat session that will get you hooked after the first try. 

Let’s be honest, who has time to workout these days? Yep, we understand the struggle. But what if we told you, you can get fit in just 20 minutes a week?! It sounds too good to be true, right? Wrong!

When it comes to pilates, Reform Fitness do things a little differently. Forget that holistic, soul searching stuff. Reform Fitness are all about body enhancing, muscle trembling dynamic reformer pilates. Their full-bod workouts promise to provide a euphoric experience and enhance your body. They have a range of classes catering to all skill levels as well as—our favourite—a cardiolates class that combines high intensity interval training with pilates.

Want to work out but don’t want to slave away in the gym for hours? Then you’re in the right place—check out SALA, a gym with a difference. With the belief that movement and mindfulness are two sides of the same coin, SALA offers a variety of immersive classes that will have you sweating away your troubles in no time.

Just when you thought the fitness scene in Auckland couldn’t get any better, new kid on the block Playground Fitness is taking it up a notch by putting the fun back into fitness. Think nightclub-inspired lighting, state-of-the-art cardio and weights equipment, immersive music, and short 'n' snappy sets that'll get your heart rate up in no time.

Tucked away in the centre of Newmarket lies a little powerhouse with a big heart. Studio Box is quickly gaining a cult following amongst those who want the benefits of a high energy boxing session without the ‘bouts and the brawn’. The brainchild of former Black Sticks Star Dwayne Rowsell, the purpose-built space has been designed to help you get the most out of your work out without distractions. Guided through 10 rounds one-on-one with your water-filled bag by an impossibly fit boxing coach with dim lighting, a pumping sound system and choreographed moves, you’ll be motivated to keep on your toes for the 45-minute session.

North Shore residents, listen up—there's a new kid on the café block, and we'd like to introduce you. She's charming, isn't afraid to have fun and most importantly, knows her way around food. Her name is Patch.

Editor’s Note: This venue is permanently closed

Editor’s Note: This venue is permanently closed

Just a short distance from the shores of Takapuna Beach is Studio Pilates. This seaside studio is vibrant, fresh and full of energy with innovative video technology. Their top quality instructors encourage and motivate you to go beyond your limits and connect with yourself and others. You can choose your pick from 40 classes per week on offer. And, if you're up for something more, try their 30 Day Challenges or grab yourself a class pack. Choose from the Starter, 10, 25 or 50. 

So maybe you’ve cycled before. And maybe you’ve hit a dance floor in da club (or should we say your mate’s house party?). But have you experienced both at the same time? If you were a Westward-goer or have hit the likes of Soul Cycle, Psycle or Euphoria overseas, that’ll be a Hell Yes. If not, let me catch you up to speed. 

Editor’s Note: This venue is permanently closed

Relive the joys of your trampoline days at Avondale’s Uptown Bounce. This supersized trampoline park has more than 50 interconnected trampolines—some of which are angled so you can literally bounce off the walls. You’ll also find a trampoline dodgeball area, Olympic trampolines, rock climbing wall and a battle beam where the loser falls into a foam pit. Book in for a one-hour session or sign up for one of their trampoline exercise classes (yes, it’s a thing).  

Nothing feels as good as a sweet yoga sesh. Lucky for us, Yoga West has set up shop in Titirangi and is spreading peace and good vibes all around town. Let’s start by talking about their impressive selection of yoga classes: they’ve got Vinyasa for an energising kick, Yin for a chill stretch and Slow Flow for something calming. Not to mention pregnancy yoga for those mumma-to-bes out there! Staying in theme with helping people keep healthy, zen and happy, Yoga West also offers meditation sessions, health and wellness consultations as well as massage therapy. Yoga West is the ultimate destination if you’re wanting to bring bliss and balance into your life.

Northern Arena offers all kinds of exercise options in one complete membership to get your heart pumpin’ and your bod sweating. This Auckland gym has swimming pools and swim classes for anyone looking to make a splash while they get active. There’s a full gym of equipment to use as well as more than 115 of group fitness classes per week. The group sessions range from yoga and circuit training to aqua fitness and boxing—there’s something for everyone. For you active parents, there’s even a supervised play area where you can leave your sprogs while you get busy breaking that sweat!

Epic Training Studios is, err, truly epic and unlike any gym you’ve experienced before. There’s no such thing as one size fits all here. Instead, the friendly folk will assess your movement to identify any imbalances, weakness and strengths to create safe and effective training programmes suited to your needs and ability. They’ve got a range of options for you to try from strength and cardio training to heart rate training and recovery routines. Their signature workout is 30 minutes of high intensity interval training so brace yourself for some serious sweating. They also offer nutrition and lifestyle advice to help you achieve your #gymgoals. 

Located in Rosedale, CrossFit Auckland was established in 2008 with a second gym opening more recently in Ponsonby. As the name might just give away, CrossFit Auckland specialise in 60-minute CrossFit sessions designed to strength and condition your bod. If you're short on time, they offer a 30-minute QuickFit high intensity workout—the perfect lunchtime workout. With other workout options such as Barbell Club and XLR8 outdoor training, CrossFit Auckland is the perfect place for a killer workout.

Xtend Barre has made its way to Auckland and found a home in Ponsonby. The fitness craze merges pilates and dance together to create an adrenaline-filled workout that strengthens, lengthens and chisels the body. With each class featuring an elegant yet energetic array of movements that enhance flexibility, improve balance and challenge the core, Xtend Barre will have you dancing in no time—if you can move the next morning that is. 

Located in Parnell and Auckland Domain, Shape In The City have bootcamps for all fitness levels. With a simple mission to help you achieve your fitness goals, these guys will whip you into shape. The three bootcamp offerings include HIIT IT, Bikini Body and Express 30 HIT and all promise to be energising, fast-paced and motivating, all to help you achieve those fitness goals.

With CrossFit in the name this gym might sound a little intimidating, but fear not. CrossFit Kia Maia’s main focus is to create a safe and friendly environment for its members. Specialising in CrossFit, group fitness, personal training, Olympic lifting, gymnastics, strength, conditioning and overall fitness, the CrossFit Kia Maia team are fully committed to getting the best results for their clients.  

We get it. Not everyone loves working out. If you’re looking to add a bit of fun to your fitness regime, Uptown Bounce in Grey Lynn is the place to go. This indoor trampolining hub lets you bounce your way to health with connected tramps, basketball hoops, dodge balls, jelly pits, bounce walls AND vaults. Uptown Bounce also has a bounce fitness class every Tuesday and Wednesday. It’s a low-impact way to tone muscle, improve co-ordination and have a bunch of fun while you’re at it. They also have toddler time sessions Monday to Friday—so you can settle in with a coffee while your little one bounces about. 

Ever wanted to run away and join the circus? The Dust Palace in Penrose is your chance to release your inner cirque star without going too far from home. This studio specialises in physical and circus theatre but also offers classes that will have you dabbling in all sorts of fancy acts: silks, trapeze, aerial hoop, rope, adagio, acrobatics and handstands, to name a few. Not only that—a class at The Dust Palace will help you build confidence, strength and build up your co-ordination, no matter whether you’re a wee tot or adult. They also run shows if you’d rather sit back and watch someone else do the tricks. 

When it comes to pilates, Reform Fitness do things a little differently. Forget that holistic, soul searching stuff. Reform Fitness are all about body enhancing, muscle trembling dynamic reformer pilates. Their full-bod workouts promise to provide a euphoric experience and enhance your body. They have a range of classes catering to all skill levels as well as—our favourite—a cardiolates class that combines high intensity interval training with pilates.

You can dance, you can lift, you can boogie or you can do the best of them all—flow. The Flow Academy of Motion in Highland Park focuses on modern flows including parkour, free-running, breakdancing, martial arts, tumbling, circus acro and more. Flow Academy runs open sessions staffed by pros and give you the freedom to train alone or be guided through different skills. 

Editor’s Note: This venue is permanently closed

Quite literally fitness with a twist, Powerhoop in Howick takes the art of hula hooping to a whole new level. A 45-minute class will trim your waist, flatten your tum, strengthen your core and have you working up a sweat in no time. Powerhoops are weighted, starting from 1.6kg to 2.1kg and can help with lower back pain and poor posture. And best of all? It’s a fun way to get fit. The Howick studio is open based on class timings so head here for details. 

If you like to add a little variety to your exercise regime, head along to Studio 3 for a trio of your fave exercises—yoga, pilates and barre. This includes Xtend Barre™, which fuses dance, pilates and sculpting exercises at the ballet barre for a toned body—fast. Hop to!

For an oasis in the central city, head to Abundance for total nourishment of your mind, body and soul. Offering yoga, pilates and barre beautiful classes, all within a beautiful environment, Abundance is truly an escape from the busyness and stress of modern life. 

The Auckland Yoga Academy is a great location for both students and teachers alike. For overall health and wellbeing, unwind and de-stress with ashtanga and hatha yoga. There are also meditation/mindfulness classes and chanting. If you’d prefer a little more privacy, there’s also one-on-one session and if yoga is seriously your thing, you can even train as a teacher. 

For those days when you just need to punch something, Boxing Central is where it’s at. With instructors who are former and current fighters, these guys know exactly what they’re doing, to push and motivate you to get in the best shape possible. They hold classes such as Boxfit, Probox and Crossbox, to BoxOffice Basics, Oni Stretch and Zero as well as Hero—perfect for those who still want a raging workout but aren’t in any rush to get in the ring. There’s one thing you can be sure of—Boxing Central will have you burning fat and toning those muscles in no time. 

Urban Ashram believes that everyone can benefit from practicing yoga, and their Ponsonby studio is definitely the place to do it. With classes to assist you in being strong, centred, aligned and mindful, Urban Ashram is a welcoming environment to relax and unwind in. Every Thursday night, the Yoga Lab hosts workshops, master classes, events and guest teachers to help you deepen your yoga practice. 

Nestled in Grey Lynn is one of Auckland’s best yoga studios. Yoga Ground is perfect for beginners and those wanting to find balance in their minds and lives. The studio is flooded with natural light and helps you find your flow one class at a time. Yoga Ground also hosts retreats in the Coromandel and Bali.

Golden Yogi in Takapuna understands that everyone has a different yoga style and practice it for different reasons. From vinyasa, yin yoga, kundalini (deep meditation) and align and flow, to restorative, kids and pregnancy, Golden Yogi has classes for every age and ability. Keep an eye out for events as they host regular workshops, retreats and talks. 

Situated in Stonefields, OM Yoga Studio will help you breathe, move and flow without aches and pains in no time. With a focus on yin, vinyasa and locating trigger points, OM offers classes for every level of fitness and flexibility. 

Located in Kingsland, The Centre is a serene yoga studio run by some of Auckland’s best yoga teachers and natural health therapists. They offered yoga, meditation, naturopathy, massage therapy and hypnotherapy as well as a number of different health services. The Centre lives on top of Little Bird Unbakery—the perfect place to pick up your post yoga snack. 

Whether you’re a yoga novice or as limber as can be, the team at beautiful new studio EastWest Yoga Newmarket will take you on a yogic journey through Vinyasa, Yin, Yoga Nidra, Ashtanga and Yin Yang. The 22 classes a week range from 60 minutes to 90 minutes, depending on your fitness level and lifestyle. Joining the sister studio in Ponsonby, an EastWest membership now gives students access to both sites.

Keen to embrace yoga but don’t know where to start? EastWest Yoga in Ponsonby will help you learn the basics and get a killer workout at the same time. Located on Ponsonby Road, this yoga studio specialises in hot hatha, power vinyasa and yin classes. You can opt for different packages depending on your lifestyle. 

*Update: Now an online offering only.*

If you like to heat things up a bit, then head to Britomart for some bikram yoga. A series of 26 hatha yoga postures, combined with two pranyama breathing techniques, it’s designed to help you have an invigorating yet rejuvenating yoga experience. The Bikram Yoga Britomart studio temperature is kept at 40 degrees for the optimum workout. 

Kingsland’s Habitat For Fitness is exactly what it says it is—a habitat for getting super duper fit, and having fun while you’re at it. Group training is the main focus at Habitat For Fitness, with heart pumping, endorphin inducing classes such as Tabata, Barre Attack and TRX. 

They may have been around for a hundred years, but The Teps are still as popular as ever. With two pools, spa and sauna facilities, as well as a fitness centre, The Tepid Baths are a one-stop health location. Not only this, but there’s also an on-site café for your caffeine fix post-workout. Get up bright and early for a swim before work or pop by for a dip after work. 

Editor’s Note: This venue is permanently closed

Want a workout but don’t wanna slave away in a gym? Check out ActivZone in Glenfield. In case you couldn’t guess, it’s a zone where you get active! Here you can get amongst inline and roller skating, table tennis, indoor soccer, inline hockey, bike polo and more! The space can also be hired for private events so if you’ve always wanted to host a roller disco, now’s your chance! 

Does anyone actually, thoroughly enjoy working out? We agree it’s hard to enjoy when you’re running to get to that free cross-trainer, or being sweated on in a class that has 20 people too many. You don’t want it to be hard work to work hard. The Exercise Room in Parnell is our little secret to a good workout. With limited membership spaces, you can enjoy The Exercise Room’s free space. If that’s not enough, The Exercise Room provides its members with individual bathroom suites, free undercover parking and 24/7 access. Talk about fancy!

Long, lean limbs are a goal for all of us, and Barrefigure will help us to achieve that with their effective 60-minute workouts. Hot on the heels of the popular barre fitness movement, the classes at Barre Figure help us to achieve that ballet dancer body without needing any dancing or coordination ability! You’re in great hands at Barrefigure—the experienced team of instructors is lead by Marysa who danced with the Royal New Zealand ballet for seven years.  

Editor’s Note: This venue is permanently closed

No matter where your level of fitness is sitting (we have a tendency to choose donuts over dumbbells), the CrossFit North Harbour community will push you to your limits in their Wairau Valley gym. Believers that fitness should be fun, CrossFit North Harbour will have you swinging from pull up bars, throwing kettlebells around, and jumping about—all in the name of getting fit fast.

Post-work iron pumping isn’t everyone’s idea of a fun time. Aracnation Aerial Fitness in St Marys Bay, however, will see you suspended in the air by two pieces of silky fabric, using your strength and flexiness to create wraps, poses, swings and drops—trust us, it’s not a scary as it sounds. An Aracnation Aerial Fitness workout targets every muscle, and since you’re using your own weight, it’s the perfect way to lean out your bod.

When solo fitness training isn’t cutting the mustard, head to the award-winning Fit Fit Fit in Grey Lynn. Fit Fit Fit offers a range of classes, expert advice and personal training. Join the Fit Squad boot camp crew, get trained by specialist trainer in Fit Bodies, stay in shape during pregnancy with Fit Bumps, or bring your bub along for the Fit Mums class. A Fit Fit Fit membership will also give you 24-hour access to some of the best exercise equipment in the city! 

The booty kicking team at AndFit like to look at the bigger picture when it comes to fitness. You won’t find any treadmills or ab machines at this family-owned CrossFit gym. Instead, you’ll be squatting, throwing, and swinging yourself into shape, one functional movement at a time. AndFit will also guide you through a nutrition plan, and with no contract or joining fees, it’s one of the best fitness deals in town.