There’s more to fitness than the treadmill. And these days, gym time doesn’t even necessarily have to be inside a gym.
You can swing from a trapeze as you learn circus arts. You can practice yoga on a farm, all while goats climb on your back. You can try your hand at pickleball, the nation’s fastest growing sport.
Yes, you can find all of these activities—and more—in Baton Rouge. You just have to know where to look. Because working out can and should be fun. More importantly, it should be whatever you want it to be.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, America’s Health Rankings, WebMD, BetterHealth Channel, Healthline, Piedmont, Columbia Association, Pumped Up SUP, Super Fly Honey, RX Resource, MedAlertHelp
Explore circus arts and more at GymFit Adventure Community Center
GymFit Adventure Community Center offers classes in circus arts for all ages. Kids and adults can hone their aerial skills in various classes with silks, straps, trapeze and slings on every weekday and Sunday mornings. GymFit is at 4343 Rhoda Drive (just off Airline Highway). gymfitbr.com
Cardio No Audio at JiggAerobics
The Louisiana-born fitness system seen on Shark Tank is like a personalized dance party. JiggAerobics gets your heart beating and feet thumping. The customizable workout is available to book for private parties, team building or with friends. Also available are virtual dance parties with the same energy and cardio workouts. jiggaerobicsfitness.com
BMX and Skateboarding at BREC’s Extreme Sports Park
The BREC Perkins Road Community Park features a 30,000-square-foot concrete skate park, a 333-meter Velodrome and a BMX track for extreme athletes of all ages. Skaters can ride from sunrise to 10 p.m. most nights and until midnight on Friday and Saturday.
Trampoline parks
A great way to get your blood pumping (and a fantastic energy outlet for kids and adults alike), trampoline parks offer active family fun. Right near the Mall of Louisiana is DEFY Baton Rouge (defy.com) with its wall-to-wall trampolines, trapeze and foam pits. In Denham Springs, give Airborne Extreme Trampoline Park (airborneextreme.com) a shot.
Archery and Ax throwing at Gotham Archery and Axe Throwing
Archery and ax throwing are fun, out-of-the-box experiences. Try an hour-long introductory course in both. Everything you need to hit the bullseye is included in the $20 archery or $25 ax-throwing packages. gothamarcherybr.com
Punch and kick your way through this high-intensity workout that combines karate, boxing, taekwondo, tai chi and muay Thai. The driving music and powerful instruction will get your blood pumping at the Perkins location of Spectrum on Tuesdays at
6 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. spectrumfitness.com
Fitness Kickboxing at BR Krav Maga
At three locations, you can take part in 30-minute workouts that consist of 10 three-minute rounds. The high-energy workouts are designed to keep your body guessing from start to finish, combining various techniques to get your heart racing for targeted strength and fat burning, as well as a chance to improve hand-eye coordination and agility, all in one workout. batonrougekravmaga.com
POWER Group Training at Iron Tribe Fitness
Train like an Olympian with the POWER class, held at Iron Tribe’s two locations. POWER helps build strength across the entire body with a blend of strength training, cardio, gymnastics and weightlifting. It utilizes the barbell in most of its workouts to build muscle while burning fat and improving metabolism. The workout incorporates Olympic powerlifting techniques in movements like the squat, deadlift and bench press. irontribebatonrouge.com
It’s the nation’s fast-growing sport, and in Baton Rouge, it’s attracting Gen Zers and Baby Boomers alike
BREC offers pickleball memberships across its various facilities starting at $7 a month. Facilities like Highland Road Community Park and Plank Road Park offer opportunities either once or twice a week in indoor venues. Greenwood Community Park’s dedicated courts are open to the public for $2 of unlimited play, seven days a week. Other BREC facilities with tennis courts offer pickleball lanes, as well. Visit brec.org to learn more, or contact BREC’s Pickleball Coordinator, Robert Kelly, at [email protected]. Information on other facilities, including The Legacy at Bonne Esperance can be found at places2play.org.
Topgolf
Topgolf brings the social-bowling-alley experience to golf: Beer, small plates and high-def TVs pair nicely with the flexible competition of the driving range. Topgolf is open seven days a week, until 11 p.m. on weekdays and Sunday, and until 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. topgolf.com/us/baton-rouge
Old Rusty Gate Farm’s goat yoga classes at 12802 Florida Blvd. in Livingston are by reservation only. To find out more about the April class and upcoming events, Follow the farm on Instagram at @oldrustygatefarm.
Sound Bath and Yogaat Ke Care Yoga & Wellness
Relax and unwind during lessons with certified yoga instructor and life coach Keke Morgan. If meditation is more what you need, try the sound bath, an immersive meditation using specific instruments to help relaxation and healing. kecareyogawellness.com
Exhale class at Yoglates
Exhale is Yoglates’ spin on Hatha yoga. The 45-minute class combines dim lighting, calm music and cool towels to emphasize active recovery. Try the rejuvenating class Thursdays at 6 p.m. or Sundays at 4 p.m. theyoglates.com
English and Western Riding Lessons at BREC Farr Park Equestrian Center
Learn how to ride for the first time or hone your skills. Lessons are offered for students ages 6 and up at multiple difficulty levels. Lessons are available by appointment between Tuesday and Friday. brec.org
Indulge Fitness classes are offered Monday through Saturday, along with private lessons and parties.
Customers can purchase membership packages or individual classes. The studio is at 1543 Delplaza Drive, Suite 3. indulgefitness.net
Line dancingat BREC
Grab a partner and join in on a line dancing class across the multiple BREC sites. Hop in for a choreographed dance with a small group in a fun, low-impact workout that gets your blood flowing. Join in on Wednesdays from 10-11 a.m. at Alsen Park, Tuesdays from 10-11 a.m. at Anna T. Jordan Community Center, and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to noon at North Sherwood Forest Community Park for Steps in Motion Line Dance Class. brec.org
Tread workout at TreadBR
The Perkins Road studio’s signature class will take you from the treadmill to the floor for an hour’s worth of upbeat cardio, sculpting and strengthening. Classes are offered mornings and evenings Monday-Friday; and in the mornings on Saturdays. treadbr.com
There are ample opportunities to explore the waterways of Baton Rouge
Paddleboard Rentals and Lessons at Muddy Water Paddle Company
Hop on a paddleboard and hit the water with Muddy Water’s lessons, starting at $35 an hour. Once you’ve gotten used to the sport, rent a board for $65 a day. You can also book group lessons and parties. muddywaterpaddleco.com
Rock climbing at Uptown Climbing
A dedicated rock climbing facility, Uptown offers a 90-foot-long bouldering wall, as well as over 60 rope stations to engage your body in ways you never thought was possible. With its various rock walls designed for both speed and strength training, the facility on Coursey Boulevard has everything amatuer and seasoned climbers need. uptownclimbing.com
Happy’s Running Club
Meet like-minded individuals with an interest in staying active while having a little fun at this non-committal social-running club. The group gathers every week at Happy’s Irish Pub on Tuesday at 6 p.m. And if running isn’t your thing, you can always walk, bring your dog on a leash or stay back and drink a beer with the Virtual Running Club. happysrunning.com
Body Sculpt’s classes are a chance to get social—at the bar or the barre studio.
Body Sculpt Barre Studio offers classes daily in Prairieville, Central, Brusly and Zachary. Book a class or find info at bodysculptbarrestudio.com.
SWEAT-BURN-SCULPT session at Evolve Studio
In a workout that combines Evolve’s two signature classes, SWEAT-BURN-SCULPTstarts with 30 minutes of heart-pumping, sweat-burning work with “Burn.” It finishes with 30 minutes of “EvolvePilates” to shape and sculpt your body. Classes are offered Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. evolvestudiosla.com
Zumba Fitness Mashup at Sweatbox
Combining high-energy music from around the world and the signature dance workout of Zumba, this Fitness Mashup brings Afro-beat sounds together with hip-hop dance moves for a workout with soul every Wednesday at 7 p.m. sweatboxbr.com
This article was originally published in the March 2022 issue of 225 magazine.
