Looking for a way to spice up your workout routine? Lifting weights at the gym and going for a nice run can sometimes get repetitive and boring. While the University of Iowa’s Campus and Recreation Wellness Center offers many great options for working out, it can be nice to give a new workout program a try. Here are a few options that take place in Iowa City and can give your old routine a kick in the butt.
1. Farrells Extreme Bodyshaping
The name alone sounds tough. Farrell’s Extreme Bodyshaping is a 10 week program that occurs in four sessions throughout the year; spring, summer, fall and winter. Six days a week, Farrell’s gives you tough, alternating workouts in the form of hardcore kickboxing and resistance training. There’s multiple class times throughout the day to work with a changing schedule.
Farrell’s provides you with kickboxing gloves, wrist wraps, a nutritional guidebook and a coach to help keep you focused and driven. While the cost may seem a bit daunting for a college budget, don’t worry. They are constantly offering 40% off deals on both their site and Groupon. If you sign up, be ready for orientation where you run a timed mile and do as many sit-ups and push-ups as you can in a minute. At both the five-week and ten-week mark, you’ll be measured and do your trials again just to see how much you’ve improved.
2. Hothouse Yoga
Looking to try a bit of downword dog or the child’s pose? Then Hothouse Yoga is the perfect place for you. It’s name describes just what it is. You’ll be doing yoga in a heated room that’ll make you sweat like crazy. While it may sound kind of gross, just think of all of the toxins and water weight you’ll be getting out of your body.
Whether you are experienced or just beginning yoga, this studio offers many class times suited to your schedule. Hothouse isn’t the cheapest in the area, but they do offer great student discounts that are about 20% cheaper than normal prices. If you aren’t sure that you want to commit to yoga, Hothouse offers an unlimited week of yoga for just $20 bucks to get you started. All you need to bring is a large towel and a yoga mat. If you don’t have either, you can easily rent one from the studio.
3. Crossfit Epic
It seems as if Crossfit has become rapidly popular in the last couple of years. These workouts are composed of short bursts of movements at a high intensity level. Crossfit epic offers several classes throughout the day and you can go as little as two, three or five days a week. You can also specialize your workouts in either weight lighting, endurance or even an individual program where a coach will work with you to get the best results you want.
If you sign up for Crossfit Epic, don’t be surprised if you pick up a new language. Between WOD (workout of the day) and AMRAP (as many reps as possible) you can impress your friends and a few cute guys with your knowledge along with your hot bod. If you like Crossfit enough, maybe we’ll see you on the big screen during the Crossfit Olympics.