Best Places to Workout in 2020
Get fit at one of these boutique fitness locales
Words by Sam Lauron Photos by East Austin Athletic Club, E+E Fitness, Dharma Yoga, Club Pilates
Exercising regularly is essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and mindset, but there’s no one way to work out. Whether you want to try something new or are looking for the nearest gym to join, East Austin boasts a range of places to get fit.
Yoga and Pilates
Club Pilates
Located in Plaza Saltillo, Club Pilates offers a variety of reformer-based Pilates classes. Whether you’re new to Pilates or consider yourself a pro, there’s something for everyone at Club Pilates. The class options range from full-body workouts, to high-intensity cardio-burning sessions, and even low-impact sessions that focus on stretching and restoring the muscles.
1011 E 5th St., #130 | clubpilates.com
Dharma Yoga
Founded in 2005 by native Austinite Keith Kachtick, Dharma Yoga is one of the longest running yoga studios in the area. The studio focuses on blending traditional yoga with Buddhist meditation techniques, resulting in a balanced and restorative practice. For those who want to level up their yoga practice, Dharma Yoga offers a renowned 200-hour teacher training program that has produced hundreds of yoga teachers in the Austin area.
3317 Manor Rd. | dharma-yoga.net
Practice Yoga
Thinking about dipping your toes into yoga, but aren’t sure if you want to fully commit? Consider Practice Yoga, a donation-based yoga studio. The East 6th Street studio makes accessibility a priority so that anyone can feel comfortable trying yoga or making it part of their routine. The suggested donation for a drop-in class is between $10 and $20, and they provide yoga mats free of charge.
1103 E 6th St. | practiceyogaaustin.com
Autonomy Movement
Founded by therapist, Kim Gould, Autonomy Movement is a body-positive exercise studio that promotes fitness and mental health. Free of mirrors, the space offers an inclusive and accessible place to focus solely on connecting with the body in a more compassionate and mindful way. Gould, who is also an IBBFA-certified barre instructor and a NASM-certified personal trainer, and her instructors offer barre, dance, yoga, and HIIT classes in both group and private formats.
601 Farley Dr. | autonomymovement.com
Strength and Personal Training
Travis County Strength
For those who want to focus solely on building strength, consider joining Travis County Strength. The programs at the Airport Boulevard gym are centered around the physical and mental components of strength development as a way to promote a healthy, well-rounded lifestyle.
4507 Airport Blvd. | traviscountrystrength.com
Central Athlete
If you have certain fitness goals you want to reach but a group workout isn’t your style, then consider Central Athlete. This completely custom gym provides a results-oriented training program, both remotely and on-site, that’s tailored to individual fitness goals. After taking an in depth assessment to determine your fitness level, background, and lifestyle, you’ll begin training in a program designed to your specific needs and have monthly consultations to ensure you’re on track to hit your goals.
1023 Springdale Rd., #9B | centralathlete.com
Group Workouts
E+E Fitness
E+E is on a mission to evolve and elevate fitness. Their unique format offers three types of workouts under one roof: bootcamps, kickboxing, and personal training. The full-body workouts are perfect for all levels, whether you want to try something new or have long been a fan of bootcamp-style classes. With a full locker room equipped with showers, towels, and toiletries, the boutique gym makes it convenient to work out during your lunch break or before or after work.
2400 E 6th St., #125 | eandefitness.com
Athletic Outcomes
Focused on personal and small group training, Athletic Outcomes offers a number of classes that strengthen every part of the body. Coaches lead each class, so you’ll be guided through each 45 or 60-minute full-body workout. The gym also places emphasis on the recovery process, offering an onsite recovery lounge that includes a cold tub, compression chairs, foam rollers, and massage therapy.
2301-A E Riverside Dr. #50 | athleticoutcomes.com
B3 Fitness
Led by “Brooklyn” Brian Brown, B3 Fitness takes a refreshing approach to exercise through their outdoor training sessions. The 60-minute HIIT-style classes take place at the Mueller Lake Park hangar and focus on strength, cardio, and conditioning. With five sessions offered a day, B3 Fitness makes it easy to fit in a quick workout no matter what your schedule looks like.
4209 Airport Blvd. | bbbrownfitness.com
East Austin Athletic Club
Accountability is one of the driving factors behind creating a consistent exercise routine. The community at East Austin Athletic Club is on a mission to help keep you on track with your fitness goals. Classes at this gym, which include HIIT and strength conditioning, are technology-tracked and can be tailored to your personal fitness goals, whether that’s building muscle or improving cardio.
4909 E Cesar Chavez St., Suite C | eastaustinathleticclub.com
Orangetheory Fitness
A HIIT style workout, Orangetheory Fitness focuses on strength, power, and endurance through running, rowing, and lifting. The ‘theory’ part that the name refers to is based on heart rate levels. Attendees wear a heart monitor during class, and depending on how high your heart rate gets, it will determine how long after the workout that you will continue burning calories. With two East Austin locations, one in Mueller and the newest addition in Plaza Saltillo, Eastsiders don’t need to travel far to see what this chain is all about.
1211 E 5th St. | saltillo.orangetheoryfitness.com
Recovery
StretchLab
If you live an active lifestyle, it’s important to give your muscles a break. That’s where stretching comes in. With a new location on Aldrich Street in Mueller, StretchLab offers assisted stretching sessions to improve flexibility, recover from an injury, or release tension. A stretch routine is beneficial to anyone, whether you exercise often or are hunched over your desk most days. StretchLab offers one-on-one sessions and group sessions led by trained flexologists.
2200 Aldrich St., #110 | stretchlab.com
