In a treadmill rut?

If your usual gym routine is getting a little stale, there are plenty of other fitness companies that are hungry for your business right now in Cork.

As well as the usual mix of boot camps and Zumba groups, yoga sessions, and boxing classes, we’re beginning to see a new thirst for workouts that are on the more extreme side of the scale.

These are the classes that are guaranteed to get your heart pumping and leave you drenched in sweat so bring a towel, remember to hydrate and don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Here are three new classes to try this week:

1. ROWR

Where: ROWR, Unit 6, Monahan Road Industrial Estate, Monahan Road

This 50-minute class uses indoor rowing machines to provide low-impact, high-intensity cardio training interspersed with interval floor exercises for a total body workout (it actually works out 85% of your muscles at once).

It’s an intense and challenging class set to high-energy music with motivating instructors encouraging you to race yourself with every stroke. Newbies are encouraged to arrive ten minutes early for their first class to get a quick tutorial.

Check out the timetable here.

2. INFERNO HOT PILATES
Where: Bikram Yoga Cork, Tramore Road

This 60-minute high-intensity workout is based on Pilates principles and promises to strengthen muscles and burn fat ‘without the pounding of a high impact workout’.

It takes place in a heated room so you can expect to work up a sweat fast, plus there’s plenty of high energy movement and motivating music to keep you interested. It’s suitable for all fitness levels but they advise a quick chat with an instructor first if you have wrist or shoulder injuries.

Check out the timetable here. 

3. POUND

Pound with Petra holds classes in Ballincollig and Blarney.

Burning up to 900 calories per session (yowtch) this exhilarating full-body workout combines cardio, conditioning, and strength training with yoga and pilates-inspired movements. Everyone holds Ripstix, lightly weighted drumsticks and drums their way through the workout to some catchy music.

By the end of a 45-minute POUND class, you’ll have done up to 15,000 reps, 30 extended interval peaks, and drummed through more than 70 techniques.

Check out the timetable here.