When it comes to fitness, many celebrities employ the best, most renowned trainers to get the physique we all dream of having. While we can’t always afford to snag Hollywood’s hottest fitness trainers, there are other options – celebrities also love group workout classes that are available to average fitness junkies, too!
From dance workouts favored by Julianne Hough and Lea Michele to full body workout blasts like Barry’s Bootcamp (which is a Kim Kardashian favorite), you, too can get your sweat on at the stars’ favorite workout spots. If you dream of looking like a Victoria’s Secret Angel or you just want to tone up your summer bod, you’re in luck. Keep on reading to see 16 celebrity-approved workout classes that you can try, too!
16. Ballet Beautiful
It’s no secret that professional ballerinas are insanely in shape – years of rigorous training leads to strong, toned muscles and a lean physique. But we can’t all be the next Misty Copeland, so Mary Helen Bowers, an alum of the New York City Ballet company, created Ballet Beautiful, a high-energy workout class that aims to sculpt and tone muscles you’ve never even used before. It takes inspiration from true ballet teachings, so instead of spending an hour on the treadmill, you’re burning calories by doing barre work, cardio, and toning movements. The Victoria’s Secret Angels are fans of this workout, too!
In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Mary said that they’re always coming to class when they aren’t traveling, so if you’ve dreamed of looking like an Angel, this is the workout for you. There are two Ballet Beautiful locations in New York City but workouts can also be streamed online, so you’ll be looking like Gigi Hadid in no time.
15. Dog Pound
Dog Pound is another high impact class that Victoria’s Secret Angels love – one look at Adriana Lima’s Instagram feed shows she’s always getting her sweat on with this workout. Located in New York City, it combines a mix of cardio, yoga, ballet training, and core work to give you a head to toe sweat. One session can burn 700 calories, so it’s not hard to see why the VS Angels love it so much. Though the gym is based in New York, you can modify this workout for yourself by upping your cardio time and adding in more repetition of toning movements. When it comes to weight loss, keep in mind that burning calories is a huge part of seeing the change you want to see, so high-impact workouts like this are what you want to aim for!
14. SoulCycle
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that SoulCycle is pretty much everyone’s favorite trendy workout – and for good reason! Each 45 minute to an hour-long session is set to good music, the lights are dimmed, and a room full of participants on stationary bikes are led by a trained professional who leads you through bike movements and offers words of encouragement to keep you going. It seems like every celeb has been spotted leaving a SoulCycle studio, but some of the most frequent bikers are Lea Michele, Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, and Lady Gaga. There are SoulCycle studios (and other similar cycle franchises) located all throughout the United States, so you can definitely find a bike near you. Most gyms also have bikes with pre-programmed workouts in the system, so you can create a similar workout yourself.
13. Sweat by Kayla Itsines
Kayla Itsines is an Australian workout queen – she’s created a massive fitness empire, and it’s all because of her app Sweat with Kayla. It contains an entire guide to getting fit and living a healthy lifestyle. In addition to eating guides, user forums, and a blog with tips, it’s home to her popular workout program: Bikini Body Guide (or BBG). It’s a 12-week program that uses 27-minute interval training workouts that you only have to do three days a week. It’s designed to blast your abs, legs, and arms, so when you’re done the 12 weeks, you’ll see a major body transformation. This workout is beloved by users, and her Instagram is home to a community of people who share their transformation pictures. Katherine Heigl even shared her own transformation photos to her Instagram – the truth is in the pictures, and if you stick with BBG, you will see results!
12. Pop Physique
Mindy Kaling, Diane Kruger and Brie Larson are huge fans of Pop Physique – an ‘80s aerobics inspired workout class that makes working out fun. In 2014, Mindy told The Chalkboard Mag, “If I could do one workout for the rest of my life, it would be a two to three-mile run followed by a Pop Physique class…Pop makes me feel flexible and strong.” It also incorporates ballet barre techniques and pilates to increase your metabolism and start burning calories. There are Pop Physique locations throughout California, New York, and Canada – but if there isn’t a studio near you, you can purchase a DVD online to bring the workout to your own home. Each DVD session is led by real Pop Physique instructors, and as this workout gets more popular, it keeps showing up in new studios across the country!
11. Dancebody
Similarly to Ballet Beautiful, Dancebody relies on classic dance training to deliver an intense workout, though Dacebody focuses less on ballet techniques and more on high-intensity cardio moves to strengthen and shape muscles. As a professional dancer herself, Julianne Hough frequently documents her Dancebody workouts on Instagram. So if you’ve dreamed of being a professional dancer or you just want to look like Julianne, this workout is for you.
10. Gotham Gym
Located in New York City, Gotham Gym is home to intense boxing workouts, and it’s a favorite of celeb sisters Bella Hadid and Gigi Hadid. From beginner training, including learning proper footwork and technique and even self-defense tactics, to advanced sessions, you’ll be a boxing pro at no time at Gotham Gym. If you aren’t based in New York City, you can find boxing training centers located all around the United States to get your own version of the Hadid’s favorite workout. If you can’t stand the typical boring gym routine, you might love switching it up with boxing!
9. New York Pilates
If you’re looking for an intense, full-body workout, Pilates is for you. Emma Roberts is frequently seen at New York Pilates getting a sweat in, but any pilates studio near you will give you the same effect. In one session, you’ll get a choreographed mix of classic pilates and modern movements that strengthen and tone your muscles while improving your posture, core strength, and flexibility. Other celebs that swear by pilates include Kate Hudson, Reese Witherspoon, and Mandy Moore.
8. The Bar Method
Grab your friends and hit the bar – the workout bar, that is. The Bar Method is just one of many studios that incorporates barre techniques from dance. As they become more and more popular, more barre studios are popping up all over the country, and it’s not hard to see why. Stars like Lucy Hale, Zooey Deschanel, Kelly Ripa and Drew Barrymore are fans of barre workouts because it combines pilates, weight training, yoga, and traditional dance barre work to give you an intense workout that strengthens and tones from head to toe. If you’re over your Zumba workouts and want to try something new, this could be the perfect workout for you.
7. Brooklyn Strength
Girls star Jemima Kirke is frequently getting her sweat on at Brooklyn Strength – a Brooklyn based Pilates studio that takes typical pilates training to the next level. While this workout relies on basic pilates training, it uses harder, more advanced techniques including springboards, poles, cardio intervals, and weight training to give you an even more intense workout. If you aren’t near Brooklyn, you can search for Pilates studios near you that offer advanced sessions or workouts – anything that takes pilates to the next level will give you an unrivaled sweat session!
6. Piloxing
Pilates and boxing are two of the hardest, most intense workouts you can do. What happens when you combine them? That’s piloxing. In just one session of a piloxing class, you can burn up to 900 calories! Celebs like Alexis Bledel, Ashley Tisdale and Hilary Duff love this workout because there’s nothing else like it! Piloxing works to blast fat, burn calories, and tone in no time. There are piloxing classes located all throughout the world, and you can find your nearest location on the website. If you’re ready to shake up your workout routine, work out hard, and get fit fast – this one’s for you!
5. Barry’s Bootcamp
Ellie Goulding sings about letting her fire burn, burn, burn, burn, but what’s really going to burn are your muscles after taking a Barry’s Bootcamp fitness class. Ellie is a notorious fan of this absolutely wild workout class – it’s been voted “Best Celebrity Workout” by multiple magazines and online publications, and it’s a favorite of celebs like Kim Kardashian, Carrie Underwood and Amanda Seyfried. One class can burn 1,000 calories as it uses interval training to give you an intense body-morphing workout. It combines cardio like treadmill runs and resistance training (with everything from kettlebells, elastic bands, and body bars) to give you a workout unlike anything you’ve tried before. While this class definitely isn’t for beginners, consider working your way up to a Barry’s Bootcamp class. Studios are located all over the country, and through your body may hurt after, it’ll thank you!
4. Strong, Sexy, & Svelte
The name of this workout says it all. Created by celebrity fitness trainer Kristin McGee, Strong, Sexy, & Svelte uses three workouts to help you get the body you want: dumbbell toning, Pilates core work, and power yoga. According to her website testimonials, some of her famous fans include Savannah Guthrie, Steve Martin, Tina Fey, and Bethenny Frankel. While she hosts weekly workout classes in New York City, Kristin frequently travels, offering group classes and events on the road. She also offers digital downloads of her workouts, so you don’t have to worry about finding an event near you – you can get the workout in your own home.
3. Aerobox
Another boxing workout, Aerobox is just one of the fitness classes offered at Aerospace High-Performance Center. Located in both New York City and Hollywood, this workout center offers a number of workouts including boxing, barre, jump, and power. The website calls this workout “the most savage and serene workout experience on the planet,” so, there’s that. Savage? And serene? We need to know more. Models like Doutzen Kroes, Martha Hunt and Adriana Lima frequently attend Aerobox classes, so you know it’s good. Other celeb fans include Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal and Shay Mitchell. If you’re too far away from a studio, Aerospace streams workouts online, so you can get this intense workout in the comfort of your own home.
2. The Tracy Anderson Method
Lena Dunham and Gwyneth Paltrow are huge fans of The Tracy Anderson Method, a cardio and strength workout created by celebrity fitness trainer Tracy Anderson. In an Instagram post about the program, Lena said The Tracy Anderson Method “has helped with my anxiety in ways I never dreamed possible.” She also thanked Tracy for “showing me the light,” so you know this workout provides results. There are studio locations in New York, California, and Spain, but Tracy also offers an online studio where you can stream workouts for yourself.
1. Body by Simone
Body by Simone, or BBS, is beloved by celebs because it offers a fun workout; in addition to using high-intensity dance cardio and strength training, many classes use light weights (like kettlebells), body bands, and even trampolines to offer an intense, sculpting workout. Celebs like Julianne Hough and Lea Michele frequently hit up BBS classes and it’s not hard to see why. Created by Simone de la Rue, a former Broadway and London West End dancer, the fun workouts use your own body weight to deliver visible results. In addition to studios in New York and California, there are BBS DVDs, YouTube tutorials, and even a BBS app to give you workouts at your fingertips.