Get to Know These Popular Gym Classes

At times we can all find ourselves in a fitness rut. It's difficult to come up with fun and exciting workouts on your own (a girl can only pin so many infographics). An easy way to spice up your day-to-day routine is to try out a group fitness class. We know group energy can be contagious, and it's a nice change of pace to have a trained instructor guiding you through a planned workout.

With so many options to choose from, from Barre3 to CrossFit and even pole dancing, it's hard to know which class is going to be the right fit for you. One program with a loyal and vocal following that has proven to be more than a passing fad is the Les Mills Group X classes. All the classes are set to upbeat choreographed music and are updated every three months, so the workouts always feel fresh and new, and the classes are found in many popular big-box gyms, so locating a class is really easy. Here are three of the most popular Les Mills classes to try.

1. BodyPump

It's important to include strength training in your fitness routine. Not only does adding weight create tone that cardio alone can't, but it also helps build strong bones. BodyPump is the original Les Mills group fitness class. The class is broken up into eight different sections including warmup and cooldown, and focuses on different parts of the body throughout the hour. The 60-minute class will make weight training fun and accessible, and you'll definitely be feeling it the next day! You decide how much weight you'd like to use, which essentially puts you in the driver's seat, making it a good choice for beginners and fanatics.

2. RPM

If you want to burn tons of calories in a short amount of time, an indoor cycling class is the way to go. In 30 to 45 minutes, RPM takes you through a course of various sprints and hills. It may seem a bit intense, but RPM is totally customizable to what works best for you. Put on as much resistance as you feel comfortable with and set your own pace as you start. As you get comfortable, the classes make it easy for you to challenge yourself and improve quickly. Tone your legs and booty with the added bonus of getting a great post-workout sheen.

3. CXWORX

It's no secret that while a basic crunch is a great start to a solid core, there are better exercises out there to work the abs. CXWORX not only focuses on your six-pack, but your whole "trunk" — glutes, quads, and back. You'll love that it's set to upbeat music with dedicated choreography, and the addition of weighted plates and resistance bands helps to crank up the intensity to get the work done quickly. This class is awesome because you are able to complete a ton of core-busting moves in the time it takes to watch one episode of Broad City. Additionally, you'll be armed with an arsenal of dynamic core strength moves to use on your own.