Yogis on the lawn at the newly opened Exhale Spa at the Loews Hotel South Beach
In less than a week I’ll be on the beaches of Nicaragua and Costa Rica with the sole purpose of learning to surf. (Well, maybe also to commune with nature, disconnect from society, make new friends and drink beer and rum.) Â With that in mind, I’ve been amping up my workout routine. I thought I might switch it up radically and adopt a whole new regimen, but in reality I just hit my regular spots harder and more frequently. Here’s where I go in Miami for that endorphin boost that only a good sweat sess can give you.
Green Monkey Yoga
Green Monkey South Beach has been my go to yoga spot for a couple of years now. It’s safe to say that it’s the best studio in town (they also have locations in Midtown and South Miami), especially if it’s a power yoga or vinyasa flow practice that you’re after. The classes are challenging and the balance between a solid workout and the spiritual aspects of yoga is just right. While the studio’s not heated, it’s not exactly air conditioned either, and you can expect to work up a serious sweat. The treehouse (as they call their studios) has a nice community feel and the teachers are fantastic. Paul is my guru–and everyone else’s. His classes are perennially packed. I also love Amy Steiner and Sharon Aluma for their thoughtful instruction and vigorous vinyasa flow classes. I purchase a 10 pack for $179, but individual classes ($20) and memberships are also available
Jet Set Pilates
When I’m in the mood for a more straightforward 50-minute Pilates class, I head to Jet Set Pilates South of Fifth (additional location in Coral Gables). While not classical Pilates (and actually, not really Pilates), Jet Set offers small group classes on their Megaformer machines. The class is limited to eight people and you have to book online in advance to guarantee your spot. Pilates requires a lot of precision and awareness on how to position your body to perform the exercises properly and safely. (My best friend is a Pilates instructor and owns a studio, so I like to pull my Pilates snob card.)Â Jet Set is an intense full body workout and you can literally feel your muscles sculpting as you repeat the exercises. Even though the class is small, you don’t get a lot of personal instruction or corrections, though, and I worry that a newby not familiar with Pilates could easily hurt herself in a class like this. Class costs $20 for first-timers (normally $35). I opt for the 10 pack at $250.
Beach Runs
This one’s as simple as it gets and it may just be my favorite workout of all. It’s one of the main reasons I live on South Beach and insist upon my oceanfront condo. I love having that kind of access to go for a run on the beach. I tend to do between two and four miles first thing in the morning or at sunset. Lately, I’ve been heading south along the hard pack sand, but I also enjoy running north on the boardwalk. I don’t bring music or my phone. It’s my time to totally disconnect. Nothing clears my mind or gets my creative juices flowing more than a nice long run on the beach.
Exhale Spas
Exhale has been my go to spa since my days in New York City. When I moved to Miami, one of the things that made me think this city was legit was the fact that there was an Exhale Spa at the Epic Hotel downtown. They’ve recently opened a second location at Loews Hotel on South Beach less than a mile from my house, so I’m a happy girl. Exhale’s genius is that it offers both exceptional spa therapies and amazing fitness classes under one zen-chic roof. Their proprietary Core Fusion classes are serious business. Combining principles of yoga, Pilates, ballet, aerobics and weight training, the focus is on the smallest movements targeting your muscles to the point of exhaustion. Their instructors are well-trained, know the body’s anatomy and are very motivational. They also have a wonderful yoga program. I recently got a membership ($180 per month), which is reciprocal to both locations. Single classes cost $25.
Swimming
I’m very ambitious about my swimming workout, yet I don’t manage to squeeze it in as often as I’d like. I guess it’s access to a good lap swimming pool that makes this one tough. I have a pool in my building, but it’s not ideal and I don’t want to be dodging kids and people at leisure. I’ve attempted a handful of open ocean swims in preparation of my surf trip, and they’re exhilarating. I use my swim gear (goggles, swim cap, two-piece Speedo) and basically use the hotel skyline as my guide. I swim a half mile south before turning back the other way for a full mile. Conditions need to be right, though, and lately we’ve had a lot of wind and rip currents. People ask if I’m afraid of sharks and the short answer is, no. The only things that really scare me in the ocean are jellyfish and jet skis.
South Beach Kayak
This is another one I wish I took advantage of more often. Old family friends own this great little kayak shack on Purdy Avenue where you can rent kayaks and standup paddleboards (SUP) to put in on Biscyane Bay. SUP is a fun, full body workout with emphasis on core stability and balance. It’s a great way to enjoy the great outdoors and the abundant natural beauty in Miami, all while getting a nice calorie burn in. Best of all, there’s plenty of great dining options in the neighborhood to refuel post-paddle. This is definitely a workout to make a social occasion out of. Paddleboard rentals start at $30 per hour at South Beach Kayak. Tell them Shayne sent you!
SoBe Fit Body
I’ve tried SoBe Fit Body a handful of times for its Pilates reformer classes. It all depends on the instructor, though, and I couldn’t get into enough of a regular groove there to justify more class packs. They also offer Pilates mat, yoga and barre classes. The studio is clean and modern and the staff is nice. I have a handful of friends who swear by their Tuesday night barre class. Classes start at $20.
Barry’s Bootcamp
I’ve now tried the uber-trendy Barry’s Bootcamp once thanks to a good friend and colleague, and I have to say it’s a pretty kickass workout. From the chiseled, model-perfect instructors to the fashionable, well-heeled worker-outers, it can seem like an intimidating gate to crash, but everyone was super friendly. The class itself involves some serious cardio circuits on a treadmill with bootcamp-style weight training and aerobics. It’s high energy in a sexy, nightclub setting, and I can see how people get totally addicted. It was my first time ever running on a treadmill and I appreciate the way that machine (and the Barry’s drill sergeants) pushes you to the next level. I’ll definitely be back. I dropped in for a single class at $30. Memberships and packages are also available.
SoBe Kick
While I tend towards a zen-like mind body workout, there are times when I just want to punch something. Or kick something. That’s when boxing classes at SoBe Kick come in handy. With a variety of boxing, kickboxing and yoga classes to choose from, these classes pack a serious full body and cardio punch (pun 100% intended). I bought a package on Groupon long ago and I’m not sure how individual classes or memberships are priced. All I know is that after my first class, I was so sore I could barely walk (no exaggeration). I keep meaning to head back to this place or test the other boxing gyms in the city.
Karma Yoga
There’s a secret community yoga class free to the public in Sunset Harbour hosted by the good folks at YOGiiZA, the organic yoga apparel brand, on Wednesday nights. Founders/owners and husband and wife duo Dawn and Mark Oliver foster a lovely yoga community inside their warehouse where yogis of all stripes swing by to hang out, practice and then enjoy a potluck and ping pong party afterwards. It skews a little hippy dippy (depending on your threshold for all of that), but they’re friendly and welcoming. Different instructors from the community play the teacher role each week, so it’s a great way to get to know yoga in Miami and find the practice that’s right for you.
The Standard Spa Miami Beach
The Standard Spa is where the monied hipster goes to get his zen on. Lodged inside the creaky old Lido Hotel on Belle Isle in the middle of Biscayne Bay, The Standard has created a sublime hideaway. With lush, labyrinthine zen gardens, a bayfront pool and restaurant, their spa is one of the most popular in Miami with a robust menu of services and fitness classes. Their Friday evening H2Om class at 8 p.m. plays host to a variety of teachers and offers students access to its indoor baths, including an impressive hamam. The level of instruction is top notch and the facilities are nice, but it can be all too sweaty, breathy and gross in the bath/hamam area for my taste post-class. H2Om classes cost $30, spa memberships also available.
Where do you get your workout on and what kind of workout do you prefer? Any questions about the spots mentioned above? Let me know in the comments below!
