Body-positive workout spots
Want to hit the gym but worried you’ll be the largest, oldest or most unfit one there? Let go of your stress at any of these 4 fabulous, female-friendly fitness spots
The Barre
The UK’s first dedicated barre-based studio, The Barre has been helping us strengthen, stretch and tone since 2009. A 60-minute, full-body workout that shares its DNA with the resistance training found in classical ballet, The Barre uses short, intense and targeted movements to push our muscles into a fast burn, before lengthening and stretching them out. And trust us, you’ll see results fast – getting the toned, lean, strong body of a dancer, without the need for any sense of rhythm!
While they will always challenge you and push you to your limits, The Barre’s instructors make sure they tailor their classes to make the workout accessible to all levels, with a real focus on personal goals and effective results.
We’re not gonna lie – The Barre is hard work. Like, hella hard. But in such a supportive and friendly environment, along with the progressive nature of the workout programme, there are few better workout spots for meeting (and surpassing) your fitness goals.
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The Barre, 56 Close, Newcastle NE1 3RJ
Studio6
Female-only gym Studio6 have made it their goal to make every woman who enters their facility feel good, empowered and to give them the tools to make long-term changes to their physical and mental wellbeing.
Centred around their six ‘fundamentals’ – knowledge, strength, mindset, health, mobility and (last but not least), fun – Studio6 have all the gym equipment and personal trainers that you could ever need to achieve your fitness goals (including plenty of weights), plus a classes programme which includes Pilates, yoga and meditation sessions.
Having just celebrated their first birthday on Monday, Studio6 has already created a fitness-focussed community of females in Washington – who knows how far on their path to world domination they’ll be this time next year. Our advice? Jump on board.
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Studio6, Unit 20 Sterling Close, Washington NE38 8QD
Hot Yoga Newcastle
Let’s sweat, pet! Hot Yoga Newcastle has a real passion for their practice – bringing original Bikram hot yoga classes to the bonny banks of Newcastle upon Tyne, (well, to Heaton anyway).
New to hot yoga? What can we tell you – it does exactly what it says on the tin. It’s yoga, but hot. Why? Well, while you systematically stretch and strengthen all of your muscles with various postures and breathing exercises (just like in traditional yoga), infrared heat panels around you help give your lungs, heart and muscles an even greater, more intense workout.
There are a variety of different classes at Hot Yoga Newcastle to make sure all ages and abilities can join in – you can even do ‘warm yoga’, if you can’t quite hack the sweat. And their professional teachers are on hand every step (or stretch) of the way to make sure you get the most out of your workout.
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Shilling & Black
Fancy doing a little yoga and barre? Shilling & Black could be just the spot for you. With a wide range of classes in yoga, Pilates, Barre, dance and functional fitness, Shilling & Black make sure they’re accessible to people at every level of the fitness spectrum. What that all means? You can expect everything from improved strength, posture, stamina, fitness and flexibility to elevated mood, improved sleep and decreased anxiety, stat.
What we love most about Shilling & Black, though, is their approach. We all know the physical and mental benefits that come with regular exercise, but the Shilling & Black team are all about finding joy in the fitness process – making sure we feel amazing as soon as we walk through their studio doors until our session has ended.
They consider how everything from their lighting, décor and even their studio scent impacts us as we work out, and go above and beyond to help make us feel welcome and supported every step of the way.
Our top tip? Try a Sunrise Barre class. Stretching in the early morning sunlight, while taking in that sea breeze? That’s invigorating stuff.
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Shilling & Black, 236 Park View, Whitley Bay NE26 3QX
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