You want to get in shape, but the idea of a personal trainer session or spin class makes you feel as ill as when you downed five eggnogs back to back over the holidays. Luckily, Victoria has tonnes of ship-shape offerings that make exercising fun and funky.
■ Hoopdance — Pixie Hoops offers fitness-based hula hooping classes, ranging from beginner levels to specific classes that target abs, upper body or focus on teaching things like hooping headstands. While based in Vancouver, Pixie Hoops do offer several classes in Victoria. pixiehoops.com
■ Bellyfit — This locally developed fitness craze fuses elements of belly dance, yoga, pilates, Bollywood and more. In addition to two weekly classes at the Downtown YMCA, several others around the city are listed on bellyfit.ca.
■ Bedtime Yoga — After trying all these new fitness classes, you might want to wind down. Bloom Yoga’s bedtime yoga promises a slow warm up, some active postures and then restortative poses to help you get ready for quality shuteye. bloomyogavictoria.ca.
■ Nia — Drawing on martial, dance and healing arts such as T’ai Chi, jazz and modern dance, yoga and Feldenkrais, Nia is a workout for both your body and soul. Check niac.ca for a list of local classes.
■ Sass Class — The beloved babes from the Cheesecake Burlesque Revue are playing teacher for a one-day intro to burlesque workshop on Feb. 13. Who knew you could shed those pounds tassle-twilring? cheesecakeburlesque.com.
■ Dance Days — Been dying to try out Zumba? How about ballet, modern or Scottish dance? Dance Victoria’s second annual Dance Days, which runs from Jan. 28 to Feb. 6, has 45 different free classes around the city you can sample, plus open rehearsals, performances and more. Check dancevictoria.com for a full schedule.
■ Wheel of Fitness — Formerly known as The Wandering Yogi, this $25 pass gets you a class at 10 different facilities around town, from Moksha Yoga to Cadence Fitness to Base Lounge. Whether you want to do your first hot yoga class or try your hand at Jui Jitsu, this pass has it all. Available at Lululemon (584 Johnson). yellowyogi.com/wheeloffitness
■ Every Woman — As part of the Total Health Show at the Victoria Conference Centre this weekend, Every Woman offers a chance for ladies to sample everything from early-morning boot camps to lectures on how to eradicate excuses from your exercising repertoire — all in one jam-packed day. The event happens Saturday, Jan. 22, and although registration technically closed after our deadline, check everywomanintheworld.com for details. M
—AFL