For decades, strength and cardio training were like church and state — they were kept separate and most often people were loyal to one or the other. With growing research pointing to the benefits of workout regimens that combine both, however, more and more people are designing their workout programs to include strength as well as cardio sessions. Hybrid workouts take this a step further by incorporating both at the same time.
Barry’s Bootcamp was a pioneer in the hybrid workout field. Its classes, which started in 1998, alternate strength training on the floor with cardio training on treadmills all in the same session. SoulCycle followed suit by melding cardio training with weight work, both performed while on stationary bikes. Now the market from Canada to New York to Israel to Russia is flooded with new ways to maximize time and efficiency by combining aerobic and strength components in fun and innovative ways. Many classes also work in agility, balance and flexibility training.
Here’s a look at all the standout hybrid workouts to motivate your next gym session.
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Hybrid Workouts Are The Latest Fitness Craze
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Shaktibarre
Shaktibarre crosses barre with yoga for one of the best strengthening and lengthening workouts.
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Burn Pilates
Burn Pilates offers students next-level Pilates by combining traditional spring work with resistance bands and cardio using free weights.
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Box + Flow
Box + Flow is 40 minutes of boxing followed by a 10-minute yoga flow.
Image: @boxandflow
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The Rope With Amanda Kloots
Former Broadway dancer Amanda Kloots blends dancing with CrossFit-style exercises in this class that uses jump ropes for more than just jumping (weight resistance, for example).
Image: Courtesy of Bandier
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Rumble
The fast-expanding studio alternates boxing combos with strength training (using weights and body weight) on the floor.
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Steel Mace at Barry's Bootcamp
Launched a few months ago by Niv Zinder, Steel Mace at Barry's Bootcamp swaps out the studio's signature weights/bodyweight floor work for agility, balance and strength training using steel maces. The steel mace training alternates with running on a treadmill.
Image: @nivzinder
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Peloton
Peloton just launched Peloton Tread, which allows users to stream live and on-demand classes, including circuit and bootcamp-style ones, that take users on and off the tread.
Image: @onepeloton
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Switch Playground
Switch Playground, founded in Cape Town, is a full-body workout that takes students through a variety of stations (think everything from kettlebells to rowing machines) in their sessions.
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In the Flow
In the Flow focuses on toning while working on flexibility by combining Pilates moves with yoga ones.
Image: @melissawoodhealth
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Liky's Port
Based in Israel, the soon to be expanding workout combines running with kettlebells, TRX, bodyweight training and battle ropes.
Image: @likys_port
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Ido Portal
Ido Portal's method is taught all around the world (literally from Canada to Russia) by his mentorship students. The practice combines martial arts, somatics, dance and acrobatics to help students build major strength while increasing flexibility and balancing skills.
Image: @portal.ido
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Performix House
Performix House just opened and offers a long list of hybrid workouts, including yoga and strength training, strength and speed, HITT and strength and many more.
Image: @alexsilverfagan
