FIND A CLASS TO MATCH YOUR STYLE

Looking to burn off that long weekend bloat, but not sure where to start? Signing up for fitness classes can be confusing, for sure.

There are barre classes and barbell classes. CrossFit and Aquafit. At GoodLife Fitness alone — the largest fitness chain in the country — you’ll find BodyAttack, BodyCombat, BodyFlow, and BodySculpt, to name a few.

How are beginners supposed to navigate all that?

Fitness pros say it’s all about figur- ing out what you like and finding a class that suits your interest and skill level.

“When you’re starting out, the best thing to do is take a look at the descriptions of the classes,” says Dena Ryde, a personal trainer and holistic nutritionist. Find something you’re drawn to, be it a high-energy workout or something restorative, like yoga, and narrow your search by category.

“If you like swimming, maybe do an Aquafit class, or if you’re into running, maybe join a running group, or if you’re into dance, try a Zumba class, or Pilates, or yoga,” says personal trainer Lauren Mazur, founder of Urbancore wellness company.

Referrals from friends are amazing, she adds, because it gives you a sense of what the classes are really like beyond the descriptions.

The biggest thing to keep in mind? Picking a pace based on your skill level. Greg Hetherington, founder of Fuel Training Club, suggests finding classes with a lower participant-to-instructor ratio so you get more one-on-one time with an expert to learn proper form — and decrease your risk of injury.

“If your class size is small, you can go into an advanced class as long as the person leading the class knows you’re a beginner and provides progressions and modifications,” he says.

But the bottom line is, starting a fitness class adventure from scratch might mean trying a few things to figure out what you like best. “It just becomes trial and error,” Hetherington says.

To get the ball rolling, we rounded up a few ideas:

TODD KOROL/TORONTO STAR FILE PHOTO FOR THE UNDECIDED Still not sure what type of class you’d like to invest in? JustTryIt might be your best bet. It’s a $49 “fitness passport” that allows you to take 10 different drop-in classes within four months at any of the more than 45...

COLIN MCCONNELL/TORONTO STAR FILE PHOTO FOR WATER LOVERS Water junkies will be right at home in Aquafit classes, where fitness happens in the water at community centres and private gyms across Toronto (the city has a handy list of drop-in classes.) Or, for a quirkier workout, try on an...

RIVERDALE MARTIAL ARTS FOR MARTIAL ARTISTS If kicking and punching is your ideal fitness style, try one of the many diverse styles of martial arts — Karate, kick boxing, or Brazilian jiu-jitsu, to name a few. You can find classes at spots like the Riverdale Martial Arts &...

DREAMSTIME FOR HIGH-INTENSITY SEEKERS If rapidly cycling through push-ups and sprints sounds like your idea of fun, a high-intensity class is probably your best bet. You’ll find them at spots across the city, from Fit Factory Fitness in King West to CrossFit...

EDWIN L. FOR WANNABE DANCERS Feel like busting a move? Gyms across the city feature dance-style fitness classes — think Latininspired Zumba, for instance, or ballet-inspired barre classes — while specialty dance studios also offer courses that combine cardio...

DREAMSTIME FOR BODY BUILDERS If toning up or building muscle is your goal, check out strength training classes. At GoodLife Fitness, this includes the BodyPump barbell class, for instance, or the kettle bell options at most YMCA locations.