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From improved posture and increased muscle definition to a better range of motion and stability, there are many benefits to a consistent reformer Pilates practice. However, its benefits don’t are not solely physical. “It’s about connecting the mind and body through controlled movements and focused breathing, so you’ll find a sense of calm that’s similar to yoga and the ideal solution in today’s fast-paced world.” Drake combines a mix of classical and contemporary Pilates in her classes and combines it with strength training for optimal results.
Bouldering
It’s one of the more unexpected workouts on this list, but bouldering is taking the world by storm right now: Harry Styles, Florence Pugh, and the famously stacked Jason Momoa are all fans of the functional workout. Predominantly done indoors on a climbing wall, it “delivers a full-body workout, exercising major and minor muscles and tendons from your feet all the way to the tips of your fingers”, explains Ollie Rooke, from London Climbing Centres. “It’s not just a physical workout either—part of the challenge is working out the solution required to reach the top of the route in front of you.”
Power yoga
Power yoga takes a more fitness-based approach to a vinyasa yoga practice, and often pulls from other strength-based workouts, however the class and tempo will vary from studio to teacher. “I think there is a benefit to all types of yoga— and I understand the appeal of power yoga, especially if someone is looking to build strength—but I personally think that it’s often too quick in tempo and can often do more harm than good, especially when taught in a group setting,” says Jaime Hepburn, founder of Basic Space. “Slower movements will focus more on control, which will still build strength and develop stability. Slower classes place more emphasis on the breath, which is one of the most important aspects of a yoga class.”
Whether you choose to do power yoga or engage in a slower practice, yoga can help you build strength and stability, as well as mobility and flexibility. “It’s important to build strength if you’re overly flexible, and focus on flexibility if you over-train and are really tight in the body, with a lack of mobility,” says Hepburn. The trouble with a lot of power yoga classes is that you don’t often get enough time to sit in the postures, she adds.
Instead, Hepburn recommends classes that put emphasis on the breath, because it has the ability to reduce stress, improve our focus and concentration, reduce anxiety and depression, and keep us living in the moment and not focusing on things that are beyond our control. “It improves sleep and enhances resilience, and has completely slowed down my reaction to things. For anyone who doesn’t think they’re a yogi, I recommend trying different styles, because there is something to suit everyone.”
What power yoga is excellent for, she says, is introducing fitness-obsessed people to mindfulness, and from there the journey can be incredible. “There are styles that emphasize music, some that emphasize breath. Classes that are more physically challenging, and those that are more restorative. Classes that move one breath at a time and very fast, and others that ask us to hold postures for longer,” says Hepburn. “It’s an incredibly subjective experience, so find the one that makes you feel the best and start there.”