Horoscope time: 2019, no matter your sign, will be filled with fitness and fun—should you step up to the challenge!
“Exercise more” in the New Year is the most popular resolution, with 13 percent of people vowing to do so, according to the NPR/PBS Marist Poll. (High five to being healthy!) But, one statistic that’s not exactly cheering us on? Only about one out of five people follow through with their New Year’s resolutions. Womp, womp!
So, how do we get over that hurdle and stick to an exercise regimen? One science-backed way is to have fun with your workout. Well-intentioned exercisers select programs designed to whip them into shape, but end up ditching the workout routines because, well, they’re boring, according to researchers from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. The study, which was published in the “Journal of Personality and Social Psychology,” discovered that when people look forward to or back on an activity, they tend to underestimate how important it is to actually enjoy doing it if they want to build habits.
Harnessing that tidbit about the human psyche, we’ve come up with some exciting workouts that you can try in the Bay Area this year. To have even more fun with this, we’re breaking this down by your zodiac sign. But, by all means, write your own horoscope and sample whatever class stands out to you, because all 12 workouts are good ones.
Aquarius (Jan. 20 – Feb. 18)
Who better than Aquarius, the oh-so imaginative air sign, to give an aerial workout regimen a try? Aerial fitness training programs strengthen your core with the assist of aerial silks or hoops, which certainly dials up the fun factor of your workout while also helping you increase flexibility. UpSwing Aerial Dance Company in Berkeley is one of the best, offering not only a variety of aerial classes but workshops, youth classes and more.
Pisces (Feb. 19 – March 20)
While it’s a bit too cold for most of us to contemplate hitting the waves, surfers are a special breed and plenty will be out despite winter temperatures. And thankfully, Pisces is adaptive. The water sign should feel at peace testing the waves at the University of Surfing at Linda Mar State beach in Pacifica. Classes take place year round, and include all the equipment you’ll need to learn. They also offering coaching classes for experienced surfers who want to up their skills.
Aries (March 21 – April 19)
Aries, we know you’re quick and competitive, so running is an appealing way to burn off holiday fat. While you can run on your own, joining a group like the San Francisco Road Runners Club will help motivate you to get out there and pound the pavement. The Road Runners Club can help you train for a marathon, or just give you an excuse to get running and a great social outlet, as the club organizes happy hours, educational club nights, breakfasts and more. The club also offers training and coaching programs for those who want to up their skills.
Taurus (April 20 – May 20)
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Taurus, we nominate you as the sign most likely to run off and join the circus, and we mean that as a compliment. You’re strong (and those stunts require a lot of strength) and you’re creative. We found a compromise: The Circus Center. From the flying trapeze to juggling, if there’s a circus skill you need to know The Circus Center has it, with beginner to advanced classes that will train you in aerial arts, acrobatics, flexibility and more. You can even put your funny face forward and enroll in the school’s Clown Conservatory, with a full 24-week program for those serious about clowning around.
Gemini (May 21 – June 20)
Who knows which one of the twins is showing up to work out. That’s why we’re recommending dance classes for dual-natured and expressive Gemini. San Francisco’s ODC offers classes at the ODC Dance Commons, which has both a pre-professional and recreational dance training program. ODC is a leading center of contemporary dance, made up of a dance company, ODC/Dance, the ODC Theater, featuring performances from the company, and the ODC School, offering more than 200 classes a week in ballet, hip-hop, contemporary, jazz, modern, tap and more. They also have a pilates training center, and Rhythm and Motion, an energetic and fun fusion of dance styles, brought about through a unique partnership offering that is part of ODC’s work to foster diversity and inclusion through dance. Their top-notch curricula is sure to keep Geminis on their toes.
Cancer (June 21 – July 22)
Sentimental Cancer, we have a throwback workout for you: Jazzercise! We’re not suggesting this in an ironic way, either, so go ahead and erase the image of pastel leotards and leg warmers. Jazzercise, a dance fitness brand, was founded in Chicago and has been around since 1969, spiking in popularity in the 1980s. It’s celebrating its 50th birthday this year. In case it’s been a while since you’ve been to a Jazzercise class, the hour-long workout these days is a mix of hip-hop dance, kickboxing, weight lifting and pilates set to the tone of Top 40 dance music. Jazzercise is hip to HIIT, too, offering an interval class that maximizes fat burn. Classes can torch 800 calories per hour. You can pay per class or nab a membership.
Leo (July 23 – Aug. 22)
Leos are known for being exceptionally fierce, and, if we’re being honest, also tend to love a little drama. Therefore, they would be perfectly suited to one of the toughest workouts around: Barry’s Bootcamp. Each day focuses on a different area such as arms and abs or butt and legs, and the sessions are so intense they can burn 1000 calories per hour. Combining weight training with cardio and anaerobic exercise, the class uses intense lighting and music to keep you motivated and get you exhausted.
Virgo (Aug. 23 – Sept. 22)
Out of all the signs, Virgos are most likely to be perfectionists and they also enjoy companionship. Might we suggest a trip to the outdoor ice rink with a friend? Not only is it a fun way to celebrate winter, but practice makes perfect and we wouldn’t be surprised to see Virgo debuting a few spins after enough laps around the rink. There are a few rinks around the Bay Area, but most are seasonal – except the Oakland Ice Center. This NHL-sized center is for fun lovers and serious athletes alike and is operated by the San Jose Sharks. It offers public skating hours as well as ice hockey and figure skating lessons.
Libra (Sept. 23 – Oct. 22)
Gracious Libra, it’s not too late to try your hand at gymnastics. San Francisco’s Acrosports offers a huge variety of classes, including a variety of adult gymnastics classes, ranging from different levels of tumbling to trampoline tricks to parkour and hand balancing. There is even an intermediate wall trampoline class to help get you airborne.
Scorpio (Oct. 23 – Nov. 21)
Scorpio, you’re brave and resourceful, which are just the skills you need to scurry up a rock climbing wall. To help get you hooked on a new hobby, try Planet Granite, which has locations in San Francisco and the South Bay. First time climbers can take an intro to climbing course, as well as rock climbing and bouldering.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22 – Dec. 21)
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Extroverted, optimistic and enthusiastic, Sagittarius, you are quite the fun sign. Play hooky from the gym for a day and bounce around at a trampoline gym. (Go ahead, schedule a jump time with your little ones at House of Air, they’ll love it, too). Jumping on a trampoline counts as exercise if you ask us. It’s low impact and you could torch about 130 calories while jumping for 30 minutes. House of Air offers a variety of ways to bounce, from an open jump to a trampoline dodgeball area to high-performance trampolines to hone your skills.
Capricorn (Dec. 22 – Jan. 19)
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Capricorns, your superpower is discipline. Watch your skills advance in a boxing class. Hit Fit SF has branches in Mission and Nob Hill. The high-intensity workout helps you get in shape and makes you feel strong. Classes focus on HIIT-style rounds of boxing. The gym has over 5000 square feet of fitness space, filled with heavybags, TRX stations, dumbbells and more for conditioning, and top trainers to help create champions, as the gym’s motto says: “We don’t use machines… we build them!”
