Do you feel like your workouts have become boring? Sometimes we find ourselves doing the same exact routines day after day. It’s important to keep up that active lifestyle, but it can be hard when the workouts are so tedious. Here are some new, exciting ways to change up your workout routine. Whether you’re dancing off the calories, working out as if you’re a surfer or watching the sun rise while doing yoga, this list will help you feel more excited about getting in shape.
Take Advantage of These Beautiful Colorado Stairs
The Stairway of Prayer
Where: The Stairway of Prayer, 20189 Cabrini Blvd., Golden
The Lowdown: Located in the Mother Cabrini Shrine, this stairway leads to an awesome overlook of Golden’s mountains. Spring is a great time to head here as the stairs will be surrounded by greenery and flowers. You can run or walk the stairs for an awesome workout. The stairs take 20 to 30 minutes to walk.
Manitou Incline
Where: Manitou Incline, Manitou Springs
The Lowdown: Though this is just under a mile in length, Manitou Incline climbs 2,000 feet. This hike is intense, so be sure you’re prepared if you take it on.
READ: Everything You Need to Know to Survive the Manitou Springs Incline
Red Rocks
Where: Red Rocks, 18300 W Alameda Pkwy., Morrison
The Lowdown: With 69 rows of seats in the entire venue, Red Rocks is a great place to get your stair workout in. Plus, maybe those awesome views will distract you from the fact that you’re running.
Exercise Outside for Free
For a Class With an Instructor
Where: Civic Center MOVES, Civic Center Park, 101 W 14th Ave., Denver
The Lowdown: Civic Center MOVES offers free fitness classes, Monday through Thursday. Each day is hosted by a different provider, including Fold Yoga and Pearl Street Fitness. Head down during the week depending on which workout suits you.
For a Self-Guided Workout
Where: Mile High Stadium Outdoor Gym, Sports Authority Field, 1701 Bryant St., Denver
The Lowdown: Outside of Mile High Stadium, there is an outdoor gym that consists of 11 stations for a full circuit. As you walk the circumference of the stadium, you will encounter a variety of upper body, leg and core workouts. For a map of the outdoor gym, click here.
A Workout with a View
Where: The Lariat Trail, Lookout Mountain, Golden
The Lowdown: This switchback is about five miles in length. It’s a great trail for hiking, running or mountain biking. Head up to Buffalo Bill’s Grave and get a great view of Golden after sweating it out on this fun loop.
READ MORE HERE: 9 Great Places to Exercise Outdoors for Free in Colorado
Find Your Zen at Red Rocks
Where: Yoga on the Rocks, Red Rocks, 18300 W Alameda Pkwy., Morrison
The Lowdown: Soak in the beauty of Red Rocks while enjoying a yoga class. Starting June 9, you have the opportunity to get in a great workout at one of the best music venues in the United States.
Cost: $16 per session
Do Yoga Side by Side Sharks
Where: Yoga With the Sharks, Downtown Denver Aquarium, 700 Water St., Denver
The Lowdown: Experience yoga in a new way while getting your zen on next to some of Denver Aquarium’s marine life. This hour-long class may or may not relax you as you’re surrounded by sharks, but it surely is a new, exciting way to sweat it out.
Cost: $15 per session
Dance Your Heart Out
Work Out Like You’re Clubbing
Where: BLOCK21, 336 S Broadway, Denver
The Lowdown: BLOCK21 combines dancing and exercising with its club-themed workout classes. Energy is high in this 50-minute class, and you will do hip-hop cardio, intervals and strength training.
Cost: $26 for a drop-in Class
READ: We Tried It- Denver’s Night Club Inspired Workout Class
Go to a Rave After Yoga
Where: Daybreaker, location varies
The Lowdown: Daybreaker consists of an hour of yoga followed by two hours of a dance party with a live performance. Your ticket will get you some type of food and drink and special surprises. You can head to Boulder to experience this unique type of workout on May 18.
Cost: $35 for Yoga+Dance
Women: Find Your Confidence
Where: Sexy Sweat at Hot Mamas Exercise, S Logan St., Denver
The Lowdown: These women-only classes encourage women to push themselves and feel confident. Through dance, cardio, conditioning, strength, core and more, these classes will make you work your ass off while having fun incorporating dance into your routine.
Cost: For new students the first class is free, then $30 for a three pack. For returning students, $30 for one class.
Workout & Brunch Combo
Earn Your Brunch After a Nice Run
Where: bRUNch Running, location varies
The Lowdown: This event is exercise with a reward. The run is for people of all abilities, and you have your choice of how far you want to go. After the run, the class meets at a restaurant that they choose for brunch. All you really have to do is purchase a ticket and they will tell you everything you need to know. The next brunch run is May 6, so get your tickets now.
Cost: $40 per ticket
Meditate Before Enjoying a Healthy Brunch
Where: Denver Yoga Brunch, location varies
The Lowdown: Relax during a 60-75 minute yoga class, then socialize while you eat your brunch. Every month, Denver Yoga Brunch hosts this class in different yoga studios. Each class has its own special twist, so check out the schedule to see if this month’s yoga brunch is for you.
Cost: $20 per ticket
Find Your Inner Badass Through Kickboxing
Where: Fly Stanley, Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas St. Suite 278, Aurora
The Lowdown: Get a killer workout through punching and kicking exercises and core routines in this unique class. If you’re the competitive type, the bags are fitted with meters so you compete with others in your class to see who can hit the fastest and hardest. Workouts are preset to exciting music too so you won’t get bored. We’ve tried it and it’s one hell of a workout.
Cost: $20 per class or $25 for an unlimited intro week
Get Rock Hard Abs in a Different Way
Where: AIR Aerial Fitness, 4433 W 29th Ave Suite 202, Denver
The Lowdown: At AIR Aerial Fitness, you can get in a great core workout while having fun in an aerial hammock. The AIR Foundation class lasts 50 minutes and focuses on alignment, foundation and muscle action designed to help the body balance on the hammocks. No matter what your skill level, you should check out this class.
Cost: $30 per class
READ: We Tried It – Aerial Fitness
Meditate in the Rainforest
Where: Rainforest Yoga, Butterfly Pavilion, 6252 W 104th Ave., Westminster
The Lowdown: Pretend you’re in the real rainforest as you’re surrounded by the exotic plants and butterflies of the Butterfly Pavilion. All skill levels are welcome to this peaceful yoga class. After the hour-long class, not only will you feel like you’ve escaped to a tropical paradise, but your body will feel revitalized.
Cost: $8 per session for members and $10 for non-members
Watch the Sunrise
Where: Sunrise Tai Chi, 5209 Montview Blvd., Denver
The Lowdown: Tai Chi is used to improve strength, balance and flexibility. When the weather gets nice, you can enjoy a Tai Chi class while watching the sunrise. From 6 to 6:30 a.m. on Mondays, Tai Chi Denver welcomes all skill levels to the church lawn on Montview Blvd.
Where: Sunrise Vinyasa Yoga at the Gardens, 1007 York St., Denver
The Lowdown: Every day, the Denver Botanic Gardens hosts Sunrise Vinyasa Yoga. Until May 14, catch the class from 7:30 until 8 a.m., then it will change from 8 to 9 a.m. starting May 15. This one of a kind class allows you to take in all the gorgeous flowers as you practice alignment, flexibility and endurance.
Cost: $12 for non-members, $10 for members
READ: You Can Practice Yoga in the Rainforest at the Butterfly Pavilion
Or, Watch the Sunset
Where: Sunset Stand-Up Paddleboarding, Sloan’s Lake, Denver
The Lowdown: Watch the sunset over Sloan’s Lake as you stand-up paddleboard. At 6:30 p.m. on Fridays you can enjoy a relaxed paddle while you watch the sun go down. Coming into the summer, this is definitely a unique workout class you want to try out.
Cost: $15 for non-members, free for members