Spa & Fitness Classes and Activities that You Must Sign Up For

S pas and fitness centers have always had massive success because of the services they offer. Relaxation, beautification, healing, and weight loss + toning are only a few of the benefits we reap when we sign up for the activities and classes these venues offer. Wellness and fitness will always reign, but with so many options to pick from, choosing activities that are worth your time and money can get tough at times.

It all mostly depends on your goals and how you prefer to reach them. But some activities and classes have amassed a greater following, and it’s for the right reasons too. In the following, we will go over these spa and fitness center activities that seem to bring in most people, covering their benefits in the process to help you decide what to sign up for easier.

Group Yoga Class

#1 – Yoga

Yoga amasses spiritual, physical, and mental practices recognized for their health benefits and fitness improving capabilities. This activity offers benefits for people of all ages, and it’s widely recognized for the help it provides when it comes to rehabilitation from surgery or chronic conditions. Therapists usually work with groups, but if you are a recovery patient who seeks yoga for this specific purpose, you can ask for individualized lessons to help you get through the process faster and with better results.

The poses are the building blocks of this practice, and you must move slowly through each of them and breathe as you move. Your mind and body will be in perfect harmony, and after each class, you will feel renewed and relaxed. Yoga is among the few activities that teach the discipline of the mind and body, so if you want to work on yourself, this is the way to go.

*The average cost for yoga classes ranges from $20 to $40 per hour.

List of benefits:

• Back pain relief (best pose – cat-cow);
• Cardiovascular health improvement (best pose – downward dog);
• Stress relief (best pose – Savasana);
• Sleep improvement (legs-up-the-wall);
• Strength, balance, and flexibility improvement (best pose – tree).

#2 – Pilates

Initially focused on recovery assistance for injured dancers and athletes, with time, Pilates has been adapted to suit everyone. It shares a lot of traits with yoga, individuals opting for Pilates to shape their bodies and unwind their minds. Pilates workouts consist of a series of exercises performed in low repetitions. Training can even be performed with specialized equipment like the popular Pilates reformer, a moveable carriage that you push and pull along tracks to benefit from the spring-loaded resistance offered and amp results.

*The average cost for Pilates classes ranges from $30 to $150 per hour.

List of benefits:

• Improved balance and physical coordination;
• Better lung capacity and blood flow;
• Amplified muscle strength and toning;
• Better posture;
• Improved flexibility.

#3 – Massages

3.1. Swedish massage

The most common massage technique – all respectable spas include it in their package. It is combined with joint movement and involves tapping and kneading strokes on top muscle layers. It is suggested for massage therapy newbies, those who feel stiffness in their bodies, and those who are sensitive to touch.

*The average cost of a Swedish massage ranges from $50 to $130 per hour.

List of benefits:

• Muscle injury recuperation;
• Anxiety relief;
• Better blood flow;
• Pain management;
• Enhanced immune system.

Woman Enjoying Hot Stone Massage

3.2. Hot stone massage

This therapeutic massage is fairly comparable to the Swedish massage. The difference between the two mostly stands in the fact that during this procedure, the massage therapist utilizes heated stones instead of their hands. The stones are positioned on different body areas. It is suggested for individuals who feel very tense and those who suffer from muscle ache.

*The average cost of a hot stone massage ranges from $100 to $150 per hour.

List of benefits:

• Soreness management;
• Stress relief;
• Increased relaxation;
• Better blood flow;
• Muscle stiffness alleviation.

3.3. Aromatherapy massage

Using mild and soft pressure in the movements of their hands, experts who perform aromatherapy massage mix the strokes with the utilization of diluted essential oils applied directly to your skin. Inhaling the soothing essential oils while receiving the full-body massage will put you in a state of complete relaxation, which is why this therapy is recommended for individuals who want to benefit from emotional healing, not only physical healing.

*The average cost of an aromatherapy massage ranges from $30 to $100 per hour.

List of benefits:

• Reduced pain;
• Muscle stiffness alleviation;
• Stress and anxiety release;
• Depression symptoms alleviation;
• Mood enhancement.

3.4. Deep tissue massage

It is akin to the Swedish reflexology, except that more pressure goes into this specific massage. Gentler strokes and deeper finger pressure is used to alleviate all tension symptoms from the layers of your connective tissues and muscles. It is suggested for individuals who have chronic muscle problems and anxiety.

*The average cost of a deep tissue massage ranges from $80 to $120 per hour.

List of benefits:

• Alleviated arthritis symptoms;
• Muscle injury recuperation;
• Lower blood pressure and heart rate;
• Pain control;
• Stress relief.

3.5. Thai massage

An interesting reflexology, particularly for first-timers. The therapist applies firm compression, stretching and winding you into different positions to help alleviate any pain you feel in your body. It is comparable with yoga stretching. It is suggested to wear loose attires so that you won’t be restricted in your movements by the outfit you have on.

*The average cost of a Thai massage ranges from $30 to $150 per hour.

List of benefits:

• Joint pain and stiffness relief;
• Increased flexibility;
• Back pain relief;
• Headache relief;
• Anxiety release.

#4 – Sauna

There are several forms of sauna, namely – wood-burning saunas, low in humidity and high in temperature; infrared saunas; electrically heated saunas, low in humidity and high in temperature; steam saunas, high in humidity and temperature. We skipped any details on infrared rooms for a motive – the topic is a bit more complex. What the best infrared sauna brings new is that the room itself won’t go through any change whatsoever during your sweat session. Instead, the infrared heat emitted by the heaters concentrates directly on your body, amping core temperature to help you sweat. It is the newest entry and has rapidly become the most popular due to the ambient comfort that doesn’t change during the session.

*The average cost of a sauna session ranges from $50 to $150 per hour.

List of benefits:

• Stress relief;
• Improved cardiovascular health;
• Pain relief;
• Detoxification;
• Solves skin problems.

Aerobics Class with Stepper

#5 – Aerobics

Aerobics classes include a range of activities, namely exercises that grant cardiovascular conditioning. Some aerobics exercises comprise walking, rowing, cycling, swimming, jumping rope, high-impact routines, and running. The American Heart Association indorses at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercises per day to amp cardio health and fend off diseases. It is recommended to check with a doctor before you take up aerobics though because you might have certain restrictions depending on the afflictions you suffer from.

*The average cost of an aerobics class ranges from $30 to $60 per hour.

List of benefits:

• Weight control and/or weight loss assistance;
• Improved cardiovascular health;
• Reduced resting heart rate;
• Lower blood pressure;
• Enhanced blood sugar control.

#6 – Zumba

Zumba is a amalgamation of aerobics and salsa, so it’s not hard to understand why it’s a popular exercise routine among fitness fanatics. It gives you a full-body workout in a fun manner – you break a sweat without even feeling like you are exercising. The catchy music, clapping hands, positive mindset of the coaches, will all immerse you into a mental state that no other class can. It is suggested for weight loss first and foremost, and it can do wonders for people with anxiety and depression too.

*The average cost of an aerobics class ranges from $5 to $50 per hour.

List of benefits:

• Weight loss;
• Improved coordination;
• Body toning;
• Improved cardiovascular health;
• Stress relief.

Bottom Line

The list of worthy classes to sign up for doesn’t end with these suggestions though. If we were to list every activity that is worth your time and money, we wouldn’t be ending the article anytime soon, that’s sure. Here we merely showed you the classes and activities with the highest popularity among spa and fitness goers because their hype comes from their obvious success. Some activities provide relaxation, others beautification, others help shape and tone your body. Combine as many of them to feel and look better than ever after only a few sessions.