As the unofficial athlete’s city of America, there’s a plethora of gyms in Boston and workout classes catering to different skill levels, niches, age groups, and budgets. We asked our readers to share the best places to get a solid workout in Boston. Some readers consider Boston to be their gym, and others prefer a trip to [solidcore] to work on their six-pack.
Check out the answers below for some fitspiration!
Most popular overall workouts in Boston
Spanning a variety of exercises from running to Pilates, the workout classes below are incredibly popular among Bostonians and took home the majority of votes as a workout they swear by. Consider the spots in this category the best of the best when it comes to a workout that offers value, fun, and major gains!
1. MYSTRYDE, multiple locations
Over 20% of our readers praised MYSTRYDE as the absolute best place to break a sweat! Bostonians are a fan of MYSTRYDE due to their “unmatched” trainers that will motivate you to reach new personal records. MYSTRYDE offers a running and strength-centric workout with classes focused on just running, strength, or a combo of the two that last from 45 minutes to one hour in a dark neon-lit ambiance with loads of energy!
Find MYSTRYDE at 850 Summer Street in South Boston and 13 Austin Street for Charlestown
2. The Studio Format, North End
On overwhelming number of Bostonians also shared in their love of The Studio Format, a Barre, HIIT, and strength studio offering both virtual and in-person training. One person is such a fan of The Studio Format workouts said there is “no contest! I live in Seattle and still take their classes virtually because I haven’t found a studio to match these badass instructors.”
Online classes found here3. JPPilates, Charlestown
Another favorite for Boston is Jennifer Phelan of JPPilates. It’s in the name and Jennifer is the owner of JPP Studio, a Pilates studio in Charlestown offering in-person, remote, and outdoor Pilates classes.
Jennifer has over 15 years of Pilates experience and has trained everyone from brides-to-be to celebrities and new moms. Prices range from $15 for a drop-in to $150 for a private lesson depending on your needs. If you love Pilates or are looking to try it out, Jennifer is your gal according to Bostonians!
Find JPP Studio at 87 Warren St., Charlestown or online
4. [solidcore], multiple locations
A core-centric workout as the name suggests, this workout redefines Pilates. The lights are down, the music is up and your core will be burning at the end of a 50-minute workout here.
Find [solidcore] at 345 Harrison Ave. in the South End and 106 Beverly Street – Space S2 near North Station
5. Barre Groove, multiple locations
Boston’s first and only trampoline fitness studio. Every person gets their own mini trampoline here and you’ll bounce, dance, build and feel the burn in every minute of this workout.
Find classes at 52 Province Street Suite 307 and at lululemon at 208 Newbury St.
Best gyms in Boston and personal trainers
According to Bostonians, the options above make the most popular places to break a sweat, but there were so many other gyms, trainers, and classes that received major praise and love. Depending on your desired workout, the options below should guide you in finding the best of the best for gyms and personal training services.
6. Backyahd Boston, Dorchester
Backyahd Boston is a gym where “grit comes to play.” The Dorchester gym offers flexible options and pricing to meet your needs whether it be joining a strength class, using the gym at your own leisure, or getting one-on-one training. The trainers here are incredibly diverse so whether you just want strength to protect your back when carrying groceries or have a triathlon in the mix, there’s something to meet your needs.
28 District Ave, Dorchester, MA
7. BronCore Fitness, Downtown
BronCore Fitness, founded by fitness trainer, Bron Volney, offers just about everything you’d ever need from your gym. With a variation of HIIT, sandbag, and body weight exercises, BronCore will get you shredded. Workout locations vary to help keep things interesting and the best part are the post workout services offered at the BronCore relaxation room such as cupping and myofascial release.
42 Court St.
8. Sweat Remixx, remote
Angela Gentile of Sweat Remixx is a mind and body wellness coach. If you’re looking to reset the mind, scale, or workout regime, she can help you do so with habit building exercises. Book an on-demand class and “change the body and shed the emotional weight” with Sweat Remixx.
9. Connected Through Strength, South Boston
Connected Through Strength isn’t your ordinary exercise spot. Here you can pick from in person or virtual personal training, nutrition and even Reiki services (which helps you reconnect with your internal energy to boost physical and mental stamina).
107 Savin Hill Ave.
10. Invictus, multiple locations
Invictus Boston is a CrossFit gym that you’ve probably come across if you’ve ever taken a stroll in Fenway down Brookline Ave. The open gym motivates strangers to encourage each other to push their limits. At Invictus you can book a gym membership and choose from over 175 classes weekly. They also offer personal training and free intro class!
Back Bay at 209 Columbus Ave and 31 St. James Ave or Fenway at 100 Brookline Ave.
11. Barry’s Bootcamp
Barry’s is the perfect 50/50 workout according to Bostonians. 50% on the treadmill and 50% on the floor. If you like a workout that leaves you dripping in pool of sweat, this is the one.
Downtown at 30 Chauncy St. Back Bay at 455 Stuart Street and Chestnut Hill at 55 Boylston St
12. R3vive Fitness, Back Bay
R3vive fitness is recognized as a gym “helping Bostonians achieve and maintain their fitness goals” according to Bostonians. You can join a group fitness class here, train remotely, or do in-personal personal coaching.
435 Melnea Cass Blvd.
13. Mikes Fitness JP, Jamaica Plain
Mikes Fitness in JP is a 15,000 square foot oasis dedicated to helping you achieve your fitness goals. Its affordable personal training programs and free 1 hour fitness assessment cut through the fluff and give you the personal tools you need to train when and how you want to.
284 Amory St.
14. RSC Boston, North End
Redemption Strength and Conditioning, founded by Chris Quimby, RSC Boston offers strength training in group, semi-private, and private settings at their North End studio as well as virtually. Bostonians love the energy and innovation of techniques used at RSC. You can book your first class for just $5!
107 Atlantic Ave.
Best cycling studios in Boston
When it’s too cold or windy for a solid outdoor bike, these are the best places to go cycling according to Bostonians.
15. Soul Cycle, multiple locations
Even Bostonians can’t escape the cult favorite SoulCycle. You know what you’re in for at Soul and always leave feeling sore yet energized. The trainers are electric, and many people said to book your class with Erin Lindsay Feeney- a former Rockette that will make you work that bike!
Seaport at 101 Seaport Blvd and Back Bay at 500 Boylston St.
16. B/Spoke Studios, multiple locations
If you want a more niche experience, head to Boston-born B/Spoke studios. Now with locations in Boston, Wellesley, Cape Cod and even on-demand, the cycling studio puts the spin on a traditional cycling class with fun throwback classes, yoga mixes and charity rides.
Downtown at 101 Federal St. and South Boston at 54 Old Colony Ave.
17. The Handle Bar, multiple locations
The Handle Bar, another Boston-born cycling studio, now with five locations is a perfect spot to spin your wheels while turning off your mind.
Find all locations here
18. AXL Studios, East Boston
AXL Studios has five different cycling workouts to choose from ranging from 30-minute quickies to high intensity peak athleticism options. The team at AXL really knows how to pump you up, and post workout you can treat yourself to a spin class and afterwards hop in the sauna to recover. Class and sauna prices vary, and discounts are available to undergrads.
125 Sumner St.
Best Places for boxing in Boston
Unleash your steam and find a welcoming boxing community at these two spots!
19. Everybody Fights, Seaport
Everybody Fights promotes an environment that makes anyone-no matter your skill level comfortable in a boxing class. Punch out your frustrations on the bean bag and use their gym and treadmills for full body training. The first class is always free, so give it a try and treat yourself to the juice bar afterwards!
15 Channel Center
20. Title Boxing, multiple locations
Title Boxing was another favorite for Bostonians. With locations all across the city it’s so easy to get your workout in!
21. Rumble Boxing, multiple locations
The energy at a Rumble Boxing gym is unlike any other! The workout is split equally between bag work to streamline your 5 punches and floor work to build strength. Not a minute is wasted at a Rumble class, you’ll be learning and growing the entire 45-minutes.
Rowing workouts in Boston
There’s always the option to join a rowing class at Community Rowing or one of Boston’s many boathouses. It is home of HOCR after all. But if you prefer an indoor row, these spots are the best places to go.
22. Sweat Fixx, Arlington
Sweat Fixx Boston is all about the erg. The low impact, high intensity workout engages your entire body and will challenge newbies and seasoned athletes alike!
454 Mass Ave. Arlington, MA
23. Orange Theory, multiple locations
Orangetheory is not exclusively a rowing workout. Here it’s all about target heart rate zones while building strength and endurance. If you get bored easily, this workout will zip right by as you’ll rotate from treadmill training to floor work and finally rowing. Your first class here is free, so give it a go, you never row how you’ll feel.
Boston at 10 Saint James Avenue; Cambridge at 270 Third Street; Somerville at 383 Revolution Drive #1135
24. Row Republic, North End
Row Republic combines the toning and endurance building benefits of rowing with strength training to make you better on and off the water! It’s the ultimate full body workout and popular for rowers during their winter training!
77 North Washington St.
Get in the flow at the best yoga studios in Boston
If you’re looking for a lower impact workout that still helps you achieve gains in tone and flexibility, our readers love these spots!
25. Boston Yoga Union, Back Bay
BYU, Boston Yoga Union offers in person and online classes. Take a break from the hardcore bursts and challenge yourself to connecting at this indie yoga studio.
1112 Boylston St.
26. btone Fitness, multiple locations
Boston-bred btone fitness is a sprinkle of Pilates mixed with a dash of HIIT and barre. The 45-minute workout will leave you incredibly sore and working muscles you didn’t even know existed. The small group classes also include work on reformers-but they fill up fast! They also have 7 Greater Boston locations and locations in the Cape!
Back Bay at 30 Newbury St Ste 4; North End at 133 Salem St.
27. Beacon Hill Yoga, Beacon Hill
Beacon Hill Yoga offers and quaint and relacing workout at its cozy studio in the heart of Beacon Hill! You can try two weeks of unlimited classes for just $35! Try a classic Heated Vinyasa Flow or opt for a relaxing Flow and Restore class.
57 Phillips St.
28. Barre3, multiple locations
Barre3 is another great low impact workout. Founded in 2008 and now with 176 locations, Barre 3 combines strength, cardio, and of course barre techniques to help you sweat, lift, tone, and flex.
29. Asana, Charlestown
Asana in Charlestown is a treat to your body. You can flow and tone as you relax in the stunning brightly lit studio. Asana also curates group retreats in locations like Stowe, Vermont.
20 City Sq. Charlestown
30. SLT, Back Bay
SLT is the name and acronym for strengthen, lengthen, tone. If you thought this was going to be some easy toning class, think again. SLT is where muscles quiver and your heart pumps.
341 Newbury St. 3rd Floor
31. Corepower Yoga
The abundance of Corepower studios all around the city, 13 to be exact, makes it easy to get in a yoga flow no matter here you are. Whether you want a soft and balancing yoga class, a hot and steamy high-intensity sculpt, or a flexibility enhancing yoga class at candlelight, Corepower has you covered. If you’ve never tried Corepower Yoga, your first week is always free with unlimited yoga, so give it a go!
Best outdoor workouts in Boston
Don’t forget Boston itself is a gym. You can easily walk or bike 13 miles in a day commuting to and from work and class. One Boston Uncovered reader, @sir_danimals, mentioned that “going up the escalator the wrong way at Porter” is a workout in itself. Or you can follow @kate.hi.p routine:
Power walk from the Boston Public Library to Community Boating > kayak across the Charles and back > get on the T at rush hour (standing room only, no hand holds) > get off the T at Porter and take the stairs. Boston is a gym.
But if you want some more structure and accountability to your outdoor workout, these are the best places that’ll help you do so!
32. Heartbreak, multiple locations
Heartbreak is great for those who aren’t gym junkies. You can join their indoor treadmill class but alternatively opt for their morning and evening group runs that start in various locations including Cambridge, Newton, or the South End stores.
Locations vary by workout
33. November Project Boston, multiple locations
November Project is a completely free workout experience with over 4,000 weekly participants! Workouts are ever-changing, all you have to do is show up at the right time and place. It’s an easy way to build community in Boston while achieving your fitness goals. Workouts are 100% weatherproof (in Boston fashion) and always at 6:30 AM.
Locations vary by workout