The reason I exercise is for the quality of life I enjoy.
Kenneth H. Cooper
Toronto’s vibrant fitness scene offers a wide range of classes for all fitness levels, whether you’re training for a sport or looking to stay in shape. There's something for everyone, from strength training and HIIT to yoga and dance.
With a focus on healthy living, you can find classes that improve endurance, strength, and flexibility. When selecting a class, think about the type of exercise you enjoy, the gym’s location, and the community atmosphere.
Toronto boasts some of the best fitness classes in Canada, catering to different fitness goals, from building strength and agility to enhancing flexibility and recovery.
Toronto’s fitness scene is one of the most diverse in Canada, with over 1,000 fitness studios offering everything from intense HIIT classes to restorative yoga, making it easy to find a workout that matches your goals and interests.
Here’s a rundown of the top 10 fitness classes that can help elevate your game, whether you’re a hockey player, runner, or just looking to improve your general fitness.
✨ Spin Classes: Boost Lower Body Strength and Endurance
Spin classes (also known as indoor cycling) are a fantastic way to build lower-body strength and endurance. Whether you’re training for ice hockey, soccer, or running, spin classes focus on explosive leg strength and stamina, which are crucial for sports performance. They’re also an excellent way to increase your heart rate while burning calories, improving your cardiovascular health in the long run.
Did you know a 45-minute spin class can burn about 400–600 calories, depending on intensity? 1
Top Spin Studios in Toronto:
- SPINCO Toronto: Known for its high-energy environment and motivational instructors, this studio offers challenging spin classes that focus on building strength and endurance.
- Sweat and Tonic: Offers a dynamic indoor cycling experience with varying intensity levels, providing a full-body workout in 45 minutes as you cycle to the rhythm of the music.
Check out this review of Sweat and Tonic's spinning classes:
✨ Yoga: Improve Flexibility, Balance, and Mental Focus
Yoga classes are perfect for athletes who need to enhance flexibility, mental focus, and balance. For golfers, tennis players, and martial artists, yoga helps to increase range of motion and improve recovery. The calming nature of yoga also promotes mental clarity, which is important in sports where focus is key.
Yoga is a great way to improve balance, mindfulness, and cultivate proper breathing patterns. 2
Top Yoga Studios in Toronto:
- Yoga Tree Toronto: Offers various yoga styles, including Vinyasa and Power Yoga, which are excellent for improving flexibility and balance for athletes.
- Downward Dog Yoga Centre: A top choice for beginners and advanced practitioners, this studio focuses on mindful movement and flexibility, benefiting athletes like golfers and tennis players.
Yoga is an essential complement to any athlete’s training routine, improving flexibility and aiding in recovery while helping enhance performance in sports like tennis and martial arts. Similar to the popularity of yoga classes in Montreal, Toronto offers various yoga styles that can help athletes stay limber and recover effectively, ensuring they perform at their best.
✨ Pilates: Strengthen Your Core for Improved Performance
Pilates is ideal for athletes who want to focus on strengthening their core. Pilates focuses on controlled movements that target the core muscles, making it a great choice for building power and stability. A strong core helps improve posture, stability, and overall athletic form for baseball players, swimmers, and hockey athletes.
Pilates was developed around the 20th century by a German physical trainer, Joseph Pilates, revolving around 50 exercises to control your muscles. 3
Top Pilates Studios in Toronto:
- Sliving Studios Toronto: Specializes in both mat and reformer Pilates, offering classes that target the core, improve posture, and overall body strength.
- Mindful Movement Centre: Offers group and personalized Reformer, Tower, and Mindful Pilates classes focusing on core strength, making it an excellent option for both athletes and non-athletes alike.
Pilates is an effective way to improve core strength, stability, and overall body control key elements for athletes in sports like baseball and hockey.
By developing deeper muscular awareness and alignment, it supports better power generation and injury prevention.
✨ High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT): Enhance Agility and Speed
HIIT is a fast-paced, high-intensity workout that alternates bursts of intense exercise with periods of rest. This type of training is perfect for athletes looking to enhance their agility and endurance. Whether you play soccer, basketball, or ice hockey, HIIT workouts mimic the stop-and-go nature of these sports, helping to boost your cardiovascular fitness and overall athletic performance.
HIIT is widely regarded as the most effective training to enhance one’s ability to consume oxygen. 4
Top HIIT Studios in Toronto:
- F45 Training Toronto: F45 Training Toronto: Known for its intense functional fitness workouts, F45 combines HIIT and strength training exercises, ideal for boosting performance in sports like basketball and hockey. F45 also offers fitness classes in Vancouver, bringing this high-intensity training to the West Coast.
- OrangeTheory Fitness Toronto: Focuses on high-intensity interval training with a mix of strength and cardio exercises, helping you improve endurance and overall fitness.
HIIT workouts are an excellent choice for athletes looking to improve agility and stamina, which are critical for success in fast-paced sports like basketball and soccer.
✨ Barre Classes: Enhance Strength and Flexibility
Barre classes combine ballet-inspired movements with Pilates and strength training. These low-impact workouts improve balance, coordination, and flexibility. For athletes in sports like volleyball, tennis, and golf, barre is great for toning and strengthening muscles while enhancing control and flexibility.
Barre exercises help to improve bone density and are low-impact, which offers great support to joints as we age. 5
Top Barre Studios in Toronto:
- Serenev Studio Toronto: Offering a mix of yoga, Pilates, and Barre, Serenev Studio provides full-body workouts that enhance flexibility, strength, and toning.
- Barre3 Toronto: Offers dynamic barre workouts that combine elements of Pilates, yoga, and strength training, making it perfect for athletes seeking to improve their posture and balance.
Barre classes are great for improving coordination, flexibility, and muscle tone, helping athletes stay agile and maintain strong, flexible muscles for sports like tennis and golf.
✨ Dance Fitness (e.g., Zumba): Build Cardiovascular Endurance
Dance fitness classes like Zumba are fun and energetic ways to build cardiovascular endurance and rhythm. Whether you’re training for soccer, basketball, or running, these classes focus on footwork and stamina, helping you improve your agility and endurance while having fun.
Dance fitness classes are great for muscle toning and sculpting, where every muscle can get a full workout during each session. 6
Top Zumba Studios in Toronto:
- Zumba Fitness Toronto: Offers high-energy Zumba classes that incorporate cardio and footwork drills, perfect for athletes looking to build stamina and improve coordination.
- YMCA Toronto: Known for its community-based Zumba classes, the YMCA offers an inclusive environment to improve your cardiovascular health and fitness.
Zumba classes are great for improving cardiovascular fitness, agility, and stamina, especially for soccer and basketball players looking to improve their footwork. Just like dance is one of the most popular fitness classes in Ottawa, Zumba offers a fun, energetic way to stay fit while enhancing coordination and endurance.
✨ Strength Training: Build Muscle and Power for Athletes
Strength training is essential for athletes in any sport, whether it’s hockey, martial arts, or baseball. Focused on building muscle and explosive power, strength training classes help enhance performance by increasing muscle mass, power, and overall strength.
Strength training is a great way to improve your quality of life through weight management, strong bone development, and improved cognitive skills. 7
Top Strength Training Gyms in Toronto:
- GoodLife Fitness Toronto: Offers group strength training classes along with personal training to help athletes build muscle and strength.
- LIFT Lab Toronto: Known for its strength and conditioning programs, LIFT offers functional workouts that focus on power, muscle building, and overall fitness.
Strength training is a key component in athletic development, helping athletes enhance explosive power, stability, and control.
It’s especially beneficial for hockey players, martial artists, and baseball players who rely on strong, dynamic movements to perform at their best.
✨ Boxing/Kickboxing: Boost Endurance and Reflexes
Boxing and kickboxing classes offer a great workout for building upper-body strength, endurance, and coordination. These classes are beneficial for athletes in martial arts, soccer, and basketball, enhancing quick reflexes, speed, and agility.
A regular boxing session can burn from 500 to 800 calories per hour while improving balance and muscle strength. 8
Top Boxing Studios in Toronto:
- Rumble Boxing Toronto: Known for its high-intensity boxing classes that focus on technique, strength, and endurance. Rumble Boxing also offers fitness sessions in Calgary, bringing its challenging workouts to the city for those looking to boost their fitness and boxing skills.
- Boxing DownTown Toronto: Offers kickboxing and boxing classes for all skill levels, helping athletes build power and endurance.
Boxing and kickboxing are perfect for improving reaction times, endurance, and strength, all of which are crucial for sports like soccer, martial arts, and basketball.
✨ Aqua Fitness: Low-Impact Workouts for Endurance
Aqua fitness provides a low-impact way to build endurance and strength while protecting your joints. For athletes in sports like swimming, tennis, and running, aqua fitness classes help with recovery and provide an excellent cardiovascular workout.
Water-based exercises can ease joint-pain and improve cardiovascular health. 9
Top Aqua Fitness Centres in Toronto:
- Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre: Offers a range of aqua fitness classes designed to enhance endurance and joint health.
- YMCA Toronto: Provides water-based fitness classes suitable for all fitness levels, ideal for athletes in recovery.
Aqua fitness is an ideal choice for those looking to recover after high-impact workouts while continuing to build strength, endurance, and flexibility.
Thanks to the water’s natural resistance and low-impact support, it’s perfect for all fitness levels, including injury recovery.
✨ CrossFit: Functional Training for Overall Fitness
CrossFit combines weightlifting, gymnastics, and cardiovascular exercises to create a full-body workout that improves strength, agility, and speed. Whether you’re training for soccer, basketball, or hockey, CrossFit workouts improve athletic performance by targeting various muscle groups and enhancing overall fitness.
CrossFit group training is suitable for beginners who want to increase their muscle capacity and cardiovascular health, as they stay motivated in a community. 10
Top CrossFit Studios in Toronto:
- CrossFit Toronto: Offers dynamic and intense CrossFit classes that focus on functional movements and strength training.
- Basecamp Fitness Toronto: Known for its varied workouts that mix strength and cardio to boost overall fitness and performance.
CrossFit is ideal for athletes looking to enhance power, agility, and cardiovascular endurance, making it a great option for hockey players, soccer players, and basketball players.
💪 How to Choose the Right Fitness Class for You in Toronto?
When choosing a fitness class in Toronto, consider your fitness goals, sport of choice, and current fitness level. The city’s diverse fitness scene offers options for all levels, from strength training and boxing to yoga and even dance fitness.
Toronto’s inclusive fitness culture provides options for everyone, making it easy to find a class that motivates you and fits your lifestyle. Whether you want to build muscle, improve agility, or recover from intense training, Toronto offers many fitness classes to support your goals.
Here's an overview for you to compare the estimated price range of different fitness classes.
| Class Type | Sample Locations / Studios | Typical Pricing / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spin / Ride Classes | Sweat and Tonic (225 Yonge St & 486 Front St W, Toronto) – indoor cycling including Beat Ride, Rave Ride. | Single class credits: $32–$40 (10-pack ~$300, equiv. $30/class); Unlimited: $260/mo (Yonge/Shuter, ~$16/class avg.); $290/mo (The Well, both sites, ~$17/class avg.). No initiation, cancel anytime. |
| Yoga | Sweat and Tonic (Yonge/Shuter & Front/Spadina) – hot and warm yoga. | Single credits $32–$40; packs reduce to ~$25–$30/class; unlimited memberships $260–$290/mo include all yoga. |
| Pilates | Sweat and Tonic (infrared heated at both locations). | Credits $32–$40 single; 8x monthly packs ~20% off with unlimited; full access via $260–$290/mo plans. |
| HIIT | Sweat and Tonic (circuits with weights, treadmills, boxing). | Drop-in credits $32–$40; unlimited $260–$290/mo covers HIIT; add-ons like open gym in higher tiers. |
| Barre | Boutique studios like Barre Collective TO. | Drop-in $33; 5-pack $150 ($30/class); 10-pack $275 ($27.50/class); 25-pack $630 (~$25/class); unlimited monthly subs available (pricing varies). |
| Dance Fitness (Zumba) | YMCA Toronto or community centres. | YMCA monthly: Adult (30+) $61; Young Adult (22-29) $49; Youth (15-21) $41; includes group dance classes (join fee ~$100 for some). |
| Strength Training | Sweat and Tonic small group sessions (Front/Spadina). | Small group credits $32–$40; unlimited $260–$290/mo includes sessions and open gym access. |
| Boxing / Kickboxing | Sweat and Tonic HIIT with boxing. | HIIT/boxing credits $32–$40; bundled in unlimited plans at $260–$290/mo. |
| Aqua Fitness | City of Toronto pools or YMCA water programs. | Drop-in aquafit: Adult $15.33 + HST/day pass or $126 + HST/10 visits (~$12.60/visit); YMCA monthly $41–$61 includes aquatics. |
| CrossFit / Functional Training | CrossFit Toronto (Leslieville); Academy of Lions; Reebok CrossFit Liberty; CrossFit 416, YKV. | Monthly unlimited ~$175–$325 (e.g., Gold $175 unlimited CrossFit/open gym; Platinum $325 adds lifting); drop-ins ~$20–$30; 10-class packs ~$150. |
Whether you’re training for sports like hockey or soccer, or just looking to stay fit, Toronto has plenty of classes to meet your needs. Here are some tips to help you make the right choice:
We hope this article has offered you some insights into the different types of fitness classes available in Toronto. If you are interested in improving your fitness level with an experienced personal trainer, feel free to connect with a tutor on Superprof.
References
- Sinclair, G. (2025, May 17). Spin classes for Maximum Calorie burn: Science-Based Benefits. Rumen. https://www.rumen.com.au/article/spin-classes-calorie-burn-science/
- Writer, S. (2017, May 4). 7 trendy workouts: Which is right for you? The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/our-stories/which-workout-fits-you
- Groves, K. (2024, September 4). 20 interesting pilates facts that will surprise you. Alvy. https://alvy.com.au/blogs/news/pilates-facts-that-will-surprise-you
- Fitness, C. (n.d.). HIIT ZONE Quick Facts | Century Fitness. https://centuryfit.com/h-i-i-t-zone-quick-facts/
- Wolf, C., & Wolf, C. (2023, August 10). What is Barre? The Top 10 Benefits of Barre Workouts - Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin. Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin - An uncommon focus on you. https://www.ohow.com/2023/08/10/what-is-barre-the-top-10-benefits-of-barre-workouts/
- Everything You Need to Know About Dance Fitness | Zumba®. (n.d.). Www.zumba.com. https://www.zumba.com/en-US/everything-to-know-dance-fitness
- Strength training: Get stronger, leaner, healthier. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/strength-training/art-20046670
- Hoff, V. (2022, March 27). The workouts that burn the most calories, ranked. Byrdie. https://www.byrdie.com/how-many-calories-burn-zumba-soulcycle-yoga
- Harvard Health. (2024, June 3). Advantages of water-based exercise. https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/advantages-of-water-based-exercise
- The Orthopaedic Institute. (2022, August 11). What are the Benefits of CrossFit? - The Orthopaedic Institute. https://www.toi-health.com/physician-articles/what-are-the-benefits-of-crossfit/
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