The best fitness studios on Yonge Street in Toronto
Are you ready to sweat your way down Yonge Street? Choose from physically challenging or restorative yoga, ballet-inspired fusion classes with a kick, Brazilian jiu jitsu, body firming group classes, or a good old treadmill and free weight workout. From Lawrence to King, these gyms also boast serious convenience since all are mere steps away from subway stations along Toronto’s Yonge line. [Image courtesy of Barreworks]
Ashtanga Yoga Studio Of Toronto
3180 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4N 2L1Fans of ashtanga yoga know that increases in strength, flexibility and focus are just a few side effects of this flowing style of practice. Yoga practitioners flock to this uptown studio by Lawrence Station for its traditional approach, Mysore-style classes and inclusive vibe. Try this style if you like a vinyasa flow style of yoga with personalized attention from an instructor. And if you haven’t tried ashtanga before, beginner classes are taught throughout the week and weekends, and are a great way to ease you into the sequence of postures. Newcomers can try a month of classes for $40.
Barreworks
2576 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4P 2J3Looking for a workout that combines sequences from a variety of disciplines, designed to make you “leaner, longer and stronger”? Anyone who’s taken a barre class knows you’ll be anything but bored thanks to the variety of moves from various disciplines like yoga, Pilates, ballet and fitness training. Lunge, side plié and build serious upper body strength against the dance barre in this airy, spacious studio by Eglinton Stations (tons of natural light included). Smart tip: for less cardio and more sculpting, check out the bAAAre class – the triple As stand for arms, abs and ass.
Toronto No Gi Inc
1560 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4T 2S9If it’s time to break out of your cardio machine rut, or if you’re looking for a way to up your mental muscle while increasing your strength and overall fitness, adding some martial arts to the routine may be the ticket. About a three-minute walk from St. Clair Station, classes at Toronto No Gi (pronounced no ghee) focus on Brazilian jiu jitsu (which combines self defense and fitness for a mind and body workout), and Muay Thai (a major calorie burner that’s a mix of strength training and cardio). All levels are welcome, from absolute beginners to more advanced practitioners.
Ultimate Athletics Club Inc
1216 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4T 1W1This two-storey athletic club offers all the standard gym must-haves – personal trainers, a fully equipped weight room and the full gamut of cardio machines. But we hear the real reason Summerhill locals hit up this neighbourhood spot is for their surplus of classes. With two general studios and one dedicated spin studio, classes on the weekdays start as early as 6:15 am and run until 7 pm. Mix up your workouts as often as you like with classes ranging from high-intensity spin, boxing, boot camp, and kettlebell, to less intense options like barre and Pilates.
889 Community Inc
889 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4W 2H2Get your warrior on in one of the most gorgeous yoga spaces in the city. This three-storey Victorian home by Rosedale Station has been refreshed into a white-washed, spa-like space with airy practice rooms, perfect for strengthening, lengthening and decompressing. Fans flock here for the high-calibre of instructors and the range of classes – from the slow and steady restorative and yin to the moving sequences in flow and core power flow. Other classes include Pilates, Stress Melt flow, pre- and post-natal, and yoga by candlelight. Smart tip: newcomers can try 40 days of unlimited classes for $80.
Hone Fitness
7 Isabella St, Toronto, ON M4Y 1M7For those gym-goers looking to hit the treadmill for a half-hour of intervals or a session of free weights, a good old fashioned, no-frills gym is sometimes all you need. This massive 20,000 square-foot space by Wellesley Station not only offers some of the best rates in the city, but also the full range of cardio machines, free weights and weight machines. There’s also plenty of space for walking lunges, frog jumps and burpees, and spots to hold your planks, work your abs and stretch your hamstrings. For more motivation, personal training is also available.
YMCA
20 Grosvenor St, Toronto, ON M4Y 2V5The good old YMCA offers the complete fitness package at this bustling neighbourhood location (located about half way between College and Wellesley stations). Go for a run on the indoor track or pump up your heart in the cardio room, equipped with all the ellipticals, treadmills, rowing machines and bikes you could desire. Next, balance it out with a circuit of weights before swimming out the kinks in the pool. Or, break it up with one of the many classes on offer, from AquaFit, BodyFit and CycleFit to dance, Pilates and yoga.
Yoga Tree
123 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M5G 1C4Less than a five-minute walk from the pulsating corner of Yonge and Dundas lies Yoga Tree’s sprawling 10,000 square-foot location. This spacious, modern and bright yoga studio boasts three practice rooms and an impressively stocked schedule. Classes include a range of styles such as core, power, vinyasa flow, hot yin and hatha flow, and start as early as 6:30 am throughout the week. There’s also later evening classes throughout the week at 8:30 pm. Bonus: the studio is equipped with complimentary lockers, tea and filtered water.
GoodLife Fitness
137 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M5C 1W6Not your average GoodLife, this massive 24-hour gym boasts plenty of cardio machines (so you won’t be waiting for an elliptical with the rest of the 5:01 crowd) and plenty of free weights and machines. But it’s the classes galore that gym-goers flock in droves for. Let’s just say the vibe at the weeknight BODYPUMP and BODYCOMBAT classes is infectious – blame it on the beats, packed room and two or more instructors keeping you energized. There’s also a hot yoga room and group cycling studio with plenty of sweat-inducing classes.
Equinox
199 Bay, Toronto, ON M5J 1J5Hit up those trouble spots at one the most deluxe fitness club chains to cross the border. Less than a five-minute jaunt west of King Station, this ultra-modern, ultra-deluxe gym offers a five-star fitness experience with lush trimmings such as Kiehl’s body products in the shower room, chilled eucalyptus-infused towels and WiFi. Oh, yes, and the working out part. You’ll find the full range of equipment to keep those endorphins moving against a polished and slick backdrop, plus classes galore: boxing, yoga, studio cycling, Pilates and group fitness.
