Strong and sweaty
Classes across Santa Cruz that build strength and heat.
10 studios · 75 facilitators
Practice coverage updated Oct 31, from connected schedules for the next two weeks. Schedules refresh separately.
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Strong and sweaty in Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz has a strong pull toward classes that build strength and bring a good sweat. Pilates, reformer work, power yoga and HIIT sit side by side across the city, with studios in Santa Cruz, Capitola, Felton and Scotts Valley. Many classes start early in the morning, and the rhythm of the week suits people who like to train before the day begins.
Where to start: The Club at Los Gatos, Santa Cruz Athletic Club in Santa Cruz or Miel Pilates in Capitola
It suits you if
- you like to train early in the morning
- you want strength and heat in one hour
- you prefer reformer and core based work
At a glance
Read more about Strong and sweaty in Santa CruzStrength and sweat across the week, Where the practice gathers
Strength and sweat across the week
The strong and sweaty classes in Santa Cruz are most often built around Pilates, strength and power yoga. Reformer classes at Miel Pilates and Pilates by Natalia sit next to heated classes like Sweat60 at The Club at Los Gatos and Anahata Vinyasa Flow in Felton. A good number of classes focus on core and pelvic floor, and a smaller group leans toward flexibility, barre or joint and mobility work.
The classes are typically about an hour long, and most start in the morning. The busiest times are early, with 6am and 8:30am among the most common starts, plus a steady midday and evening rhythm around noon and 5:30pm.
Where the practice gathers
Santa Cruz Athletic Club and The Club at Los Gatos both run a wide range of classes, from RedRoom HIIT and power yoga to Pilates and body work. RockSalt Santa Cruz offers strength classes in the Santa Cruz neighborhood, and Miel Pilates and Hot Elevation Studios cluster in Capitola. Felton and Scotts Valley have hot yoga options, and Rio Del Mar offers dance fitness and hot yoga.
The neighborhoods with the most classes are Capitola, Santa Cruz, Felton, Rio Del Mar, Scotts Valley and Twin Lakes. Each has its own mix, so it is worth looking at the kind of practice you want before choosing a studio.
Strong and sweaty: questions and answers
When do most people practice?
Most classes start early, with more than half of the week's classes falling in the morning and about a third before 9am. The busiest start times are 6am, 8:30am, noon and 5:30pm, and the busiest days are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Evening classes make up about a fifth, and the latest start is 7:15pm.
What kinds of classes are there?
The classes cover a wide range, from reformer Pilates and core and pelvic floor work to power yoga, hot vinyasa and HIIT. Strength is the common thread, and most classes are labeled with some version of strong or sweat. Yin, calm and all-levels classes are rare here.
Where can I find a hot or heated class?
Power yoga and hot yoga are both common here, and Anahata Hot Yoga and Wellness Center in Felton and The Club at Los Gatos both offer heated classes. Sweat60 at The Club at Los Gatos and Anahata Vinyasa Flow are good examples of the heat-based classes on offer.
Are there classes for people who already have some experience?
Classes at Pilates by Natalia in Capitola include classical reformer at levels two and three, and Pilates Glow Studio offers an intermediate strength and sculpt class. Pilates Intermediate Flow at The Club at Los Gatos is another option. Most classes run about an hour or less, usually 45 to 60 minutes.
How long are the classes?
Typical classes run about 60 minutes, though some are shorter, like the 45-minute reformer Pilates at Miel Pilates or the 50-minute RockReform Strength at RockSalt Santa Cruz. Classes are taught in a studio with a facilitator guiding the movement.