Spring is in full swing, and with longer days and warmer weather comes the wide range of outdoor activities that make Maine a four-season destination. Before you head out onto the trails or sign up for that marathon, you may feel the need to get back to your best self after a long winter to ensure you can adventure all season long. If so, Portland is full of studios that will not only support your fitness goals, but they will also offer a community to sweat alongside – and sometimes a tasty incentive to finish those sprints or that last set.
Did we miss your favorite way to sweat? Email us at info@portlandoldport.com or DM us to feature your favorite fitness studio!
Spinning Your Wheels
CycleBar: Driven by music. Always accepting. A little bit rebellious. These are just a few of the guiding principles of CycleBar. Through their professional instructors, proprietary playlists, and metrics system to help you track your stats each workout, this spin studio is designed to help get you to your fitness goals – while staying on the beat.
Portland Bike Party: The Portland Bike Party is, well, exactly what it sounds like. The monthly ride is inclusive of all ages and designed to be slow-paced to allow for all abilities to participate (and socialize). Rides run April-October and follow different routes throughout the city each month.
Rêve Cycling Studio: This locally owned, women-run studio is designed to welcome anyone, regardless of fitness level, to fall in love with cycling. Their goal is for you to make new friends, challenge yourself, and be inspired. They even offer yoga classes for cross-training on your days off the bike.
For the Love of Running
Old Port Pub Run: Meet up every Thursday evening at Liquid Riot for a few miles followed by a social hour. The group also hosts occasional classes at local fitness studios, offering a chance to shake things up and try something new.
Runaways Run Club: This Maine-based run community offers several free runs per week, designed to welcome all abilities and speed levels. Choose from four weekly options ranging from runs centered around socializing at a local coffee shop or pub to seasonal trail runs designed to get you out of the city to explore.
Starting Line Run Studio: Has it been awhile since you laced up your running shoes and you’re feeling the need to get back in the running groove? Then that’s where Starting Line treadmill and strength classes come in. Whether you’re just getting started and want support keeping up your form, or need to add some structure to your training routine, these classes will help get you up and running. Startling Line even offers personal training to make sure you stay on track with your goals, as well as, physical therapy to stay injury free.
Valor Track Club: The East Coast branch of this competitive track team is based out of Portland. They host a free all-abilities track workout every Tuesday at 6 pm at Fitzpatrick Stadium and membership options for serious runners looking for a team to compete alongside.
Mindful Movement
Move Wild Studio: If you love the feel of studio fitness classes, but can’t bear to work out inside during the sunny summer months, check out Move Wild Studio. This fitness and yoga popup series bounces around to bars and breweries all year but typically takes up residence on the Eastern Prom with outdoor classes throughout the summer.
Portland Yoga Collective: The teachers at Portland Yoga Collective want to encourage you to shift out of autopilot and into presence. Through a wide variety of yoga classes and special workshops, they have built a mindful wellness community in their beautifully-designed studio.
Portland Yoga Project: The Portland Yoga Project is one of building community in-process, trying to create an impact that benefits the common good. In addition to a variety of yoga and barre classes, you’ll find a community of people dedicated to social justice and activism – building a wellness practice that’s good for your body, your mind, and the greater community.
Good Ole’ Sweat
Beacon Community Fitness: Beacon community fitness is designed as a collaborative community dedicated to getting fit, having fun, and forging meaningful connections. While it started as a CrossFit gym, it has since expanded to focus on the connections between community health and fitness. They focus on the health of members’ minds as much as their bodies by building a supportive community.
Crossfit Casco Bay: Portland’s longest-standing CrossFit studio prides itself on having built a friendly and supportive community to support all members in meeting their goals. They also offer nutrition coaching and personal training, so that you can take your workouts to the next level with personalized support.
Dynamics Fitness and Performance: Offering a host of options ranging from group boot camp to private classes and one-on-one personal training, Dynamics is ready to help you meet your fitness goals with classic conditioning exercises and a variety of coaches.
F45: The functional training classes at F45 are designed as a mix of HIIT and circuit training to get the maximum benefits out of each class’s 45-minute length. The team training component helps keep participants motivated and offers a community to support you during that difficult last set.
The Form Lab: This fitness studio is focused not just on getting you a good sweat, but on making sure your form is in top shape too. They focus on teaching you to move correctly regardless of body, shape, size, or identity to support healthy fitness habits long term.
Hustle and Flow: Billing itself as “Portland’s most eclectic studio”, Hustle & Flow aims to reflect the diversity of its community to create an inclusive atmosphere for each dance, yoga, and fitness class. All classes are set to music and guided to the beat, so you may even forget that you’re working out – until the sweat starts to drip on your mat.
Orange Theory Fitness: Orange Theory bases its classes on heart rate “zones”, which tell you when to push harder and when to pull back for ideal fitness benefits. Classes are a mix of rowing, cardio, and strength training led by certified coaches to meet your fitness level and goals.
Pure Barre: If heavy weights and sprints aren’t your style, try the insidious burn of a barre class. While it may not look like much, you’re sure to be surprised by how hard it is to get out of bed after your first class (or two). These musically-driven, low-impact workouts are great to help build strength after an injury or simply offer a fun full-body workout that will make you feel like a ballet dancer.
Salud Portland: Salud has a little bit of everything – reformer and chair pilates, yoga, barre, trampoline cardio, and sculpt classes focused on keeping you fit in both body and mind. Their highly trained instructors focus on helping members build an intentional wellness routine.
Springboard Pilates: Pilates can be intimidating, with all those springs and straps on the reformer and so many small movements with specific techniques. The knowledgeable instructors at Springboard Pilates are here to guide you through the movements of Pilates, using the reformer as a “dance partner” to support and lead you through each workout. Curious, but new to Pilates? Book a free 15-minute consultation to learn a little bit more before jumping into classes.
Something a Little Bit Different
The Academy: Check out Maine’s Premier training facility for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Kickboxing. If you’re interested in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or mixed martial arts, but not sure where to get started, The Academy offers a four-week training program for first-timers called the On Ramp Program, which starts on the first Monday of each month and meets twice a week. Here, they will teach you class warm-ups and basic moves and concepts of Jiu-Jitsu to help you get ready to get in the ring.
Baby Booty: If you are trying to get back into fitness after having a baby or working to prepare your body and mind for the rigors of childbirth and new parenthood, there is a community designed just for you at Baby Booty. Each 30-minute workout is followed by 30 minutes of social time for you and your baby (toddlers are welcome too). All of their workouts are designed around everyday movements to help you meet the demands of your life while giving you a wellness boost – and some much-needed community support from other new parents.
Casco Bay Sports: Sign up for a spring sports league in Maine’s largest active lifestyle community. There’s a little something for everyone, from softball to soccer, kickball to cornhole. Join with a few friends to build your own team or join as a free agent to join a group in need of new players. Registering for a team is a commitment to joining for a full season, so make sure you’re ready to play before signing up.
EVO Rock & Fitness: EVO aims to continue to build on the tradition of community in the sport of climbing while empowering individuals to evolve and uncover their full potential. In addition to top rope climbing and bouldering, they offer classes geared towards beginning climbers and seasoned athletes looking to hone their skills, yoga and aerial classes, and social events for members and the community. If you’re interested in climbing but unsure where to begin, their 1.5-hour Learn the Ropes class is a great place to start.
Portland Sweat Project: The local outpost of the grassroots free fitness movement, November Project, will give you a community to encourage you to #justshowup every Wednesday for a free workout in a different location around the city each week. All year, rain, shine, or snow, the November Project hosts an all-ages, all-levels workout starting at 6:29 am.
Get fit, have fun, and maybe try something new with one of Portland’s many fitness communities.
If you try a new workout or instructor from a studio on the list, let us know in the comments!
