Group Fitness Classes

Group Exercise

We offer many types of fitness classes, from indoor cycling to HIIT and Yoga to Pilates. Please see below for the full list of our High Intensity and Mind Body group exercise offerings.

And now all Darien YMCA Members have free access to a broad catalog of on-demand and livestreaming content available online and soon in Studio 1's large screen TV via YMCA 360!

Click link below for an interactive schedule.

For More Information Contact:

Fitness Operations Coordinator

Gene DeNota
(203) 655-8228 Ext 1359
Email gdenota@darien-ymca.org

Group Fitness Class Descriptions

*segmented by intensity — Low, Medium, Medium to High, and High

LOW INTENSITY

Full Body Flow Yoga
Release tension and feel refreshed in this class for all bodies. The focus of the practice will be on breath and movement, creating a flow of postures that enhance flexibility and strength.

Light ‘N Easy
This class includes exercises for toning and strengthening the entire body with (but not limited to) dumbbells, stability balls, and tubing. Designed for active older adults, this class will make you feel energized throughout the day.

Slow & Gentle Yoga
Designed to open tight areas, strengthen & revitalize the body through a slow & gentle series of postures & breathing, this class is suitable for all practitioners.

Restorative Yoga
Tap into relaxation with this series of supported postures. Blankets, bolsters, straps, & blocks are used to guide muscles & bones into gentle stretches and deep release. A must for everyone living in a stressful world.

Tai Chi
Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese art, also known as moving meditation. Some of the benefits of Tai Chi include relaxation, strength, flexibility, and balance. Suitable for both beginner and advanced students.

Vinyasa Flow Yoga
Vinyasa flow classes, open to all yoga levels, highlight eclectic musical playlists and lead students through a soulful journey that clears negative mental chatter and awakens the body. Classes are designed to slowly warm up from head to toe, and then move with breath and a quickened pace leading to a fluidity of motion through creative posture sequences, alternating active and resting poses. While flexibility and strength are promoted through sustaining postures, so too is cardio, with a sometimes-brisk flow. Modifications and props are offered, so students practice at a level that works for their body.


MEDIUM INTENSITY

Pilates
The Pilates philosophy focuses on training the mind & body to work together toward overall fitness. Classes strengthen & improve posture, provide flexibility & balance, unite body & mind, and create a more streamlined shape.

Balance Barre
From the barre to the center of the floor; build strength, alignment and balance in this 1 hour class. Bringing awareness to one’s proprioception, participants will develop better balance and coordination through rhythmic movement at the barre and across the room. Come, have fun while learning to develop ones better balance through various planes of alignment.

Barre Fusion
Barre fusion is set to an ever-changing playlist of music.

The first half of class begins on mats. We start with a cardio warm up and use cardio intervals in between sets of body weight exercise, hand weights, sliding disks and other fun props such as exercise balls.

The second half of the class is at the ballet barre for traditional barre exercises, Pilates ab work and a yoga cool down.

All exercises throughout the class use multiple muscle groups for an hour of cardio, strength and flexibility training. You’ll come out of class feeling stronger and longer.

Pilates Sculpt
Tap into your mid-line in this full body sculpting class.  You will develop and leverage the power of your core, glutes, and inner thighs to drive targeted full-range, pulsing, and isometric shaping just where you need it. You’ll combine your deepest strength with mindful mobility and feel worked throughout your entire body.

Power Pilates
The Pilates philosophy focuses on training the mind & body to work together toward overall fitness. Classes strengthen & improve posture, provide flexibility & balance, unite body & mind, and create a more streamlined shape. This class adds power, or an increased intensity.

Open Yoga
Open Level Yoga. These serene, engaging classes set to relaxing music teach the fundamentals of Yoga including sun salutations, standing poses, balancing postures, seated and reclining poses, core isolation, and strengthening.

FUNctional Yoga
Explore yoga asanas from a non-traditional perspective, deconstructing familiar poses and using props to make challenging poses more accessible. Build up your strength to progress in your physical practice and watch how this translates into your life outside of the mat. Have fun learning to improve your joint’s range of motion and feel more at ease in your body and mind. All levels welcome.

Stretching 101
Learn the proper ways to stretch your body for better flexibility, mobility, and recovery. These 30-minute classes will give you a better understanding of the different way to stretch the body, including but not limited to, static stretching, PNF and many more. Experience, with or with props, what you have been missing to make your body feel so much better.


MEDIUM TO HIGH INTENSITY

Dance Fitness
This fusion of Latin & International music along with today’s Pop hits, combined with dance and fitness based movements, creates a dynamic, exciting, & effective fitness system. The routines feature aerobic fitness interval training with a combination of rhythms that tone & sculpt the body.

Zumba
ZUMBA is a fusion of Latin and International music – dance themes that create a dynamic, exciting, effective fitness system! The routines feature aerobic/fitness interval training with a combination of fast and slow rhythms that tone and sculpt the body.

Boxing Bootcamp 
This workout blends elements of boxing, fitness and conditioning in a 60-min routine. This class uses heavy bags and an assortment of fitness accessories to create a total body workout.

Indoor Cycle  
This class, performed on stationary bikes, is as intense as the student makes it. Instructors are skilled in nurturing beginners while also challenging advanced athletes. Upbeat, motivating music ensures students are energized from start to finish.
IMPORTANT: New students are strongly advised to arrive 10 minutes early to ensure proper bike setup.


HIGH INTENSITY

Bootcamp
A circuit-style format moves students from one dynamic station to another with minimal downtime in these fast-paced, total body workouts. Various pieces of equipment & tools are used in these classes held in our basketball gym.

HIIT
High Intensity Interval Training is a combination of strength and conditioning exercised formatted with different time and rest intervals.

Strength & Conditioning
After an extensive warm up & dynamic stretching, experience a workout consisting of intervals that mix elements of cardio, strength training, core conditioning, plyometrics, speed & agility drills.

TRX Bootcamp
TRX is a unique form of suspension training that mimics movement patterns fundamental to most human activities. We’re proud to offer both boot camp & cardio styles of TRX to produce well-rounded offerings to help you reach your goals.

Total Body
This workout is geared to challenge your total body with intense strength movements. Throw in some conditioning exercises and you have the total body workout.

Boxing 4 Fitness
Boxing 4 Fitness will work your whole body and mind. Our instructor will make you feel confident and comfortable. They will guide you through a10-minute warm up followed by 8 3-minute rounds with a minute of rest or active rest (your choice!) Each round will consist of different punch combinations and MMA type of movement that will improve your cardio, reduce stress, torch fat, improve balance and core stability. The last 8 minutes of class we will cooldown with core/ab exercises. If you’re interested in trying something new or feeling the need to change up your exercise program while having fun and getting an abundance of health benefits, this class is for you! Requirements for class -Wrist wraps. Boxing gloves are supplied but would recommend purchasing your own.

Rock Solid
Don’t be fooled by the shortened duration of this class, as it is designed to strengthen and tone your core and other major muscle groups in a minimal amount of time. Features body weight exercises, resistance work and strength training.

Weights & Wheels
Get the results you want with this high intensity interval workout that has participants alternating between the spin bike & strength training, ensuring a constantly varied workout that challenges both body and mind.
IMPORTANT: New students are strongly advised to arrive 10 minutes early to ensure proper bike set up.

Mid-day Madness
A high intense yet fun workout. Held in the training center using a wide variety of fitness equipment.

HIIT 2.0
High Intensity Interval Training is a combination of strength and conditioning exercised formatted with different time and rest intervals. This class will be held in the training center, with the ability to use more equipment, will be brought to a whole new level!

For More Information Contact:

Fitness Operations Coordinator

Gene DeNota
(203) 655-8228 Ext 1359
Email gdenota@darien-ymca.org