Barefoot Workouts in Singapore
It's finally lunchtime.
You’ve worked your butt off the entire morning, had one coffee too many, and can’t listen to another of your co-workers gripe about the fight they had with their housemate last night.
Thankfully, you know that your gym is just around the corner and a quick lunchtime workout can perk you up physically and mentally.
You walk to your car only to realise that you left your shoes at home while scurrying out the door that morning.
Sound familiar?
Given how much we tend to have on our minds, it’s so easy to forget things every now and then.
Thankfully, there are a growing number of boutique fitness studio classes which do not require any shoes to workout! That means no more having to lug a stinky shoe bag to your dinner date after work, nor having the scenario above play out on more than one occasion.
In fact, going barefoot has been shown to strengthen the stabilizing muscles of the ankle, improve muscle alignment, and increase flexibility and mobility of the foot. This means you won't just be able to jump higher and lift more in the gym, but also be able to perform everyday tasks like walking without getting those wretched aches and pains.
In this article, I feature some of my top picks for studios that require nothing but your bare feet!
1. Barre:
Burn, baby, burn. With barre studios popping up all over the place, you’re sure to have heard of the classic barre burn. With its roots in pilates and dance, barre workouts target your entire body and focus on small isometric movements that strengthen and tone. For a bare-foot Barre workout that only requires a pair of grippy socks, head over to Barre 2 Barre, Singapore’s only certified BarreAmped studio. Set to upbeat music, Barre 2 Barre’s unique workout that focuses on form and a neutral spine promises to increase strength and tone those oh-so small (but important!) muscles.
Where: Barre 2 Barre, 3 Pickering St #03-01/02 Nankin Row, Singapore 048660
2. Indoor Surfing:
If you thought “Well, I’m on dry land, how tough can it be?” You’d be in for a wobbly surprise! Any movements involving the board requires one to engage all the muscles. ALL. First-timers are required to take the BALANCE class at least once, so you get used to the board. The BALANCE class is about controlled movements, making it a great workout for those looking to strengthen their core muscles. Small class sizes also allow for more individual attention, so the instructor can ensure that your form is correct. All in all, a fantastic workout, great fun, and your abs will “thank” you for it.
Where: Surfset Fitness, 454 Joo Chiat Rd, Singapore 427667
3. Indoor Cycling:
Want something a bit more cardio-intensive? An indoor cycling workout at Absolute Cycle or Ground Zero not only gets your heartrate up, the entire class is also set to the beat of amazing music and conducted in a dark room with disco-type lights. In other words, it’s like cycling ... in a club. While shoes aren’t required, be sure to bring a bottle of water to hydrate, socks, and a clean change of clothes!
Where: Absolute Cycle, 6A Shenton Way, #02-01 Oue Downtown Gallery, Singapore 068815 or Ground Zero, Level 3, 38 Carpenter Street, Singapore 059917
4. Yoga:
Need to wind down after a long day or take a breather after an exhausting morning? Drop by Yoga Movement - the brand has studios all over Singapore and classes through the day to release all that tension. With sessions ranging from HIIT Yoga to Power Flow and Zen, you can select an option to suit your goal for your practice.
Where: Yoga Movement, Various Locations (Singapore)
5. Martial Arts: Evolve MMA
Had a long day and just want to punch something (or someone) with all that built up stress? Look no further than Evolve MMA. With classes ranging from Muay Thai, Kickboxing, to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and a back-to-back schedule from 6:30am to 10:15pm, you’ll have a myriad of options!
Where: Evolve MMA, Various Locations (Singapore)
So, there you have it - five options so “I didn’t bring my gym shoes” won’t be a reason for you to miss that workout… and if none of those work for you, there’s so much beauty in simply taking a walk bare-foot around the lush garden city we live in (just make sure you rinse your feet after!)
