Classes in Ames

Ames Racquet & Fitness Center helps shrink beer bellies and wine waists with a convoy of cardio machines, strength-training equipment, expert trainers, and group classes. Bright, open reception areas welcome doomed calories, which cower in fear of the lineup of treadmills, ellipticals, and stationary bikes, and noodle-like biceps morph into bulging bastions of brawn on free-weight systems. The one-month membership also gives fitnessmongers access to a full-length pool at the North location, which accommodates fat-banishing underwater three-legged races, as well as tennis courts at the South location. Additionally, patrons get access to more than 90 weekly group classes. Brightly lit, mirrored studios play host during the calming yoga-Pilates fusion Group Centergy, while Power Aqua breaks sweats without aggravating joints in the pool.

Anytime Fitness is a busy, popular fitness chain that works to remove common obstacles to working out. At any one of the 21 locations this Groupon is valid for, clients have 24/7 access to the gym’s cardio and strength-training equipment, and some locations offer group fitness classes, such as Zumba and small group training. Certified personal trainers are available to help those looking to take their workouts to the next level, and members can finish their exercise routines with a stop off at the onsite tanning booth to add a summery glow to muscles.

The fire of a sunset. The majesty of a rocky beach. The quiet dignity of a bowl of fruit. Artistic inspiration lives in many different places. For visitors to Creative Spirits, that inspiration might live at the bottom of a wine glass. During the studio's easy-going painting events, guests sip glasses of their favorite wine or beer while painting a personalized copy of the night's chosen painting. They're helped along by the studio's engaging in-house artists; in addition to understanding the process of turning canvases into works of art, they're also experienced teacher, able to unlock the artistic potential in even beginning painters. The studio also provides all of the necessary materials, including brushes and acrylic paints, as well as lessons on how to use them. By the end of the party, painters own a piece of wall-friendly art, painted by their own hands and filled with memories of the fun they've had.

For many, maintaining a healthy fitness regimen is an off-putting chore on par with cleaning the garage or assembling that backyard roller coaster for the kids. The folks behind Snap Fitness, who now boast locations all over the world, are of the opinion that this doesn't have to be the case. They believe 24-hour access to premium cardio and strength-training equipment, innovative easyFIT monitors to track personal progress, and perpetual guidance from certified professionals can help transform physical fitness into an accessible activity that yields measurable and tangible results. In addition to providing online workout rubrics and meal plans, they work to keep sweat glands up and running by offering work out rewards programs, making regular check-in calls, and measuring bodies—sans padded muscle suits—every 30 days.

Deb Cazavilan loves teaching people how to cook so much that she even found a way to reflect it in her company's domain name, www.CanYouBakeaCherryPie.com. She discovered this passion for sharing her craft while working as a chef in her former restaurant, The Little Blue House, where she started hosting cooking lessons in the kitchen. That grew into Wooden Spoons Workshops and Cooking Classes, and today, Deb welcomes aspiring chefs to her studio kitchen for hands-on classes covering topics from artisan pizzas and holiday pies to paella and gluten-free cookies. She may even share a pointer for making her blue-ribbon-winning Ankeny mudslide pie. Hint: she uses chocolate, not mud and slides from a science department's old projector room.

Anytime Fitness is a busy, popular fitness chain that works to remove common obstacles to working out. At any one of the 21 locations this Groupon is valid for, clients have 24/7 access to the gym’s cardio and strength-training equipment, and some locations offer group fitness classes, such as Zumba and small group training. Certified personal trainers are available to help those looking to take their workouts to the next level, and members can finish their exercise routines with a stop off at the onsite tanning booth to add a summery glow to muscles.