Gyms in Fort Lauderdale

Owner Rosa Santana had the privilege of learning directly from BKS Iyengar, the Indian founder of Iyengar yoga. She was so inspired by his unique approach to yoga—which combines poses with props such as blankets, bolsters, blocks, and straps to develop proper musculoskeletal alignment—that she began to devote her life to the restorative practice, becoming an instructor in 1995. Today, she shares her passion with students in her a soothing, pink-hued studio. She and a team of equally fervent yoga teachers work with students of all abilities during the 60- and 90-minute sessions, shepherding students through a tapestry of postures and prop-fortified movements. With enough practice, Santana believes that students may see an increase in strength and flexibility, as well as a decrease in stress and spirit-animal freak-outs.

When they walk into CrossFit Ft. Lauderdale, members are most cordially invited to flip the switch into beast mode. They’re helped along with each day’s workout of the day, or WOD. These ever-changing exercises create a dynamic mélange of high-impact conditioning with a combination of powerlifting, gymnastics, and plyometrics. Home to over 200 members, the gym keeps its workouts short and intense, like a child performing a David Mamet monologue. The 6,000-square foot facility boasts an extensive array of fitness gear, including hanging ropes, ERG rowing machines, weight sleds, and kettlebells aplenty.

After nearly 20 surgeries to repair his knee and replace several ligaments, CrossFit trainer Evan Malone was told he might never run again. The nationally registered EMT and Army combat medic almost lost his leg during a parachute-training jump when he was yanked from the aircraft by a fellow paratrooper's ripcord, which was tangled around his leg. After spending two months bound to a wheelchair and 18 months on crutches, Malone took his first unaided steps.

Though he can't remember exactly how many surgeries he endured, Malone does remember the moment at which he vowed to prove his doctors wrong. The veteran-turned-athlete has since earned his CrossFit Level 1 and CrossFit Movement and Mobility certifications, which he puts to good use at Riptide CrossFit. With the help of coach Robert Plamondon, Malone strives to help clients of all abilities blast through their perceived limitations with CrossFit's adherence to constantly varied, high-intensity interval training. The program can help everyone from stay-at-home parents to marathon runners boost their strength and stamina with such functional movements as squats, push-ups, and opening a stubborn jar with one’s mind. Workouts of the day (WODs) are performed either at Riptide CrossFit's 1,500-square-foot gym—equipped with ropes, rowing machines, and kettlebells—or outside at the beach.

Alliette Chignoli understands how difficult it can be to get in shape. After suffering injuries to her foot and spine, she tried to become a “gym rat,” by “pounding the gym and eating like a bird.” But this combination did not help her lose weight and gain strength. Instead, she discovered that each body needs an individual balance of nutrition and exercise. Using this knowledge, she founded Physical Revolution, to evaluate bodies for fitness, nutrition, and exercise needs to improve overall health. Her personal-training workouts target a variety of muscle goals including flexibility, endurance, strength, and core conditioning. Kettlebell and TRX suspension training use props to help burn body fat and build muscle endurance, while body transformation workouts focus on reducing overall body fat through intense exercises. Physical Revolution also helps clients plan their nutritional intake with food-shopping courses, a home nutrition makeover, and a restaurant field trip to determine healthy menu options.

Monster: The Ultimate Obstacle Challenge's No. 1 goal is making fitness fun. Instead of just plodding toward the finish line on a concrete road, competitors tackle obstacles on the beach—climbing walls, crawling under nets, and sloshing through sandy beaches.

The race is intense and will test your inner mettle, but you don't have to be a Marine or Aqua Man to succeed. Racers of all ages and skill levels are welcome, and can opt for one of two course styles: the Monster Sprint, a quick frenzy with more than 15 obstacles back-to-back, the long 1- mile course has a combination of two courses being 2- to 3-miles long, dotted with more than 40 obstacles to test your endurance. There are two different sprint courses and two different long courses.

After lighting up the gridiron on Saturdays as a cornerback for the Washington State Cougars, Wale Dada pursued his dream of Sunday glory with stints in the NFL and professional clubs in Germany, Canada, and the United States. Now, he trains the next generation of fitness buffs as the owner and founder of Takeover Fitness Training. There, along with certified trainers Casey Eischen and Wesley Windham, he pairs training fundamentals with professional dedication to remake healthier lifestyles for clients of all fitness levels. Whether they're sweating through personal training sessions or stoking inner fires during group camps, clients can challenge muscles with strength training, boost endurance with cardio work, or improve balance and agility with boxing work. Training sessions even unfold outside of the gym, with beach training sessions blending intense workouts with the cool spray of the Atlantic.

Lifting coach Pablo Roman, a four-time Cuban national champion and world championship finalist, calls CrossFit Muscle Farm his office, as does a staff of accomplished athletes and coaches. Together, they lead CrossFit classes, high-intensity workouts that change regularly but always rely on serious conditioning moves, such as dead lifts, pushups, walking lunges, weighted chin-ups, and burpees. Though noted for its challenging nature, CrossFit can be scaled to exercisers of all ability levels and ages.