Gyms in Irondale

At Curves, you'll move around a circuit of hydraulic resistance machines that have been designed to work with women's bodies and promote weight loss, protect against osteoporosis, and deal with arthritis. An experienced trainer is always nearby to help manage your machine maneuvering and your muscle making. Instead of fiddling with weight stacks and losing your momentum, the hydraulic machines use your body weight and fitness level to create resistance that matches your abilities, decreasing the risk of soreness or injury. Because traditional lift-and-lower motions create bulky muscles, each machine uses push-and-pull motions to create toned, lean muscles perfect for crushing a grapefruit without looking like you can.

Led by certified fitness trainer Rachel Hunt, boot-camp sessions combine core-conditioning exercises with cardio and weight training to mold muscles and burn calories. Each day, your instructors will throw down a fresh guerilla ambush's worth of challenges for your muscles and your brain, fueling constant gains and keeping you engaged. Because the group setting promotes a team mentality, students motivate each other to take on new challenges and strive for their physical best. Class sizes are small (no more than 15 attendees), ensuring each student receives individualized attention and that there's enough oxygen available to prevent gasping. Click here to see Extreme's boot camp in action.

The consortium of professional instructors at Fred Astaire Dance Studios, which was cofounded by the legendary toe tapper himself, shepherds students of all ages and skill levels through lessons that span the style spectrum. Low-pressure private sessions allow enthusiastic teachers to fine-tune individual students' techniques and form, using their expert eyes and mechanical dancing shoes preprogrammed to do the Charleston. Patrons can learn how to cavort through classic waltz and foxtrot romps or swivel through the modern steps of salsa, swing, or samba. For dancers hoping to hoof it up in a social setting, the group practice parties provide a one-night extravaganza of instruction, demonstrations, and amateur firewalking.

Led by director Carla Higginbotham, the instructors of Dance Trance aim to create a fun, lively workout using intuitive, easy-to-follow dance moves and upbeat music. The instructors demonstrate the routine without shouting disruptive directions as students shake and shimmy their way through strength building and cardio drills.

The five-room face and body center Beyond Wellness Today complements its kempt beige and grey slate floors with an environment of harmony and rejuvenation. Guests receive a personally fine-tuned service to satisfy their individual needs in private quarters, lending way to a relaxing experience.