Washington, D. C. Gyms and Fitness

Exercisers spread throughout spacious workout areas at Results Gym, whose downtown location is as well known for their architecture as their athletic amenities, including choice of a dry or steam sauna, access to the latest in technologically advanced exercise equipment. A Hydrowork training pool with user-controlled current and an underwater treadmill let patrons practice outrunning sharks at cross-species track meets. In addition, massage-therapy, personal-training, and nutrition-counseling services are available. The 65,000 square-foot Capitol Hill location houses four international-sized squash courts, a full basketball and volleyball court, and a 38-foot climbing wall.

CrossFit South Arlington prides itself on providing a more intense workout than the typical gym. From within a vast warehouse-like space, trainers design fast-moving, ever-changing sessions combining gymnastics, heavy-duty cardio, and strength training. In a given class, attendees may be asked to hoist kettlebells, pump iron, and paddle in place on rowing machines. New members become acclimated to the program in the Foundations course, learning basic exercises and techniques for darning sweatbands, before advancing to the ramped-up main program. The gym also offers yoga classes, Strong Man training, and S.P.E.A.R. personal-defense courses.

SalFit & Associates founder Salone Jones boasts an impressive resume detailing her experience as a professional dancer, actress, and fitness model, but her passion lies in the time she spends with her students during personal-training sessions. She discovered early on in her career that bodies come in all shapes and sizes, so no fitness plan can offer a “one size fits all” solution. That’s why she spends each boot camp walking from student to student, offering individual guidance. SalFit sessions make use of outdoor structures such as stairs and ledges, where participants perform hardcore endurance, strength and flexibility routines with a little bit of dance thrown in to work out internal metronomes.