Classes in Taunton

Raynham Athletic Club is a family-oriented club with classes for all ages. In addition to a full weight room stocked with Hammer Strength weights, resistance machines, and Cybex circuit-training machines, the club also has a cardio theater populated with Precor machines including treadmills, stationary bikes, and ellipticals. For guided fitness, trainers lead personal-training sessions as well as more than 15 group exercise classes such as yoga, Pilates, Zumba, basic fitness, aqua aerobics, and kids' fitness.

Since its 1965 founding in Venice Beach, California, Gold's Gym has dotted the globe with more than 600 locations where professional athletes and exercise newbies gather under the umbrella of personal strength. Nearly 3.5 million Gold's members chart and aim for their fitness peaks, perspiring beneath the gaze of certified personal trainers or pedaling beside peers at cycling sessions. In a diverse lineup of group classes, patrons strengthen cores with Pilates, finger-paint pictures of ninjas in martial arts, and amp up heart rates along to the pulsating soundtracks of Les Mills routines. Many Gold's Gym locations stockpile futuristic amenities, such as cardio machines with individual iPod docks and televisions that help keep patrons motivated.

To help women achieve their fitness goals, the certified personal trainers at Get in Shape for Women focus on four areas: weight training, cardio training, nutrition, and accountability. Each of their small-group sessions are tailored to each exerciser. The trainers modify exercises to suit up to four ladies' fitness levels, beginning by calibrating 30 minutes of strength-training drills—such as free weights, lunges, and squats—to each student's abilities. Then, they do 25 minutes of cardio—the trainers might start beginners with a walk on the treadmill or light elliptical training, and challenge more advanced exercisers to high-intensity interval-training sessions for increased results.

The trainers supplement the group workouts with nutritional planning centered around the concept of eating six small, balanced meals six days a week. They set aside the seventh day for a bit of indulgence, be it eating a favorite sweet or lusting openly after bacon. To track ladies' progress toward reaching their goals, the trainers measure their weight and body-fat percentage every two weeks.

Koko FitClub’s automated personal-training system rockets both men and women toward fitness goals with 30-minute custom workouts that incorporate cardio and strength training. An initial consultation determines fitness levels and baseline measurements, which Koko’s computerized equipment uses to design a tailored workout plan that precisely measures the weight, pace, and rest time appropriate for each exerciser.

The Koko machines guide exercisers through each workout and adapt as the user’s fitness needs change in order to constantly challenge the body. Designed by professional trainers, workouts maximize the body’s lean-muscle mass, which can boost metabolism and help fight off disease by challenging viruses to kickboxing matches. Exercisers can track their shrinking waistlines and swelling muscles online by analyzing workout scores and comparing individual fitness levels to the Koko FitClub community.

Artist and instructor Debra Banna makes learning art as accessible as possible for her students. The veteran teacher and former children’s librarian studied art at the Attleboro Art Museum and the Rhode Island Watercolor Society. Conducting lessons at local libraries, churches, and students’ homes, Banna teaches kids how to create their own cartoon characters and helps adults paint realistic depictions of their feelings.

A pilot skillfully navigates a 1950 L-17 Warbird over the New England landscape, giving passengers an unrivaled view of the lush hills and angst-stricken poets below. Before taking off, a preflight inspection ensures that the cockpit is secure and stowaway clouds are thrown out onto the runway. The pilot then explains each control's functionality while covering the basics of the flight deck instruments. Once airborne, riders can gaze over the lush New England landscape while snapping photos and even snag the altitude stick for a lesson in amateur piloting as the aircraft glides by clouds under the watchful eye of the pilot. Though today's deal is for two, a third passenger may be added at an additional charge.