The 11 Best Places to Work It Out in Toronto

Start the year off on the right foot with our 11 Best Places To Work It Out in Toronto.

Life Time Fitness, with locations in both Mississauga and Ajax, feels like a country club but is priced like a fitness club—with amazing facilities to boot. The basketball courts mean the whole family can love and participate in a sport together. A rock climbing wall (Mississauga location) appeals to our littles, who would live in a climbing gym if they could. A gorgeous outdoor pool means that when the weather is nice, we've got a great place to cool off. Oh and what if it's wretched outside? Indoor pool! And yes, they offer kids swimming lessons if you are sick to death of the Parks and Recreation panic at registration time. There's also dance and karate programs for kids, plus so much more. The fitness classes appeal to us and our desire to be healthy, active parents, but we can also indulge in a variety of spa services.

YogaBe is a gift for those of us who work or play near downtown. Conveniently located in the PATH (so we don't have to brave those icy winds) the studio offers a variety of classes, including a brief 45-minute lunch class each weekday. We also adore the genius 3 pm 'Better than a Coffee Break' session—20 minutes of poses we can do in our work clothes. YogaBe is proof that we don't have to spend an hour and a half in a yoga class to reap the benefits. Any form of movement is better than slumping over our desks, or worse, turning to sugar for a pick-me-up. And because it is so convenient, it's easier to make a weekly or even daily habit. That all adds up to more energy and less stress—better for us, our workplace and definitely our families.

Who among us wouldn't love to possess psychic abilities so we can anticipate the changes in routine brought about by life's many other curveballs? Our schedules are less than consistent, so we were tickled pink when Striation 6 showed up at Yonge and Davisville with a ridiculously flexible, pay-as-you-go approach to fitness. No contracts, no commitments, no reserving spots in childcare or classes. Just amazing facilities and childcare ($6 per session). We love the variety in fitness classes ($14), from bouncy Kangoo to intense Muay Thai, plus yoga and boot camp, among others. Cool new exercise-equipment lines like ISOPHIT and MoveStrong have us coming back for more, and personal training and fitness coaching sessions are also available for purchase on a per-session basis.

This up-to-date, clean and well-equipped facility keeps regular clientele coming back, but it's the instructors at this downtown (King and Spadina) boutique gym who have developed a well-deserved following for their excellent one-on-one fitness expertise and motivational tactics.

If this year is the year to challenge yourself (run your first half/full marathon, compete in a triathalon or simply revamp your workout life), Absolute Endurance offers a ton of best-of-breed workout options (including an Endless Pool for swimmers) in this small but mighty Midtown location.

Many fitness centres offer dozens of crammed cardio and Pilates classes, but some know their expertise and stick with it. Don't be intimidated by the singular focus of this Leslieville weight training gym. Women are more than welcome—and the affordable month-to-month memberships make it worth a try.

Swearing off all those excesses we over-indulged in (we're talking to you wine, chocolate, carbs) can help, but for a well-rounded approach to health, this 5,000 square foot Leslieville facility offers a one-two punch of personal training and therapeutic services (massage, athletic therapies) and more.

Let's get serious. If indoor cycling seems to be the one activity you can't get enough of, High Park's small but mighty Browns is for you. With intro classes offered regularly, a state-of-the-art temperature-controlled room and instructors that make you believe (while you feel the burn), you'll be back for more.

Jacob's Ladder, Bosu Bootcamps, Kettleballs, Rope Endurance—if you thought working out used to mean languishing on the elliptical, think again. Rainford Fitness knows how to keep it interesting, in this bright and clean space located in the Avenue and Lawrence area of the city.

Take it from us—the Circuit 60 class alone is worth the membership fee. A multi-level facility in Forest Hill Village offers classes that have bold names, including Think Naked, Barre, Core 104 and Killer Kore, and the 'I feel so fit' afterglow to prove that pushing yourself has serious benefits.

Their Fit for Life and Athletic Conditioning classes are high intensity (meaning never boring) but this west-end spot also offers Fitmom classes, strength, cardio and core classes, personal training and holistic and sports nutrition counseling. If you're Think-ing about getting in shape, you may have just found the answer.