Detroit fitness studios and gyms to help you smash your workout goals

By Randiah Camille Green on Fri, Jan 19, 2024 at 10:21 am

If you’re like us, you’d probably rather take a nap than spend hours lifting weights in the gym. But that’s not going to help with your “new year, new me” goals, is it? The key to success in physical fitness is to keep it interesting, and there are plenty of fitness studios and gyms offering unique ways to get your sweat on in Detroit.

Since January is typically the busiest and most annoying time of the year at most commercial gyms, with everyone trying to make good on their New Year’s resolutions, here are some local businesses to support instead. Whether it’s trap yoga, hot pilates, or drum cardio, here are a few local studios that will help you smash your fitness goals while trying something new.

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Instagram, @themecca313

The Mecca

5808 St. Jean, Detroit; detroitlovefit.com/themecca

This unique Detroit gym offers a range of classes that incorporate strength training, yoga, and body weight exercise. We’re intrigued by class names like “Mizz New Booty,” “Animal Flow Yoga,” and the martial arts class, “Warrior Spirit: Inner Strength Training.” The Mecca also hosts special events and workshops like open mic nights and an African dance series.

Facebook, Detroit Body Garage

Detroit Body Garage

8635 Mack Ave., Detroit; detroitbodygarage.com

This Eastside Detroit gym offers group classes and one-on-one training with their expert coaches. Classes include total-body resistance exercise (TRX) workouts, Olympic weightlifting and powerlifting, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), yoga, and mobility classes. This is the place to get your deadlift, squat, and bench press up. Detroit Body Garage is also family-friendly with a class where parents and caregivers can bring the kids and let them run around the gym while they get their workout in. They have an intro offer of five classes for $50 for newbies, so get it while you can.

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Facebook, The Trap Yoga & Massage Studio

Trap Yoga & Massage Studio

3179 Franklin St., Detroit; thetrapstudio.com

Detroit yoga instructor Jamel Randall has made a name for himself with his brand of “trap yoga,” i.e. yoga practiced to rap music. Don’t let this fool you into thinking his classes aren’t legit, however. Whether it’s Ashtanga or Trap Yin-Yasa, the classes at the studio can offer a challenging workout for all levels — especially when he gets you into the splits. The studio also offers black Thai massage to soothe those muscles after you work them.

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Instagram, @hotbonesdetroit

Hot Bones Detroit

2895 E Grand Blvd., Detroit; hotbonesdetroit.com

At this infrared hot yoga and pilates studio, most classes are heated between 75°F and 95°F. Infrared heat is supposed to help with flexibility, detoxification, cardiovascular health, and weight loss. Hot Bones classes include a range of styles like HIIT pilates, slow burn yoga, restorative yoga, yoga for seniors, power yoga, and prenatal yoga. They also are planning to open a bone broth bar in the studio in 2024 serving beef, chicken, and vegan options.

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Facebook, Dance Meditation Technique

Dance Meditation Technique

3364 Michigan Ave., Detroit; dancemt.com

It’s hard to explain Dance Meditation Technique to people who’ve never done it before. Picture this — a bunch of sober people gather at the Detroit Kung Fu Academy in dim lighting to dance, scream, and flail around freely. It’s part meditation, part movement practice, and completely euphoric as you let your body move in whatever way it wants to. One of DMT’s slogans is “lose 10 pounds of emotional weight,” and we can vouch that this is true. By the end, you’re covered in sweat, with a hoarse voice, while somehow feeling lighter. DMT is typically held every Sunday so you can hit your mental and physical health all in one.

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Facebook, Jabs Gym

Jabs Gym

1150 Hilton Rd., Ferndale | 2285 Cole St., Birmingham | 2501 Russell St., Detroit (temporarily closed) | jabsgym.com

Boxing, kickboxing, cross-training, and BOYO (boxing and yoga) are staples at this Detroit-bred gym. While the Eastern Market location is temporarily due to an unexpected partial collapse of the building, Jabs is still open at its Ferndale and Birmingham locations.

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Facebook, DYNO Detroit

Dyno Detroit

3500 Orleans St., Detroit; dynodetroit.com/welcome

The distinctively purple Dyno Detroit is the city’s first rock climbing gym, opening in 2021 to much fanfare. It seems like rock climbing has become a trendy hobby for outdoor enthusiasts in the last few years, but we also can’t deny how good of a workout it is, especially for upper body strength. No worries if you’re new to rock climbing as Dyno offers classes for beginners, yoga classes, and a fitness area with weights and cardio equipment to supplement your workout.

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Facebook, TrvFit Detroit

TRV/FIT

1235 Wilbur St., Detroit | 14661 W. Eleven Mile Rd., Suit 800, Oak Park | 32744 Grand River Ave., Farmington | 15085 Northville Rd., Plymouth | trvfitdetroit.com

This strength training gym has several locations in metro Detroit including Farmington, Berkley/Oak Park, Plymouth, and Detroit proper. TRV/FIT’s classes include a mix of strength training, conditioning, and cardio. They also have a boxing workout class. Both group classes and personal training are available and your first session is free! While this gym is technically a chain, it was born in Howell, Michigan, and has a total of 15 locations across the state.

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Instagram, @denisse_lz_

Vamonos

444 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; instagram.com/_vamonos__

Vamonos is a new-ish community space in Southwest Detroit offering an art gallery, fitness classes, event space, and healthy food options. Regular fitness classes include cardio drumming, HIIT with Bailia Fitness, kids dance classes, and Latin house yoga. All classes are donation-based. Grab a cup of herbal tea, coffee, or turmeric shot while you’re at it.

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Facebook, Detroit Athletix -- Home of Crossfit in the D

Crossfit in the D

110 Michigan Ave., Detroit; crossfitinthed.com

While this is obviously a Crossfit gym, Crossfit in the D also offers other things like Jiu-Jitsu, personal training, and HIIT combined with strength and resistance training. Join one of their group classes (your first visit is free) or access the open gym to train at your own pace. They have nutrition coaches as well to help you get your diet right as well. You can’t out-train a bad diet, as they say.

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