This is the third and final post in my series “Why and what I love about Charlotte.”
In my first post I covered 7 Things I Love About Living in Charlotte and my second post was all about my favorite foodies spots. To round it all out I’m going to share my 7 favorite ways to sweat in Charlotte!
As I mentioned in my first post, one of my overall favorite things about Charlotte is that is our fitness community. This is an active city full of fit people. We have an abundance of fitness options from running groups to CrossFit gyms to yoga studios to barre studios and everything in between.
Here are 7 of my favorite ways to get sweating in the Queen City.
(Image via Charlotte Agenda)
1) Running the Booty Loop
When I first moved to Charlotte 7 years ago, I lived in a small apartment on the Booty Loop. It’s a 2.8 mile loop in the middle of Myers Park that features sidewalks, tree-lined streets and beautiful homes. It’s a hot spot for runners, walkers and cyclists and it’s namesake is the annual “24 Hours of Booty” charity bike race. I can’t tell you how many trips Sullie and I made around the Booty Loop when I lived on it and it remains one of my favorite places to run in Charlotte.
Charlotte has one of the best Y systems in the country with amazing programming for children and adults. There are 19 locations that engage around 260,000 people. Craziness. The Harris YMCA is one of the biggest (if not the biggest) Ys in the country. I have felt so fortunate to be an employee of the Center City YMCAs since moving to Charlotte. It’s such an amazing organization.
3) Y2 Yoga
My favorite place to practice yoga in Charlotte. We offer over 85 classes per week with something for everyone…hot power flow, ashtanga, deep stretch, kid’s yoga, non-heated power flow and more! There’s also massage therapists on staff and a cafe serving salads, sushi, smoothies, wine, coffee, etc.
I have been involved with Metro in various capacities over the last few years. I started out managing the gym and then transitioned to a freelance marketing and communications role before finally waiving the white flag of “too many irons in the fire” and moving to strictly training clients at the gym. The facilities and equipment at Metro are unmatched anywhere else in Charlotte. Although the gym is only 6,000 square feet, it feels spacious and never too crowded. Definitely more of a boutique fitness feel versus the Y. Class sizes are small and feature a lot of individual coaching. Working, coaching, working out and training clients at Metro has made me such a better fitness professional. I’ve learned so much here!
What I love most about training my clients and working out at Metro is the awesome equipment. We have things like TRX, battle ropes, prowlers, barbells and olympic plates, kettlebells, rowers, etc. I can always find a new way to challenge myself and my clients.
5) Crowders Mountain State Park
Crowders Mountain is a short 30-40 minute drive from Charlotte and a great escape from city life. I enjoy hiking on the various trails and so do the girls! On a clear day you can see the Uptown Charlotte skyline. If you live in the Charlotte area, Crowders is not to be missed!
6) Madabolic
Madabolic is an interval based strength and endurance program that was created right here in Charlotte and has grown to 8 locations in the southeast. Recently, I was in need of a workout shakeup and joined a friend for a few weeks of Madabolic workouts. It had been a couple of years since I worked out at Madabolic and I forgot how much fun (well, not sure fun is the exact right word but we’ll go with it) their workouts are. The coaching is thorough, friendly and attentive (especially class with Cristina) and the workout is engaging and stimulating. Since it’s interval based, you’re always moving from one thing to another with no time to get bored. The workouts fly by! Most of their workouts have an interval on a punching bag which I am terrible but it sure is fun to try.
7) U.S. National Whitewater Center
Just outside of the 485-loop you’ll find the U.S. National Whitewater Center. It’s a great place to get active in Charlotte. They have everything from ropes courses to miles and miles of running/walking/biking trails to whitewater rafting and more! When the weather is nice there is nothing better than a trail run and then hanging out on the outdoor patio at the restaurant for a beer afterward.
This list is only scratching the surface of all the ways to sweat here in Charlotte. Charlotte readers, I’d love to hear your favorites!
