A gym used to just be a gym. Now, we have boxes, spin studios, barre studios, and boot camps, too. The newest category of sweat-producing spots popping up all over New York doesn’t even have a name—yet. “Instead of a gym or a studio, I say we are a full-service fitness training facility,” says Body Space Fitness owner Kelvin Gary.

Fair enough. These new-generation gyms are small centers focused on functional, often very athletic, workouts. Instead of machines, expect kettlebells, TRXs, sleds, battling ropes, and maybe even Astroturf under foot. All offer some combination of personal training and fitness classes that max out at around 10 people.

And while each has a slightly different fitness philosophy, they all focus on helping you move more efficiently in the outside world. “It’s not ‘today is leg day or today is arm day,'” Gary explains. “We train for your goals, whether you’re rehabbing from an injury or training to be in a Broadway show.”

Here, we introduce you to seven of the city’s top functional fitness spots… which is what we’ll call them for now. —Lisa Elaine Held

Body Space Fitness
Union Square

This 14th Street facility only opened in May 2012 but quickly generated lots of buzz. Its large Astroturf lawn is surrounded by battle ropes, kettlebell racks, colorful weights, and a few traditional machines like treadmills and spin bikes. In addition to personal training and small group classes like Body Camp and Training for Warriors, it’s known for its semi-private training model, where you get functionally fit as a duo or trio. Bonus: decent-sized locker rooms with stocked showers.

The post 7 next-generation gyms that focus on functional fitness appeared first on Body Space Fitness.