How to get fit (and have fun) in Bristol

Getting fit requires motivation. Gyms can be expensive and intimidating, subscriptions to fitness plans gather virtual dust on our phones and getting outside sometimes feels near impossible in Bristol’s cold and dark winter.

With that in mind, we’ve road tested four of the weirdest and wackiest ways to work up a sweat that won’t feel like you’re exercising (and are seriously good fun).

Ninja Warrior

Be prepared to compete with fearless and agile kids at Ninja Warrior – photo: Miles Arnold

An ocean of children’s birthday parties eating comically cheesy pizzas and donning brightly coloured grippy socks hits you in the face upon entrance to the latest indoor assault course facility at Cribbs Causeway. Don’t go (like we did) thinking the appearance of so many children is a testament to the ease of the obstacles, as the main obstacle course itself is deceptively tough.

You’ll find yourself having to (attempt to) jump from one moving monkey bar to the next, and scramble over giant plastic swinging rectangles resembling a slice of swiss cheese, all the while cheering on the little ones in front of you as they have a crack at the infamous warped wall. Then it’s onto the inflatable zone, which was much more our speed. We say that, even after one of us nearly suffered an asthma attack at the end of the race course area, sat up against an inflatable bright red wall, amongst a sea of screaming, bouncing 11-year-olds.

Cribbs Causeway Retail Park, BS34 5TX
Open daily, 10am-7pm
From £13.95
www.ninjawarrioruk.co.uk/bristol

The Wave

The inland surf lake at The Wave opened in 2019 – photo: The Wave Photography

The team behind the Wave knows what they’re doing. From the trendy design of the cafe-cum-bar serving coffee and craft beer to the organised system of wetsuit and board hire (all free with your ticket), the attraction is well-thought-out and offers a fun few hours for visitors. It caters from complete face-planting-in-the-sea beginners to shaggy-haired surfer dudes and dudettes with beginner, Waikiki and intermediate lessons as well as advanced coaching. Despite stormy skies, I had a blast being taught the basics with other wannabe surfers and even managed to stand up a few, albeit short-lived, times.

Our only qualms were the lack of public transport connections (the nearest train station when travelling from Bristol is a 30-minute cycle ride away). It’s also not cheap so it’s probably not feasible to go regularly, although they do offer ‘bundles’. But for an active day out with family or friends for a treat or special occasion, it’s so worth it.

Washingpool Farm, Easter Compton, BS35 5RE
Open daily from 6am
www.thewave.com
From £50 (£39 for kids)

Jump Fit

Mia and Betty joined the lovely bunch at Jump Fit for a high-energy session – photo: Jump Fit

This class was probably the most chaotic fun we’ve ever had while exercising. It involves rebound boots similar to ski boots but attached to heavy duty springs which enable you to jump up and down while you do various dance moves and workouts to mood-boosting high-energy music. Any doubts we had about stability, knee breakage and embarrassment on arrival were quickly dispelled by the amazing tutor who was hugely positive and made the class feel confident, supportive and inclusive. Jump Fit is supposed to be good for cardiovascular health, metabolism, bone density, strength, muscle tone, balance and coordination, plus if you manage to nab a pair of your own colourful Jump Fit boots, they’re also pretty cool.

Jump Fit Studios, 5 Neptune Court, Barton Manor, St Philip’s, BS2 0RL
Monday and Wednesday at 6.30pm
£8
www.jumpfituk.com

Aerial hoop

This may look easy, but I was hanging on for dear life – photo: Mia Vines Booth

This fitness class was one of the most challenging but simultaneously relaxing classes I’ve done. Aerial Hoop involves performing various acrobatics with a circular steel hoop apparatus suspended from the ceiling. On a recent evening, our one-hour class had only four people in, and we had amazing one-to-one support from our instructor Janine, with a much needed warm up and wind down.

You learn a surprising amount of moves in an hour, including man on the moon, mermaid, straddle, gazelle, birdy and split. We hadn’t anticipated how much hanging and hoisting would be involved, and our arms and hands were in agony by the end, but it was definitely worth it for the amazing moves you learn that make you feel like a professional acrobat at the circus. Spin City also offers aerial silks – a similar fitness but with cloth instead of a hoop – pole and burlesque.

Spin City, 184 Hotwell Road, Hotwells, BS8 4RP
Beginner aerial hoop, Thursday 6pm; intermediate aerial hoop, Monday, 7pm
From £15
www.spincitybristol.com

This feature originally appeared in the latest Bristol24/7 quarterly magazine, available free across our city

Main photo: Betty Woolerton

Read next:

• 7 days out with a baby in Bristol
• The Wave: from pipe dream to reality
• Ninja Warrior UK opens in Bristol

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