Get fit in Barcelona: your fitness and relaxation guide

Fitness is a big thing in Barcelona. Almost as big as its party scene. Perhaps it has something to do with the climate and people’s desire to be ‘beach body’ fit. It also may be people trying to counteract, or indeed justify, all that fiesta-induced damage. More broadly speaking, there just seems to exist in Barcelona a culture that promotes and values health and fitness. Whatever the motives are, almost everywhere you turn you’ll see fitness enthusiasts, running, cycling, heading for a gym workout, yoga session, dance class or engaging in some other form of fitness.

Gyms

If the gym is your thing, there are an abundance to choose from all over the city. The plus side of joining a gym in Barcelona is that it provides a great all-year-round fitness solution. Especially in summer, when the gym’s air conditioning can make working out more bearable than outside in the intense summer heat and humidity. However, since membership is required at most gyms, a certain amount of commitment is necessary to get your money’s worth. In addition to the usual machines and equipment, gyms will usually have a swimming pool and sauna and a variety of exercise classes on offer.

Fitness classes and Meetups

If the gym isn’t your thing, or you prefer not to have the financial commitment, there is a huge range of alternatives on offer. A great place to start looking is on the Barcelona Meetups website. There are literally hundreds of classes taking place at all times and days, from dance to yoga, running to bootcamps. Some classes take place in studios, others outside in the park or on the beach. Barcelona Meetups is also a good place to find classes in English if you are concerned about language barriers.

Another option is to check out your local civic centres (centres civics), of which there are many to be found all across the city. There you can usually find a range of fitness classes on offer. The best idea is probably to go directly to a centre (or try a few) and pick up information about fitness classes taking place there.

Yoga in Barcelona

There is a thriving yoga community to get involved in Barcelona. There is an abundance of classes, meetups and events to be find, covering almost all forms of yoga from more dynamic forms to those concentrating more on relaxation. What’s more many classes are offered in English. A great idea to get involved, inspired and find the right kind of yoga for you is to check out the Barcelona Yoga conference taking place in July. You can also consult my guide on the different forms of yoga to help you get a better idea of what to expect from the different classes on offer in Barcelona.

There is also the option to incorporate a holiday into your fitness regime, with various yoga retreats taking place around Catalunya. You can even find retreats combining yoga classes with Zumba, pole dancing and cooking classes.

With so much on offer in Barcelona, there’s really no excuse not to get out there and get fit! You may even make new friends along the way.