Fun Fitness Programs in San Francisco

Exercise needed be confined to the gym, here are some San Francisco based classes where you can get fit, lose weight and have fun, all at the same time.

Bombshell Betty's

Bombshell Betty has been teaching burlesque classes and pinup workshops at her San Francisco burlesque school since 2004. Betty offers 'Burlesquercise' classes which combine training in classic burlesque moves with toning exercises. The Burlesquercise courses last several weeks and are offered to all levels of burlesque dancers, from absolute beginners to professionals. The graduates of the Burlesquercise classes are then invited to perform in public with Betty's own burlesque troupe The Burlesqueteers.

Bombshell Betty's is located in the SOMA district and a twelve class burlesque course costs $225, although shorter courses and drop-in classes are available.

Slinky Productions

Long before crunch began offering pole dance lessons at its gyms, Catherine Rose was teaching pole and lapdancing to San Francisco women. Having worked as a stripper for over ten years, Rose is in the best position to offer insight into the world of exotic dancing and her Slinky Productions school even offers tours to the North Beach strip clubs.

The four and a half hour Introduction to Exotic Dancing gives students, in a relaxed female only space, a basic grounding in several techniques; walking with confidence, floor work, hip gyrations and booty shows, ending with a pole dance demo by Rose.

Slinky Productions also offers several pole dance courses for all levels along with intensive crash courses. Through all pole dancing classes you can expect to work and tone abs and arms while building strength and getting fit.

Catherine Rose's Slinky Productions is also available for private lessons and bachelorette parties. The studio is located in San Francisco's SOMA district, and information on prices can be found at the Slinky Productions website.

Circus Center San Francisco

Circus Center offers courses for children and adults in a wide range of circus skills including aerial trapeze, aerial silks, Chinese pole and Mongolian contortion as well as professional programs and regular workshops in techniques for circus artistes.

However, absolute beginners who lack the strength and fitness required for the aerial skills, should start with an introductory conditioning class such as the 'Cardio Conditioning' aerobic class which the school says "helps with muscle recovery for efficient training"; or 'Extreme Stretching' in which you can quickly increase flexibility - a core element of circus skill training.The Circus Center is located in the Inner Sunset area of San Francisco and full details of courses and workshops are available on its website