13 Manchester fitness and wellness studios to try this January

Starting out as one of the coolest gyms in London, with studios located in only the hippest of neighbourhoods, BLOK chose Ducie Street Warehouse in Manchester as their first location outside of the capital. Decor-wise, it’s more like an industrial Berlin nightclub than a gym – all exposed brickwork, steel beams and polished concrete – and the classes on offer are fittingly non-traditional too. You can work on your physical wellbeing with rigorous boxing and HIIT classes, or try something a little more specific like callisthenics, which uses body weight to train strength, or barre, which is inspired by ballet. If you want to go fully restorative then you can relax into a sound bath or yoga class too. Basically, if you want to trick yourself into loving the gym, this is the place to start, and there are often introductory offers to make the financial side of things less painful too.

A vast haven of wellness therapies, FIX is located (mercifully perhaps) a stone’s throw from one of Manchester’s most stressful locations, Piccadilly Gardens. As well as offering saunas and ice baths which you can oscillate between at your own pace, dispelling all sorts of nasty toxins in the process, they also offer breathwork, sound healing, stretching, meditation, reflexology, self massage and aromatherapy. So whatever’s getting you down, mental or physical, you’re likely to leave floating on air. You can book in for a guided or unguided session (which have themes like ‘hot stretch’ and ‘stress regulation’, and there are loads of different membership packages available.

Located close to Victoria station, GFFDamian dance studio combines a passion for fitness and performance. You’ll find three separate studios where you can practice pole as well as all sorts of circus-style aerial arts. And while that might sound intimidating, their whole ethos is about creating an inclusive environment where absolutely everyone, from beginners to pros, are welcome. If you’ve always been tempted to give pole a try, we couldn’t think of a better place to give it a whirl (or a twirl, in fact).

Jumping into an ice bath might not be the most enticing prospect during these cold winter months, but it has all sorts of health benefits, both physical and mental. At Kontrast, you can opt for the sub-zero plunge experience, or enjoy their traditional sauna at the community spot for ultimate wellness. Afterwards, grab a coffee or drink before heading out into the world again, refreshed and revitalised.

Narali is a little slice of tranquility in the heart of Altrincham’s town centre. Incense and atmospheric lighting set the scene, and skilled yoga instructors take you through 60 mins of guided practice. Whether you’re a high-octane yogi who likes the intensity of a heated class, or are more into sessions which resemble relaxing on the floor in different restorative shapes, there’s a class for you. 

Whether you’re just getting started or continuing your fitness journey, those looking to get a sweat on this month, Orangetheory has got you covered. Their interval training classes aim to elevate your heart rate to ‘the orange zone’, boosting metabolism, burning fat and more calories. Try strength training, rowing and running, or get expert advice from their personal coaches.

Imagine a gym with no mirrors and no egos? That’s exactly what P1 Fitness, also just off Deansgate, have tried to create. Although open to anyone, P1 specialises in training people in their 30s, 40s and above. It’s a place for those who don’t want their fitness to mean sacrificing a social life, and the type of person who really wants to get in shape for themselves, rather than for short-term aesthetic goals. We like their style, and if you do too it might be worth speaking to one of their expert PTs.

Located in central Stockport close to the River Mersey, the Pyramid Performance gym is listed as a Hammer Strength Official Training centre, and is a top rated HYROX Official Partner Gym. If all that sounds a bit serious, it’s because these guys are. But if you’re looking to be challenged in a tight-knit community (memberships are limited to a maximum of 200 at a time), Pyramid is the spot to try. With classes called ‘Let’s get strong’ and ‘Let’s get fit’, you know it might be tough, but it’ll certainly be worth it.

Reformer pilates is the fitness craze preferred by seemingly-perfect Instagram personalities, but Restart believe it can be for everybody: from newbies wanting to start their fitness journey, to people recovering from injuries, gym regulars looking to improve mobility and form. And it’s not just about fitness, according to founder Min it’s also possible to see your confidence grow and your mind being transformed alongside the body. Restart have studios in Cheetham Hill and Circle Square, and lessons pitched for different levels and specialities, from ‘strength and sweat’ to ‘stretch and relax’. So if you’ve seen people working out on strange looking machines on Instagram and want to give it a try, this is a great place to start.

Do you know spin class has had a makeover? The classic 90s workout has been reimagined by the people at RYDE, a studio just off Deansgate. Even if you think you hate cardio, it’s almost impossible to not feel motivated by their high-energy spin classes, perfectly soundtracked to keep you motivated for the whole session. If you prefer your workouts on solid ground, they also offer pilates and barre classes too. 

Designed for people who are serious about becoming gym regulars, Sweat Shed in Reddish is an independent gym operated my incredibly qualified people who really know their stuff. hey proudly don’t offer one-off sessions – you sign up for a tailored programme – meaning that this is the place to head if you want to change you habits as well as your fitness. Not just a gym, their instructors will help you out with things like nutrition and metric tracking too.

Somewhere between boxing and HIIT, UBX in the heart of MediaCity offers 45-minute sessions of 12 three-minute rounds, with a 30 second rest in between. Workouts focus on offering a combination of boxing and strength training, and this mix is as fun as it is moreish. Everyone attending learns technique, skill and pad work through hands-on experience and support from the highly approachable and famously friendly coaches, which means it really doesn’t matter if you’ve boxed before or not. So if you’re looking for a high-cardio workout, or to simply get some stress out of your system, this is one to try.

Run by three sisters who are committed to creating a positive and welcoming space for self-improvement and positive lifestyle changes, YOU Mind, Body and Soul is a pilates studio in Whitefield that opts for a holistic approach to wellness. WAKE & WORK YOU offers a chance to start your day strong with a revitalising class designed to energise and strengthen your body for whatever lies ahead. TONE YOU, is a high energy, targeted session that focuses on sculpting the body while burning calories. REJUVENATE YOU is the complete contrast, a calming, almost-meditative programme which is all about cleaning out the mind as much as the limbs — think stretching and gentle reform. So whatever your body needs, they have something on offer.