Classes like Whipped! and Ropes & Rowers do more than push physical limits — they create community.
Everyone has their fitness preferences. Some cherish running in silence, alone, on open roads. Others thrive in a fully booked Pilates Rise or Barre Beyond class, deriving energy from breaking a sweat en masse. If it works, it works.
But your body also benefits from the occasional change of pace, especially when it’s gotten comfortable in a routine and needs a zap of novelty. Cue the newest wave of circuit classes, which have recently exploded in popularity thanks to their dynamic format.
The latest “it format” isn’t anything new — in fact, circuit classes have been around for decades. But fresh class formats, like Equinox’s Whipped! and Ropes & Rowers, offer a hybrid approach that straddles the line between group fitness and solo exercise. Experts say they might just be the workouts your routine is missing.
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Why Take Circuit Classes
The umbrella term “circuit class” includes many class styles, but a defining element of the category is the use of specialty equipment in a group environment, making them ideal for learning how to use and maximize the efficacy of equipment like battle ropes, rowers, ViPR, and kettlebells in your fitness regimen.
“Circuit classes entail participants partnering up in a small group [and] doing a variety of different exercises while moving between multiple stations,” says Emmanuella St. Juste, a group fitness manager at Equinox Anthem Row and a circuit class devotee. By dividing classes into smaller groups, circuit classes give you a heightened sense of teamwork — great for accountability purposes, yes, but the group format also creates a sense of play, giving each class a buzzy energy.
Of course, there are health benefits to circuit workouts. New research has found a link between circuit training and increased muscular endurance, cardiorespiratory fitness, and muscular strength.
But Equinox’s circuit classes — including Whipped! and Ropes & Rowers — go beyond the physical. Here’s why they’re worth adding to your routine.
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They’re inclusive to all fitness levels — and fun for everyone.
New circuit formats are flexible enough to suit advanced participants and also newcomers, unlike the punishing circuit workouts of the early aughts. “Circuit classes are more inclusive now, with a bit more variety to the programming,” St. Juste says. “I feel like they used to be viewed as workouts geared towards advanced members, or else it was all about running and/or doing burpees to the point of sheer exhaustion.”
They also encourage an interactive sense of play, release, and experimentation. Think less “no pain, no gain” and more “nothing ventured, nothing gained.” “Participants' lives are full of stress already, so they want a workout to be fun and interactive but with purpose,” St. Juste says. “[Circuit classes] are almost like gym classes for adults but also with the thought process of: ‘I can do this workout no matter the age or fitness level I am.’”
They foster community.
Circuit classes divide participants into smaller groups to give them a more intimate feel than other group classes; a Whipped class, for example, features six groups of just four to six people, which creates a sense of camaraderie. “[At the start of each class], you’re encouraged to introduce yourselves to each other. Participants get that extra motivational push from their station partners. You feel like someone has your back — and that they won’t let you give up in those last few seconds.”
The smaller groups also allow instructors to adapt to members’ energy levels and individual needs while creating a sense of togetherness. “At Equinox, we believe that connection is the secret sauce that keeps our members coming back,” she says. “We use participants' names, check in throughout class, and always offer progressions and modifications to ensure everyone feels successful.”
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The format gives you the experience of working out in a group while working against your own personal bests, almost like you’re exercising alone but equally together. “You get the opportunity to build community and to feel engaged without feeling like all eyes are on you,” St. Juste adds.
The result is a workout that feels tailored to each person, with plenty of one-on-one moments with the instructor and other members that establish a lasting connection.
How to Make the Most of Your Circuit Class
Whether it’s your first circuit class or your first time trying a new format like Whipped!, St. Juste encourages you to speak up as soon as you arrive.
“Get there early to talk to the coach and let them know if you have any restrictions, but also be open about any nervousness you may be feeling,” she notes. “It can be intimidating to walk into a class with a group of people who all seem to know what they are doing or who know each other.”
Your instructor will ensure you feel welcome and seen, which might include introducing you to other attendees or pairing you with a more experienced member who can help you get comfortable.
They can also offer modifications as your body tries out new movements for the first time, so don’t be afraid to speak up if you’re not confident about a specific exercise. “Our bodies are meant to move, but listen to your body,” says St. Juste. “If something doesn't feel good, don't do it. The goal is to feel challenged but good after a circuit class. And there are always options to stay safe during a workout.”
Above all, try to tune into the vibrant, shared energy — the magic of circuit classes.
“Many members from different walks of life are brought together, and friendships are built in circuit classes,” says St. Juste. “You see members who genuinely care about helping each other get through the stations. You also see them check in on each other if someone has been out for a while. I love, love to see how proud participants feel after class and how often I hear them chat together about how far they have come.”