Austin is a popular travel destination both for tourists and traveling professionals thanks to the huge population increase over the last five years. For whatever reason you find yourself there, you don’t need to settle for working out in cramped hotel rooms or gyms that don’t offer the chance to interact with other travelers, the unique locals, or explore the famously weird city. There are a ton of unique places to work out in Austin in a social setting with a variety of focuses and skill levels. 

JOGGING

Jogging is an easy and generally low-cost activity. There is a thriving running community in Austin with many groups that welcome newcomers. One of the best reasons to run outside in Austin is to explore the city as the downtown and some surrounding areas are in close proximity, giving you the chance to cover some real ground!

5Run2: 5Run2 is an independent group that hosts 5 mile and 5K runs every Wednesday. One starts at 6:30am at the original Kerbey Lane Cafe (3704 Kerbey Lane). The other begins at the Lululemon location on South Congress Ave, at 6:30pm. You only need to show up to join! You can find more information on their instagram or website. 

The Ship of Fools: If you’re the type who wants more of a challenge, The Ship of Fools is an intermediate group that holds multiple meet-ups every week—Tuesdays at 6 pm, Thursdays at 6 pm, and Saturday at 7 a.m. The weekday runs begin at O. Henry Middle School, and the Saturday run is on the Towne Lake Trail. 

They also have a “splinter-group” that exclusively meets before sunrise called Jerie’s Kids. They meet on Monday and Thursday at 5:30 a.m. by The Rock at Towne Lake, near the Intersection of Veterans Dr. and Atlanta St. These meet-ups are free but they require all runners bring or email a waiver form before joining the group. You can find it, along with other information, on their website.

Austin Run Groups: If you want to find more cool places to work out, ARG keeps a list of groups from all over the city with different schedules. Not every group on the list is still active so be careful to check any that interest you. If you still have trouble finding a group that fits your schedule, you can always go to the trails at Zilker Park in the heart of Austin on your own time. The area is a popular hub for runners, bikers, hikers, and casual visitors alike.

YOGA

Yoga is a fun way to get a workout and relieve stress from travel. If you can’t find a pop-up class during your visit to Austin, there are plenty of cool places that offer drop-in classes. 

Sukha Yoga: This family-owned business on South Lamar “specializes in leading heart-centered practices.” They have classes every day, 7am-7pm. The studio also holds special workshops once a week with guest teachers that have a wide variety of focuses … and it’s not just yoga! You can find schedules and sign-up for classes through their website. You can also learn more through their Instagram and facebook. 

YTX Yoga: This yoga studio in Downtown Austin has six unique class styles that range in intensity and skill level, including free community sessions. They’re already taking sign-ups for their Summer Sunset Series which takes place in Republic Square Park every Tuesday. Their normal classes are held every day 7am-8:30pm. Visit their website or Instagram to sign up and learn more.

SOMETHING DIFFERENT

While there are a lot of standard workouts to be found in Austin. Consider also some more unique workouts in Austin to spice up your time in the city. 

Ballet Austin: If you want a more unique workout, Ballet Austin offers classes that mix dance and fitness. Like cardio dance, cardio hip-hop, pilates, and more. The studio usually has classes multiple times a week but since they also teach standard dance, these fitness classes aren’t offered consistently. So, be sure to look through the schedule on their website if you’re interested.

Swimming at Barton Springs Pool: And if you want a true Austin experience, head to Barton Springs, one of the crown jewels of the city, albeit very chilly. This place can get packed on hot summer days, but every morning the pool is open from 5 to 8 a.m. for early birds who want to get a swimming workout in. This is a swim at your own risk time. <save this workout>

Swimming at Deep Eddy Pool: Swimming is one of the best ways to get a full-body workout. The spring-fed pool, Deep Eddy, offers lap swimming every day before recreational swimming begins at 11 a.m. With established swimming lanes, there aren’t structured classes and you don’t need to register ahead of time, just be ready to pay the entrance fee at the gate. <save this workout>

Watersports on Lady Bird Lake: Row, paddle, or bob along and enjoy Austin’s skyline from Lady Bird Lake that sits between Downtown and South Congress. Enjoy an early morning jaunt (before it gets too hot) on a SUP, grab a kayak or boat, then walk to the Instagram-famous coffee shack, Jo’s Coffee, for a morning pick-me-up. <save this workout>

These are only a handful of unique workout activities because there are too many to list in a single article. So, have fun staying healthy and while traveling in Austin by exploring these unique workouts in Austin. And don’t forget to check out our listings of fun workouts in Austin and many other destinations. Let’s get weird.