The Wall Street Journal published an article today called “The States Where Fitness is King.” Most people don’t exercise as much as they should, but some states are more active than others, according to the popular workout-tracking app, MapMyFitness.com. The app gathered data from its 22 million users throughout 2014 and turned it into an exercise infographic.

 

California ranked #1 in exercise, with users logging about 87 minutes per week, according to the article. Next up? Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and Arizona.

A few months ago, I asked friends across the world what exercises they enjoyed, and which ones were popular in their cities, states and countries. If you’re looking for motivation or eager to try something new, check out these popular classes and activities near you!

Exercise Trends Around the World (but mostly in the US):

United States:

 

Photo of Michelle Dudash using her jogging stroller (photo credit: Michelle Dudash)

 

Arizona: Power yoga, weight lifting, jogging

• “I do a weekly power yoga class and squeeze in a weight-lifting circuit at home with free weights one or two times per week. Nine months out the year when the weather permits, I run 30-45 minutes outside while pushing my [daughter] in the jogger stroller.” – Michelle Dudash, RDN, chef and author of Clean Eating for Busy Families (Scottsdale)

 

California: Hiking, “old-school” exercises, CrossFit, and SoulCycle

• I’m obsessed with Daily Burn right now, a subscription service that offers streaming, high-quality workout videos you do at home. I’m finishing an 8-week program called True Beginner, which doesn’t require any equipment except a yoga mat, and I’ve noticed real changes in my tone, strength, flexibility, and energy level. LOVE IT. It’s like having a personal trainer in your home for $12.95/month. – Me!

• “Hiking and SoulCycle are my favorite LA exercises” – Julia Richter of The Tastry (Los Angeles)

• “My personal favorite exercises are walking and hiking. I also recently bought a pair of old-school roller skates because I practically lived in [them] as a kid, and I realize how much fun I had ‘exercising.’ It seems like low-tech, classic forms of exercise are very ‘in’ right now, like surfing, swimming, biking, trampolining, and skateboarding. – Cynthia Sass, author of Slim Down Now: Shed Pounds and Inches with Real Food, Real Fast, and nutritionist in private practice (Los Angeles)

• “I know SoulCycle has taken off in LA, as well as bar method classes. I do a class called “Hard Core” at Gold’s Gym, which is like a Boot Camp class, and then I mix it up with yoga, pilates, hiking, or walking. – Patricia Bannan, MS, RDN, author of Eat Right When Time is Tight (Los Angeles)

• “CrossFit, yoga, and outdoor activities are big in the East Bay. Hiking and walking are my go-to workouts. Weight lifting and High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) workouts come in second place – building body confidence and providing a super sweaty workout in a limited amount of time. Who doesn’t like that? – Corinne Dobbas, Registered Dietitian and Wellness Coach (San Francisco Bay Area, CA)

 

Florida: CrossFit, running

• “Barre and hot yoga are pretty popular here. We have a big endurance community with marathon and cycling groups, and a great CrossFit community. I LOVE CrossFit, running, and yoga…I try to get a balance of strength and flexibility.” – Kristina LaRue, RD, from Love & Zest (Orlando)

• “A huge trend right now is Orange Theory Fitness and High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). I LOVE to run and do circuit gym workouts.” –Abigail Dougherty, RD, LD/N, Nutrition Expert and Media Consultant (Tampa)

 

Georgia: Barre, HIIT, walking

• “I feel so fortunate to have an amazing locally-owned gym that offers a ton of different classes. My favorite classes are Total Barre and Tabata Barre…and I’m not alone. These classes are always packed. Most of our most popular classes incorporate weights + high intensity intervals. I think it illustrates that women especially have finally gotten the message that it’s not just about burning calories, but building muscle as well!” – Regan Jones, RD, owner of HealthyAperture.com (Evans/Augusta)

• “In Atlanta, my gal pals all seem to like Fly Wheel and Pure Barre. CrossFit seems more for boys. But, in Atlanta you will always see a steady stream of sleek power women walking and talking together around Chastain Park, a three-mile loop. I like pilates and take 30 minute breaks from writing with a swift walk around my neighborhood. – Carolyn O’Neil, MS, RD, author of The Slim Down South Cookbook: Eating Well and Living Healthy in the Land of Biscuits and Bacon (Atlanta)

 

Illinois: Jogging, exercise classes

• “I jog using the Songza app every morning in the beautiful park by my house. My favorite thing to do with girlfriends is Werq Old Skool [a cardio dance class]. I want to try cardiolates and Parkour Classes with Parkour Ways’ outdoors classes. – Dawn Jackson Blatner, RDN and author of The Flexitarian Diet. (Chicago)

 

Massachusetts: Barre, SoulCycle, CrossFit

• “Trends I’m seeing in Boston: barre, CrossFit, hip hop yoga, and November project (a free outdoor exercise group). My favorite exercise is yoga. I love that yoga allows you to build strength, flexibility, work up a sweat and exercise your mind at the same time.” – Kara Lydon, RD, LDN, Nutrition Coach & Consultant, Blogger at The Foodie Dietitian (Boston)

• “All of my girl friends here in Boston do some variation of barre, or SoulCycle/FlyWheel and all the guys do CrossFit.” – Joanna Johnsen, (Boston)

 

New York: SLT, HIIT, barre, spinning, CrossFit

• “SLT (Strengthen, Lengthen, Tone) – it’s like pilates on crack, and it’s my favorite at the moment!” – Laurie, Director of Strategic Initiatives at a NYC-based Tech Company (New York City)

• “Fusion classes like Flybarre and SLT, and classes that give you the personal trainer feeling in a group setting like Fit or Senshift, which combines martial arts with HIIT. Also, online exercising – I LOVE yogaglow.com so much and I’ve also done a couple of the new Cosmo Body workouts and they’re awesome too.” – Willow Jarosh, MS, RD, co-owner of C&J Nutrition (New York City)

• “My two favorites are running outdoors and yoga. As for what’s trending in Brooklyn, seemingly everything! Cycling (indoor and outdoor), barre, pilates, yoga, and team sports like soccer and volleyball. – Jayni (Brooklyn)

• “CrossFit is on fire. Boxing is becoming more popular. Barre is huge; spin classes are exploding.” – Lindsay Funston, Senior Editor of Delish.com at blogger at Zero to 350 (Brooklyn)

 

Ohio: Running, biking, CrossFit

• “Running and biking” – Brandis (Columbus)

• “I think everyone should try CrossFit at least once. I love it because every day is different, and there are so many different movements that there’s ALWAYS something you can get better at! And if you don’t like the workout one day, chances are it’ll be quite different the next day!” – Lindsay Livingston, RD of The Lean Green Bean (Columbus)

 

Oregon: CrossFit, relay races

• “There are at least six CrossFit gyms in Bend, a population of about 90,000 and another five throughout the rest of Central Oregon. We are also home to the Cascade Lakes Relay, the longest running relay in Oregon, spanning 260.3 miles. Over 200 teams from across the country compete every year.” – Juli Huddleston, RD of Nutrition by Jules

 

Texas: Running, bootcamp, FlyWheel, yoga

• “As a long-time runner and current running coach, my very favorite exercise will always be running, specifically half marathons. However, I think it’s very important to build strength, flexibility, and agility outside of just running. I love Jay Johnson’s Bootcamp, which is a true challenge, a phenomenal full-body workout, and always a humbling experience! I also really enjoy Flywheel, which is a health-competition-based, high-energy spin class. Last, I need some yoga to balance it all out.” – Megan Lyons, Health Coach and Running Coach at The Lyons’ Share Wellness (Dallas)

 

Vermont:  Yoga, barre, Body Pump, running

• “I’ve been doing a lot of vinyasa yoga, since I had my daughter, and I run when I can. I hear that paddleboard yoga is trendy – it’s such a fun way to enjoy the (short) summer in Vermont! Also barre, and Les Milles Body Pump, which is getting to be pretty popular.” – Brierley Wright, MS, RD, and Nutrition Editor for EatingWell Magazine (Shelburne/Burlington)

 

Virginia: “Old school” exercises, HIIT, outdoor team sports

• “The newest trend in exercise is an interval training meets high school sports conditioning workout: MADbolics, Inc. Adult team sports are still going strong, as the Charlottesville Sports & Social Club continues to host kickball, wallyball, and flag football leagues. Running on the many trails and country roads around Charlottesville is still my favorite way to sweat.” – Angie Hasemann, RD, CSP, Pediatric Dietitian and University of Virginia Healthy System Dietetic Internship Director (Charlottesville)

 

Washington, DC: November Project and other outdoor group classes

• “One of the biggest trends I’ve seen here are free outdoor/community workouts! Things like the November Project or those that stores/companies are hosting. I love working out outside because it makes the workouts seem more like an adventure!” – Anne Mauney, a DC-area Registered Dietitian & Blogger at fANNEtasticfood.com

Outside the U.S.:

 

England: Hot yoga, pilates

• “The trend in London right now is definitely hot yoga. I get a rush of emotion afterwards as everything in your body and mind just sort of opens. I wait every class for that moment. Pilates is also becoming more popular too – especially for pre and post natal women.” – Natasha, new mummy (London)

 

Greece: Running

• “People are definitely running more and more in Greece, and it’s not only in Athens – you see people on holidays on the islands, waking up early for their morning run, or hitting the coastal roads in groups at sunset. – Nelly Abravanel, writer, mother, runner (Athens)

Keep trying different exercises until you find something you love.

Over to YOU: Is your state missing from the list? What’s popular where you are? Do you agree or disagree with anything here? Leave a comment below.