The weather may be getting cooler, but it's just starting to get HOT in our nation's capital with the Presidential election today! But no matter which side of the political fence you lean, GoRecess has some great spots for you to exercise your body after exercising your right to vote.  Named the fittest city in America by SHAPE Magazine, read more to see why Washington, DC is so much more than a political town.

Hit the 'barre' in Georgetown at barre3

With no shortage of watering holes on M Street and Wisconsin Avenue, try this barre to burn off those empty calories.  barre3 provides a full-body workout, sculpting your arms, legs, seat and core.  Conveniently located on the newly-redeveloped Georgetown waterfront on the ground floor of Old Dodge Warehouse, the studio embodies old-world charm in a welcoming environment.  Read more...

Treat the world like a Playground at American Parkour Academies

Parkour is the discipline of improving your mind & body by training to see everyday physical items such as walls and railings as tools to view every obstacle as an opportunity. And get in great shape at the same time, all from having fun jumping around and treating the world like a playground! Mark Toorock, founder of American Parkour Academies, opened the world's first Parkour gym right here in DC.  Read more...

Get in some boot camp at BodySmith DC

With two locations in DC (Logan Circle and Glover Park), BodySmith specializes in personal training and innovative, small classes such as boot camp, functional interval training, kettlebell, boxing, kickboxing, yoga, and even Punk Rock Fitness.  This neighborhood gym that prides itself on making their clients feel like they belong to a family.  Read more... 

In Northern Virginia? Raise the barre with Lava Barre

This Arlington studio offers high energy, music-driven workouts that incorporate a wide variety of props, barre sequences and interval training. "Lava" comes from the combo of owners' names, LAuren and VAnessa, who love to raise the barre and push clients outside their comfort zones.  And they love to mix things up with classes such as Lava Rock, Lava Core, and Lava Flow, Lava Burn and even Lavalicious, their new sexy, taboo barre class that turns things up a notch! Read more...

Or grab your dancing shoes and head to eMotion in Burke

Have two left feet? Have no fear, this adult dance and fitness studio, voted the 2012 Readers' Choice "Best Gym in Burke" by Patch.com, offers small classes in a nurturing environment.  eMotion offers a wide variety of dance including hip hop, ballet, Broadway jazz and music video classes, as well as fitness options such as cardio kickboxing, piloxing, flexibility training, and more.

Ready for some "Recess" after all of those classes? Check out these local recs from the studio owners:

• Dining: Restaurants located at Barracks Row on Capitol Hill, on hip 14th Street, at Washington Harbour in Georgetown, and patio-side at the Old Angler's Inn in Potomac


• Outdoor activities: Jogging around the monuments, hiking through Rock Creek Park which boasts an impressive 32 miles of trails and spans over 2,000 acres, and hiking Great Falls National Park's 800 acres



 
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