Staying active can be tough — especially in the winter, when we’d all rather just cozy up indoors and wait for those post-5 p.m. sunsets to return. Don’t you wish your workout was something to look forward to?

Whether it’s a rainy day thing or an everyday thing, we’re giving you some fresh exercise options — indoors and outside-the-box.

🧗 If you’re not here for heights…

KC is home to a number of world-class climbing gyms. RoKC has locations in North Kansas City, Olathe, and one underground near Union Hill. Along with Sequence Climbing in the Crossroads (right across from Cafe Cà Phê 👀), the two offer climbing with lessons, equipment, and yoga.

For a day out with the family, you may want to check out iFLY, an indoor skydiving center in Overland Park. Pro tip: you get ~60 seconds in the wind tunnel, so make it count.

🪓 If you’ve had a long day…

Let’s be real. When you’re stuck in doors, even the little things can shorten your fuse. I.e., sometimes you just want to huck some iron. Blade and Timber and Bury the Hatchet give you a fun (+ safe) way to let out your inner viking. Plus, both serve beer and wine — perfect for a workout or a night out. Woodchux in Excelsior Springs includes axe throwing, plus spears, throwing stars, and non-weapon-related bar games.

For those that want some friendly competition while they blow off some steam, we recommend pickleball at Chicken N Pickle. For those with a lot of steam to blow off, Rage! KC and Smash House KC offer rage rooms to let you let loose.

💃 If you’ve got a song in your heart…

Look no further than our variety of dance studios. Dance Fit Flow, The Ballroom KC, and City in Motion offer classes + events for all experience levels. Looking to really branch out? Alchemy Space will help you learn the basics of pole fitness and dancing, taught by 2011 American pole fitness champion Flying Laura.

The Alchemy Space space, located above Kansas City Taco Company | Photo by KCtoday

🚲 If you want to keep it moving…

While you wait on the freeze-thaw cycle to break back out the bike, get your cycling in at Mojo Cycling, loVELO (luh-veh-lo), and CycleBar. And of course, you can’t go wrong with ice skating at Crown Center — we’re surprised how much that takes out of us, every time.

Psst. Wonder why we left out Apex Climbing? The space in OP is currently being renovated into Motus Ninjas, a ninja warrior gym set to open in March.

🧘‍♂️ If you want to find your center…

Not all workouts need to leave you panting — although some of these definitely will. You’ll find all levels + virtual classes at Darling Yoga, and hot yoga at Sweatheory KC and Hagoyah, as well as Power Life, which also offers gentle yoga, power barre, and guided meditation.

And after your dancing, smashing, climbing, flying, cycling, and stretching, Floating KC’s sensory reduction float spa will give you a much needed post-workout rest.