Start the year flying

Sarah Mueller

New Year’s Day dawns, and with it, a whole new you. At least, this is what you’ve been telling yourself for the past seven years. But it’s an uphill battle to shake off two months of canapés, cosmos, and candy canes fast enough to feel that you’ll ever get the thin thighs and cut shoulders of your dreams. We’ve found five San Francisco exercise classes that go beyond working up a simple sweat. They will push you, but the speedy results and motivating teachers make every grueling moment worth it—some even call them addictive.

1
SENSUAL SWEAT
S Factor classes, which began in Cow Hollow last July, teach women a striptease and pole-dancing workout. If you think stripping isn’t exerting, think again; class starts with Pilates-like floor exercises—done with a sexy slant—that set your thighs and glutes on fire. In time, your body will begin to swing. Turns out, pulling your lower half upside-down on a pole (while looking hot) requires serious core strength. 2159 Filbert St., 415-440-6420.

2
POWER LUNCH
Devotees of Gary Lee’s Total Athletic Conditioning class at the Bay Club give it all they’ve got and see the benefits fast. This one-stop cardio and strength training workout (all in a lunch hour) is a mix of boot camp, resistance bands, and jump rope, fueled by high-energy music that changes daily. This isn’t Jazzercise, though; Lee will cackle with lovingly sadistic glee as you strain through that last push-up. 150 Greenwich St., 415-433-2200.

3
FITNESS FUSION
A workout that’s a blend of yoga, martial arts, and meditation? We predict this is about to become the hottest class in the Bay Area. Cameron Shayne’s Malibu-based Budokon has hooked stars like Courtney Cox with a regimen inspired by that of ancient Buddhist monks, infused with a dose of fun. Starting this month, downtown’s tony Equinox Fitness will host the first San Francisco classes twice a week. 301 Pine St., 415-593-4000.

4
TOUGHEN UP
When the elliptical machine becomes a mindless chore, switch gears entirely with a visit to Fairtex Muay Thai Fitness’s spacious SoMa warehouse. There, world-class Thai boxing champs push your body to its limits with jump roping, padded sparring, and repeated kicks to a heavy bag. It’s hard, but it’s also a kick in the metabolism. If you’re looking for structure, the Fairtex team won’t let you fall off track. 140 Hawthorne St., 415-777-5888.

5
FEEL THE LOVE
Wherever yoga teacher Rusty Wells goes, follow. Come ’06, the popular teacher of “bhakti urban flow” sequences will guide all comers through his vigorous classes on a donation-only basis. His search is on for a friendly, permanent home, where he plans to include free prenatal yoga classes. In the meantime, get updates on the new studio and Wells’s roaming teaching schedule at: www.rustywells.com, 415-333-9642.