How to fulfill a fitness resolution without going to a gym

Fitness resolutions don’t have to start and end in the gym. CTV’s Alexandra Holyk checks out other ways to meet your health goals.

Many people make resolutions to being the new year, and fitness goals tend to be top of mind.

But while some people choose to hit the gym, there are other options to stay in shape.

Tone & Mvmt, a reformer pilates studio, recently opened at The Club at Northfield in Waterloo.

“The reformer (machine) you see here makes pilates super accessible,” said owner Noah Velji. “And it allows for longevity and muscle integration that you wouldn’t really see in a traditional cardio room or weight room.”

Clients range in age from 18 to 85, Velji said, with a variety of classes that target different fitness goals. While the machine may seem daunting, workouts fall along a spectrum from low impact to high intensity.

“They kind of look scary, but they are not at all,” lead instructor Sulaxsan Joseph said about the reformers. “Once the person actually comes in and start using them, they notice it’s really supportive and it really moves with you, and it helps you to move in the correct way.”

While the studio only opened in December 2025, Alison Lemon said it has helped her find a community.

“I feel like this is my second home,” Lemon said. “It’s allowed me to move in a better way and just feel like myself again.”

“It’s a bit of a slower movement,” client Ruthie Zhang said. “So it really allows me to be in tune with myself and my breath, and it allows me to slow down, which is something I never got before.”

For a change of pace, Kollective Studios in Waterloo offers adult dance classes for a variety of styles and skill levels.

“Dance is a great way to get fit, have some movement in your day without actually going for a run or lifting weights,” said studio manager Alexander Duong.

Kollective Studios representatives said they offer more than just fitness; they can also help clients form new friendships.

“You are doing something for yourself, you’re burning calories and all that, but you’re also enjoying your time while doing it,” said owner and dance director Kezea Gamboa.

Creating social connections is another form of fitness, according to Aly Bailey, an assistant professor at the University of Waterloo.

“Fitness that goes beyond beauty trends, doesn’t think about weight loss, doesn’t think about body shape, but actually, how do we take care of each other, show up for each other, and protect each other?” she said.

With the kickoff to 2026, Bailey said it’s important to really think about the goals people want to achieve this year.

“What is realistic and what is important to you and being critical about what those goals are in the first place,” said Bailey.