A Fitness Lover's Guide to Dusseldorf

The CrossFit hype has long reached Dusseldorf, and several gyms offer the demanding training. The overall goal of Crossfit training is to improve one’s physical ability and maximise sporting performance. The training incorporates a range of sportive activities from Olympic weightlifting and sprinting, to kettlebell swings and yoga classes. Newbies learn the basic skills within a few weeks before joining regular group workouts. Both Reebok CrossFit and CrossFit am Rhein will get you sweating and into shape in no time.

Dusseldorf’s city centre is dotted with yoga and pilates studios all offering a wide range of different classes. Karmakarma’s main focus is Vinyasa yoga, though the class schedule lists a handful of other teachings, including Yin Yoga, Kundalini and meditation. For a sportive rather than spiritual approach, JIVA offers Hatha, Yin and Vinyasa classes in a room heated to 30 to 40 degrees Celsius. Shiva’s Loft in Flingers offers a similar mix of teachings but adds Anusara Yoga – a modern Hatha practise – and wellness massages to the mix.

The popularity of outdoor obstacle runs such as Tough Mudder and the Strongman Run has exploded in recent years. Runterra tackles the trend sport in two-to-three-hour-long outdoor training sessions during which you run, crawl and jump. The training is demanding, and you should be able to run 10k comfortably before you sign up. Open sessions are scheduled once a month. If you fancy more in-depth training, you can sign up for a membership which includes special skills training session and boot camps.

The MOVE indoor rock climbing centre opened back in 1993 and has since been extended a few times. Today, climbers can take on 70 different routes that zig-zip up the wall of the 640-square-metre hall. For more experienced climbers, an area with overhangs and 45-degree tilted walls is sectioned off. If ropeless climbing is more your thing, you could try the MOVE in-house bouldering area, but the nearby Superblock centre gets you more value for your money. Across 1,000-square-metres, Superblock encompasses boulders and walls with routes of all difficulty levels. If you’re just starting out, you can book yourself for a beginner’s course.

Yes, that’s right! Twenty kilometres out of the Dusseldorf is the Jever Fun Skihalle indoor ski piste that’s open year-round. The 300-metre-long slope has varying degrees of difficulties, and while ski and snowboard pros might just shrug at the 10-to-18-degree angle, the centre is a fantastic way to get into the sports or to practise jumps at the fun park section. All the necessary equipment can be rented on site and day passes start at €32.

Chrita Sports in Friedrichstadt offers several martial arts disciplines. Kung Fu and kickboxing workouts are on the agenda, plus training courses in the Chinese martial arts discipline Wing Chun. Even though the sport’s main focus is self-defence, the fast and movements are an excellent workout. The Media Harbour sports centre offers classes in Thai boxing to Krav Maga or Brazilan-style Jiu-Jitsu for all levels.

Numerous public pools scattered across Dusseldorf and the surrounding region cater to all swim-sport enthusiasts, whether you want to do laps, join one of the aqua fitness courses or kick back and relax in a wellness centre. Courses range from basic swimming classes for both kids and adults, to courses aimed to improve your technical skill set.