Seattle’s Most Unusual Workouts
As the cold weather returns, stay active with one of these next-level indoor activities
By Maggie Kerr October 30, 2018
This article originally appeared in the November 2018 issue of Seattle magazine.
This article appears in print in the November 2018 issue. Click here to subscribe.
Tech has taken over for timber as Seattle’s dominant industry, but a new recreational activity in town—axe throwing, a sport in lumberjack competitions for decades—promises to bring out the grizzled woodsman in whoever gives it a try. It’s “the true Pacific Northwest experience,” says Dave Quinn, who opened the area’s first axe-throwing venue, Axe Kickers (from $20/hour; White Center, 10843 First Ave. S, 570.245.8361), in July. The nearly 3,000-square-foot facility offers nine (fenced, naturally) lanes for taking aim at a wooden bullseye with National Axe Throwing Federation (NATF)–standard 1.25- to 1.75-pound axes.
Scoring is similar to that for a game of darts. Something to consider for your next birthday—or bachelor—party: Axe throwing is both safety-certified by the NATF and suitable for ages 10 and older.
If flinging hatchets isn’t your thing, add some bounce to your routine with the first bungee studio to open on the West Coast. In August, founder and dancer Tiffany Kung opened her Lower Queen Anne studio, Coreo Fitness (from $35; 508 First Ave. N, 206.717.2894), on the hunch that this workout trend from Thailand would be a great fit in Seattle, a town where high-energy exercise such as hot yoga and barre class is the modus operandi. Strapped into sturdy harnesses hooked into the ceiling with a bungee cord, students are led in hourlong classes through a core-building, low-impact, high-cardio workout that provides constant resistance (imagine Jane Fonda meets Peter Pan). No more excuses that working out isn’t fun.
HANGING OUT: A student learns a move called “the chandelier” at a bungee workout class at Coreo Fitness. Photo by Karya Schanilec
Follow Us
Skip the Sales
Spend Black Friday doing something that feels good and keeps you grounded.
Black Friday deals seem to arrive earlier and earlier. This year, I spotted pre-Black Friday sales creeping into my inbox as early as October. While I don’t mind a good deal on something I need, excess sales promote over-consumerism that leaves me feeling empty. Skip the Black Friday frenzy altogether and embrace a season of…
Best Spa: Yuan Spa
Known for its east-meets-west approach to wellness, Yuan Spa blends ancient Asian healing philosophies with modern spa technology, creating a unique relaxation experience tailored to each client’s needs. With two locations, one in Bellevue and one in Kirkland, Yuan offers services ranging from traditional hydrotherapy (clients complete circuits through heated and cooled environments, including pools,…
Journal Journey
A local creator turns her journaling practice into a tool for clarity and calm.
After 14 years of working in the tech industry, Sunetra Deshpande felt burned out, so she turned to journaling to streamline her thoughts. “It helped me refocus, find clarity, and manage my mental health,” she says. “What surprised me was how difficult and intimidating journaling can be for many of us who don’t identify as…
Tough Stuff
Why we should teach boys it’s okay to be sad.
I was 13 years old when my father died. It happened on a school night, and I remember my mom waking me up along with my younger brother and sister. “He’s gone,” she said, bringing us out of our bedrooms. The news was back-breakingly sad. It was not, however, sudden. My father, whom we all…