Ranked the fastest growing city in America for the third year in a row by Forbes, the live music capital of the world, and home of Austin City Limits and of course South by Southwest, there is no shortage of activity in Austin.  So while you'll be busy checking out great bands, seeing cool startups, listening to inspiring speakers, and partying on 6th Street, we put together this handy SXSW fitness guide (including lots of free classes!) to help keep your workout routine in check so you can enjoy all of that yummy BBQ without the guilt.  Enjoy the festival!

Find your zen at the Convention Center

SXSW will be offering a series of yoga classes - including gentle vinyasa, come as you are yoga, and meditation classes - conveniently located at the Austin Convention Center. Classes are being held in room 8A - see here for details on times and instructors.

Experience Flavorpill's Wellness & Workout Sanctuary 

Keoni Hudoba
Creator of CYC Fitness & Drenched

Making its SXSW debut, be sure to check out Flavorpill's Wellness & Workout Sanctuary - featuring signature classes from Crunch such as Pound®, 2Fly and Dirty Yoga®, indoor cycling classes from CYC Fitness, and Keoni Hudoba's (aka NYC's Best Trainer of 2012) Drenched classes,  as well as healthy breakfasts from Kind, juices from BluePrint, free massages, DJ parties and more - sounds like a rockin' fitness party to us! Read more from Well + Good and RSVP for classes here. Get CYC'd!

Rock your asana while rockin’ to great tunes at Wanderlust LIVE

With their mantra, “Yoga First. Music Always”,  downward dogs set to amazing tunes may be just the answer to finding your zen while enjoying the live music capital of the world.  With classes ranging from vinyasa, power flow, YoStrong (vinyasa with weights), restorative, and yin classes, Wanderlust LIVE hosts incredible yoga programming, top acoustic music shows, DJ sets, yoga classes to live music, inspirational speaker series, film screenings, community fundraiser events and more. Plus, they are offering FREE outdoor yoga at Pease Park (1100 Kingsbury St) during SXSW. Bring your own mat or towel. Read more...

Take a barre break before hitting the bar at barre3

Founded by Sadie Lincoln, barre3 is a 60-minute, full-body workout fusing the grace of the ballet barre, the wisdom of yoga, and the strength principles of Pilates. Using your own body weight and the support of a ballet barre, barre3 integrates whole body balance, strength and flexibility, working your arms, legs, seat and core. With two locations - barre3 Austin Downtown and barre3 Austin Hill Country Galleria - this is one barre you shouldn't miss on your pub crawl. Plus, they are offering a FREE class to all SWSX badge and wristband holders plus a special 5-class package for $50 to be used from March 8-17. Package must be purchased in the studio and you must display your SWSW badge or wristband to be eligible for the promotion.

Climb the pole at Brass Ovaries or Inner Diva Studios

Miss Natasha, Owner of Brass Ovaries
Photo Credit: Celesta Danger

Referred to as "releasing your inner monkey" by Brass Ovaries owner Natasha Bajic, pole dancing is not for the faint of heart.  With a typical workout burning an average of 400-700 calories per hour, pole dancing tones your entire body by combining pole spins, climbs, and continual movement that creates a total body firming, strengthening and empowering workout.  And as described by Danielle Eddy at Inner Diva Studios (which also offers traditional boot camps, Zumba, hula hoop, hip hop, burlesque and Buti Yoga classes), pole dancing is "an art and a skill, it's athletic and it's just fun".  So go ahead and release your inner monkey and have some fun on the pole while getting a great workout.  

Go mobile (literally!) with XFit2U's mobile gym & boot camps

XFit2You is a self-contained mobile gym with everything needed to train 2 to 30 clients aboard its mobile facility to make exercise more accessible and take away the excuses.  XFit can set up in the parking lot, neighborhood cul-de-sac, local park, your backyard or any other place that is convenient for you.  Not your typical boot camp, XFit provides the one-on-one instruction you would receive in a personal training session in a group setting, with licensed trainers there to help motivate and educate you in form and proper nutrition.  In addition to its mobile gym, XFit holds regular classes at Bowie High School Parking Lot and Austin High School East Parking Lot. Read more...

Swing for the fences at Punch Kettlebell 

Check out the hot kettlebell trend at Punch Kettlebell Austin (aka Art of Strength) to get an efficient full-body workout.  The displaced center of gravity of the kettlebells helps recruit more stabilizer muscles and works the targeted muscles through a wider range of motion.  Plus, they are highly versatile and classes offer various combination drills to keep you engaged so check out a class today! 

Get in your Workout of the Day at CrossFit Strive

In case you're staying a bit outside of Austin or looking to venture beyond downtown, check out CrossFit Strive in Bastrop, just named an official 2013 CrossFit Games Open Verifying Affiliate. Using the results-driven CrossFit method, classes offer high intensity, functional movements to stimulate positive changes in your body, or as CrossFit Strive's owner Coach Siji Ishii says, "train to be ready for anything life may throw at you: yard work to emergency situations".  Plus, they offer FREE Intro classes and FREE community workouts at 9am on Saturdays so check it out! Read more...

Show off your dance moves & make some noise at Tapestry Dance Company

Home of one of North America’s only professional tap dance companies, the world-class team at Tapestry Dance Company also offers jazz, ballet, hip hop, modern and contemporary dance classes, as well as less traditional classes such as Bollywood, Bharata Natyam, Salsa, Ballroom, Belly Dance, Flamenco and African Dance. So grab your dancing shoes and check it out! Read more...