Getting Fit

5 local workouts worth your sweat in the new year

New year, new workout. With New Year's resolutions in full force, this is the perfect time to step out of your comfort zone (or tired old routine) and try a new fitness class on for size. We've rounded up five different regimens — from traditional Pilates to calorie-busting yoga — worth the sweat.

Pure Pilates
This new addition to Austin's fitness scene celebrated its West Campus location's first birthday in October and opened a Domain location in December. Pure is the only Austin studio that offers Lagree Fitness-based classes using Megaformers, and the 45-minute workouts focus on utilizing core strength to sculpt and tone all your muscles — even the little ones. Classes are $25 each, but there are several intro options and packages available.

CorePower Yoga
CorePower brings a new energy to your typical yoga practice. The two locations — downtown and in the Triangle — offer different levels of intensity for just about any yogi. Ease into the regimen with CorePower Yoga 1 (a beginning power yoga class fit for those with some knowledge of yoga principles). Then, crank up the heat with CorePower Yoga Sculpt — a heated power yoga sequence with weights for extra burn. Drop-in classes are $20, but new students can try one week for free.

RIDE Indoor Cycling
Take your next bike ride off the streets and into RIDE's energetic studio, which has become a fixture of the downtown fitness scene. These sweat-inducing 45-minute rides include top-of-the-line Schwinn AC Performance bikes, lighting inspired by artist Dan Flavin, and music that you can hear — and feel. Rides are available for $22.

The Pilates Center
If you're looking for an individual approach, The Pilates Center at Ballet Austin offers private, duet and group reformer/apparatus classes. The reformer can be daunting at first, so those new to Pilates can choose three or five private sessions to get acquainted with the method, the equipment and the instructor. Introductory packages range from $140-$235.

Cyc Fitness
This West Campus spot's slogan is "party on a bike." Cyc mixes up the typical bike routine with dynamic upper body movements to touch muscle groups that can get neglected in a gym setting. Expect to see swimming motions, boxing, crunches and weights incorporated into this 45-minute session. Single rides are priced at $22.

Cyc Fitness.

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Refill, revere, rejoice

Austin distiller refills Kentucky Bourbon bottles for $1 in UT gameday stunt

Photo courtesy of Still Austin Whiskey Co.

Still Austin is filling up empty Kentucky Bourbon bottles and adding its own label in a display of Texas dominance.

Cheap bourbon isn't usually something people line up for, but in this case they know it's good. Still Austin Whiskey Co., a favorite Austin distiller, is offering $1 refills of its own Cask Strength Bourbon on empty Kentucky Bourbon bottles on November 23.

The promotion celebrates the Texas Longhorns vs. Kentucky Wildcats football match the same day. This is a highly anticipated game because the two teams have only been matched up once, back in 1951. Kentucky coach Mike Stoops reportedly also upped the ante by saying the Longhorns have "no weaknesses."

Essentially, this is a parallel challenge by Still Austin: Replace your Kentucky Bourbon with our Texas spirit and watch the Lone Star State win again.

"Why would I ever taint your bourbon with dried up Kentucky juice[?]" asked a (frankly, terrifying) customer on Instagram.

There is a misconception that bourbon has to be made in Kentucky. The Kentucky Distillers’ Association itself points out that, "According to the 1964 Congressional Resolution, in order to have “Bourbon” on the label it must be made in the United States of America and meet all other federal “standards of identity” for Bourbon."

Still Austin CEO and co-founder Chris Seals is setting the record straight with a little snark, inviting both fans and "skeptics" to stop by to take advantage of the deal.

“We’re deeply grateful to Kentucky for inventing the stuff, but after 200 years of the same old bourbon, people want something new,” said Seals in a press release.“The idea that great bourbon can only come from Kentucky is a myth based on decades of misinformation. We’re inviting everyone still holding onto this old guard notion to ‘Kentucky Fill Up’ to experience the difference for themselves.”

The product he's chosen to represent the brand, the Cask Strength Bourbon, is described as "a deeper more 'metal' version of our beloved straight bourbon." It's 116 proof (58 percent ABV) and has won double gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition twice, in 2022 and 2023.

Still Austin will only refill 500 bottles. Here are the rules: The bottles have to be 750 milliliters, clean, intact (with the original cap on hand), and they must have originally contained bourbon from a Kentucky Distillery. There are two time slots for refilling at 9 am and 11:30 am. Patrons can get tickets ahead of time at stillaustin.com.

In addition to the fill-ups, Still Austin will host a watch party starting at 2:30 pm. More Texas-Kentucky crossover will include Frozen Texas Julep cocktails, Texas fried chicken, and an armadillo derby race. There will also be exclusive merch and giveaways. Still Austin is the official corporate partner of Texas Athletics.

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Fans of Austin sports and Austin food and drinks can now score tickets to The Tailgate, CultureMap's all-out party devoted to everyone’s favorite way to get in the gameday spirit. The event, presented by Verizon, goes down from 6-9 pm December 12 at Distribution Hall. Find out more about it here.

whiskey university of texas longhorns