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The music is blasting, the lights are real low and you’re breaking a sweat—you could be in the hottest new nightclub—but—you’re in the gym. A growing trend in the big cities is Cardio Clubbin’—pumping up hearts rather than breaking them!

In the fall of 2009 we saw “Ride! A Virtual Bike Ride,” a cycling event, held in the Avalon Hollywood, a nightclub and concert venue. Two hundred stationary bicycles filled the floor, the lights were dim, the music, loud. This event also boasted a large screen to make the experience a virtual one—settings like beaches, mountains and exotic destinations rotated throughout the exercise. The one-day event was a huge success and they have planned to do it annually.

Another early adopter of this trend was a team called “Nightclub Cardio” in Houston, Texas and LA. With a motto of “Where Exercise Meets Entertainment” the group instructs classes once a week in nightclubs—every Tuesday at Rich’s in Houston and Wednesday at Level 3 in Hollywood with plans to start hosting classes in Santa Barbara as well.

Not only are people taught a string of easy-to-follow dance steps but there are periods of free dance where bizGals can move and shake as they please with a DJ spinning mostly Top 40 hits.

Jamie Snyder, a recent graduate of UCLA, says she goes to the class every week.

“I try to exercise as much as I can—but for me, repetition gets boring. Throwing a Nightclub Cardio class in the mix gives me something to look forward to versus a run on the treadmill.”

Not only does she like the class, but she likes the atmosphere.

“I like the setting—everyone is just about having a good time rather than trying to show off how much weight they can lift or how long they can run for,” Snyder says. “I also think the low lighting is encouraging. You’re not worried about who’s seeing what body part going where.”

Not only are there gym classes held in nightclubs—but there is a rise of gyms designed to look like nightclubs. Take David Burton gyms—three in New York, one each in Chicago, Seattle and Miami. In their flagship New York location there is a huge twelve-foot disco ball really showcasing the vibe.

“I love how the space looks,” Jessica Vera, a publicist in NYC says of the Astor Place location. “You don’t necessarily think “gym”—the walls are black and it almost has a gothic vibe—not a creepy one though—it’s sexy.”

Indoor climbing space, Brooklyn Builders, is decorated with graffiti—giving it an underground allure. Every Friday night they have a live DJ to pump up the climbers—usually playing hip house and house music. And SoulCycle cycling studios, with five locations throughout New York, holds spinning classes in a similar nighttime environment.

Danielle Sachs, who works in Finance, says finding time to work out is hard but the environment of SoulCycle keeps her head in the “work out” game.

“Finding time for myself to work out proves to be a challenge,” Sachs says. “I get home from work and the last thing I want to do is work out. But the environment at SoulCycle gets me motivated. The clubby feel makes it easier to look forward to and enjoy.”

It’s not only private or small chains that do this—Crunch, a larger NYC chains offers several club-themed classes. And, not only is this trend stateside—it’s leapt across the pond! Places in the UK like Funky Club Fitness, 24hr Gym, and Gym Box offer high-energy, low-lighting, rave-like sessions.

So bizGals, for a night, trade in the tight minis for loose neon threads, the drink for a water bottle—and see if cardio clubbing is the right workout for you!