LIFESTYLE

Sweat and Screams: The Unique Workout That Combines Fitness and Horror

Burbank, USAThu Jul 31 2025

In the heart of Burbank, a unique fitness studio is making waves by blending exercise with horror. Killer Fitness offers a workout experience like no other, where participants can burn calories while surrounded by their favorite horror movie villains.

Slashercise: A High-Energy Horror Workout

The studio's signature class, Slashercise, is led by co-owner Vanessa Decker, who brings her love of horror to life through a high-energy workout that incorporates iconic scream scenes and petrifying puns.

  • Not for the faint-hearted: Participants are encouraged to "fight for their lives" through a series of stabbing actions and fight-for-your-life moves.
  • Horror-themed props: Plastic chainsaws and fake knives help with strength training.
  • Inspired by vintage workouts: Repetitive movements, inspired by Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons tapes, burn calories and tone muscles.

A Horror-Fueled Fitness Universe

Killer Fitness opened in May, capitalizing on horror's increasing popularity. The studio offers:

  • 20 exercise classes a week
  • Evening film screenings with panels and Q&As

Decker's online presence as "Horror Vixen" has amassed 133,000 followers on Instagram, making her a tastemaker in the horror community.

From Art Installation to Brick-and-Mortar

Co-owners Vanessa Decker and Ama Lea connected at "Slashback Video, " a 2017 art installation at the Mystic Museum in Burbank. Their workout DVD gained traction after appearing on Shudder's "The Last Drive-In With Joe Bob Briggs."

At Midsummer Scream, an L.A. horror convention, they presented workout skits and had a life-changing conversation with the owners of Dark Delicacies, a Burbank retailer known for creepy collectibles. The owners, Del and Sue Howison, offered Lea and Decker their retail space after three decades in business.

A Variety of Spooky Workouts

Killer Fitness now offers:

  • Horror Yoga: Focused on restorative stretching.
  • Fitness Ghouls: Low-impact exercise.
  • TERRORTwist: A high-energy dance workout blending tunes from Lady Gaga, She Wants Revenge, Michael Jackson's "Thriller, " "Little Shop of Horrors, " and "The Rocky Horror Picture Show."

Inclusive and Judgment-Free

  • Certified instructors: All instructors are certified by the American Council on Exercise.
  • All body types welcome: The studio caters to all horror obsessions and fitness levels.
  • A welcoming atmosphere: Decker differentiates Killer Fitness from chain gyms, emphasizing an inviting and non-intimidating environment.

"Working out can be daunting, so we just want it to feel inviting," Decker says. "Why not a gym for horror fans?"

questions

    Could the popularity of Killer Fitness be a government experiment to see how people react to stress and fear in a controlled environment?
    What would be the reaction of the Killer Fitness members if they found out that the 'Meathead' serial killer from 'Slashersise' was actually a friendly ghost?
    How does the inclusion of horror-themed merchandise and memorabilia enhance the overall fitness experience at Killer Fitness?

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