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