Change It Up

Fitness-focused Texans should check out these workout ideas for June

High school students ages 14-19 can work out for free all summer long at Planet Fitness.

Photo courtesy of Planet Fitness

According to our Google searches, Texans are the most fitness-focused folks in America. "Gyms near me," "healthy eating," "workouts," and "exercise" dominate our search history, says a study by fitness website BarBend, so it seems we definitely have bodily health on the brain.

If you see yourself in this study, then you'll want to mark down some or all of these workouts and fitness events happening in June around Dallas-Fort Worth.

Planet Fitness High School Summer Pass, now through August 31
School's out, so Planet Fitness is inviting high school students ages 14-19 to work out for free at any of its 2,200-plus clubs through August 31. Visit PlanetFitness.com/SummerPass to register, and here's a bonus: The gym chain is hosting a sweepstakes to award one $500 scholarship in each state, and one grand prize $5,000 scholarship at the end of the summer to really get teens moving.

Erwin Park mountain bike skills area, now open
This new six-line, downhill jump line drop course in McKinney has beginner, intermediate and advanced difficulty areas, so kiddos and adults alike can practice biking up and down hills, and even jumping.

Gym & Juice Trap Yoga, June 4
Trap Yoga is a vinyasa-style yoga flow paired with trap music, taught by Alondra (@deeperthanposes). This event is sponsored by Manna Juice Bar, so there'll be free juice before and after class, and Resurgence Wellness will be on-site with B-12 injections for energy. Class starts at noon and will be held at Chatelet by BlueLofts, 975 N. Zang Blvd.

2022 Tarrant County CycleNation, June 4
Expect exciting entertainment, heart-healthy messaging, treats, bubbles, and bikes at this fundraising event, held at Abundio's Fit Society, 4661 White Settlement Rd.

Hit the Turf, June 14 & 28
Fitness Ambassadors leads this combo of athletic training, poundfit, and dance cardio on the Omni Dallas Hotel's Pegasus Lawn, where a 45-minute class also comes with swag from the event's partners.

FitCon 2022, June 10
Held at Panther Island Pavilion, this expo features exhibitors, celebrity guests, live music, competitions, and more, all showcasing a variety of sports and fitness in one venue.

Saturday morning yoga at the Harper, June 11
This 1-hour class is taught by instructor Laura Wright, and beginners to advanced participants are welcome with modifiable instructions. Bring your own mat and towel, and class is held in the gym on the third floor of the Kimpton Harper Hotel.

Outdoor dance cardio party at McKinney & Olive, June 16
Get ready for an outdoor dance cardio party taught by popular Dallas instructor and Social Joy founder Martha Palacios. The free class starts at 6 pm.

Father's Day goat yoga, June 18
Get your yoga on while a tribe of pet goats graze and jump around (or on) you during this session put on by Addison Athletic Club, held in Addison Circle Park. There will be extra time after class to socialize and snap pictures with the goats.

David Beckham's new workout at F45 Training, now available
F45 Training ambassador and international soccer star David Beckham and F45's chief of athletics and celebrity trainer Gunnar Peterson have crafted a new workout inspired by Beckham's personal fitness regimen and training experience from his soccer career.

The DB45 workout is an 11-station, football-inspired cardio class uses stations that represent typical soccer positions, including Goal, Defense, Mid-Field, and Attack. Paying homage to Beckham’s iconic jersey numbers from his football career, the set timings will alternate between 32 seconds work, 15 seconds rest, and 23 seconds work, followed by 20 seconds rest. Users will complete the ultimate finisher with 7 x 30 second bodyweight exercises. This new workout is available at all F45 Training locations.

fitness health kids promoted

Beep Beep

Texas cruises to middle of 2026 ranking of best states for drivers

Getty Images

Texas lands right in the middle as the 26th best state for drivers

Texas residents love to debate which cities have the best — and worst — drivers in our own state, but which states boast the best conditions for drivers overall? As it turns out, Texas is only average.

SmartAsset's new study "Best and Worst States for Drivers" ranked states based on auto insurance premiums as a share of annual household income, the price of a 15-gallon tank of gas as a share of weekly household income, traffic fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, and the share of interstate highway pavement rated "good."

Texas ties with Colorado as the 26th best state for drivers. Massachusetts tops the list.

According to the report's findings, 65 percent of Texas' interstate highways are in "good condition," and there are about 1.2 auto fatalities per 100 million miles traveled in the state.

Additionally, the cost of a 15-gallon tank of gas in Texas represents 3.47 percent of a resident's median weekly income, and insurance premiums eat up 2.05 percent of earnings, the study calculated.

Considering how much gas prices have soared over the last several months, commuting to work or driving around town is taking a bigger chunk out of Texas residents' wallets than it was before. At least Dallasites have DART to get around the city, and shuttle services like Shutto or Vonlane for traveling to other Texas cities.

"Between loan payments, maintenance, fuel and auto insurance, the cost of owning and operating a vehicle now averages more than $11,000 per year," the report said. "Even as U.S. cities and counties increase investment in public transportation, more than 90% of American households own or lease at least one vehicle."

For comparison, South Dakota has better quality interstate highways than the rest of the nation – at 84 percent – while only 15 percent of Hawaii's highways are in good condition. Rhode Island has the lowest auto fatality rate in the U.S. at 0.5 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, and West Virginia has the highest auto fatality rate at 1.6 deaths.

After Massachusetts, the remaining top 10 best states for drivers are Minnesota (No. 2); New Jersey and North Dakota (tied for No. 3); Utah (No. 5); Connecticut (No. 6); New Hampshire (No. 7); Wisconsin (No. 8); and Indiana and South Dakota (tied for No. 9).

You might want to pump the brakes in the 10 worst states for drivers: Louisiana (No. 50); Mississippi (No. 49); Hawaii and West Virginia (tied for No. 47); Montana (No. 46); Arizona and Oregon (tied for No. 44); Maine (No. 43); New Mexico (No. 42); and Arkansas (No. 41).

smartasset texas driving