Workout classes are, to be perfectly honest, the only way I’ve found to be consistent about working out since the instructors and other people in the class kind of peer pressure me into giving my all in class. Classes make working out fun, you can go with your friends or make new friends, and the studios are pretty much universally cool. The downside? They can be pretty expensive.
Most classes in DC cost anywhere between $15-$30 per class (Cyclebar, for example, is $20 for an individual class). If you’re trying to be consistent in your workouts that adds up fast. So because I know we’re all trying to have strong bodies and strong savings accounts, here are some tips I have on how to bring the cost down to a (more) reasonable price tag.
First, I mentioned this before, I highly recommend ClassPass as a starting point. It’s about $70 a month and lets you pick 3-4 classes a month to try. Find a friend that has ClassPass already and use their promo code and you can get a discount on your first month (and your friend gets a discount on their month too). After your first month you should absolutely share your promo code with more friends so you get discounts on your next months–I did this and didn’t pay full price for months. ClassPass lets you explore the different studios in your city and helps you figure out what types of workouts and studios you like. And it allows you to take 4 classes for about the price of 2. I really loved ClassPass and only cancelled it because they have a pretty hefty cancellation fee and I had to keep cancelling my scheduled classes. They charge you $20 if you schedule a class and don’t show and $15 if you cancel your scheduled class less than 12 hours before the class. Most places do charge you a cancellation fee if you don’t show, but it’s not as much as with ClassPass. Basically, if you have a predictable schedule, this is the best way to save money.
I used ClassPass until I decided that I wanted to join a studio. I’ve only ever joined two studios but their class packages were pretty similar so I imagine that holds true for others. The general idea is that you can buy your classes one at a time, in packs (5, 10, 20), or unlimited memberships. The price per class decreases the more classes you buy and the price of the unlimited membership monthly fee decreases with the length of your commitment. I signed up for a year of unlimited classes at Cyclebar and I pay $99/month because I committed to a full year. So if I go to more than 5 classes a month I’m getting an excellent deal. Since I’ve been going to about 15 a month (it’s still early but that’s the average so far) I’m paying like $7 per class. Which is a steal. If you can commit to staying in one place for a long period of time it’s totally worth it to join a studio and sign the contract (you should read the contract all the way through, though, since they can have hefty penalties for breaking your contract). Studios have sales on pretty much every holiday. If you’re thinking about joining a studio, sign up for their emails so you know when they have a sale and buy your class package or membership then–you’ll save a lot of money.
Finally, look up ways to snag free or heavily discounted classes. There are a lot of free weekend outdoor classes in DC in the summer and spring time that allow you to try new workouts. Most studios will let you take your first class for either free or for a nominal fee ($5-$10) because they’re trying to get you hooked. No shame in taking that free class and then dipping–I definitely have. My Cyclebar membership also allows me to bring a friend for free a few times a month. If you’re not interested in using ClassPass to try new studios or in paying for classes one at a time, ask your friends if their studios have a similar deal so you can try out new classes.
Hopefully these ideas help you figure out a way to afford your workout classes if you’re thinking about taking some–or if you’ve been dropping lots of cash on all your fancy workout classes. Let me know if you have any suggestions so everyone can save some money!
xoxo,
J
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