How I Took a Year of Group Fitness Classes for $10 or Less
My New Years resolution for 2019 was to not spend more than $10 on a group fitness class. I figured if the whole purpose of Sweat Smarter was to spend less and sweat more, I should really hold myself to that same standard. And you know what? I DID IT. For the whole year, I took at least two group fitness classes a week and never paid more than $10 per class (if I even paid anything at all!).
Before I get in to HOW I did this, I clearly have a website dedicated to fitness and finding deals at studios so while probably 25% of the classes I took were free because of Sweat Smarter, it was only 25%! The rest was me being savvy the same as anyone else.
Here is how I was able to take tons of group fitness classes for free or close to it for an entire year AND how I’m planning to allocate my fitness budget for 2020. Buckle in, it’s a long one.
1. Go To Free Classes (and Know Who Hosts the Best Ones!)
This one is the reason I started Sweat Smarter — there are SO many free classes in the DC area (as well as most other metropolitan areas) that it’s silly not to take advantage of them. Not only are the classes free, but they’re great ways to meet new people, try new workouts, and frequently enjoy working out outdoors.
What really worked for me this year was finding the best sources for free classes and having those as my go-to’s. Here are my favorite sources for free classes:
Outdoor Voices: OV is the best for their classes because they offer such a great variety of things to try (group runs, 305 dance classes in studio, hikes, etc.) and often have great sponsors attached to their free classes. (Here is where they list of all their free classes across the U.S.!)
Lululemon + Athleta: While they’re not always awesome about posting their schedules, each location of these stores hosts free classes at least once a month with their store fitness partners. (If you’re not in the DC area, follow your local store on social media to see when they offer classes!)
South Block: South Block started their #FitnessOnTheBlock series at the end of this year and it’s been kick ass. I took four classes at some of my favorite studios thanks to this free class series.
BBG DC: I’ve only been to one BBG event this year and can’t wait to go back to more in 2020. I’ve made great friends with this community, led by two awesome leaders who host BBG/SWEAT workouts typically outdoors for anyone who wants to join. (Plus you frequently leave with swag bags!)
AND the more important rule of free classes is: Free classes beget MORE free classes. This was such a fun truth to realize this year. To give you an example, I took a free Fly Barre classes hosted by Outdoor Voices at their Georgetown store and, at the end of class, got a postcard for another free FlyWheel class at their DC location.
So how do you find free classes to take?
Enter, the Sweat Smarter Events calendar. I post all the free classes I know about there! I’m able to keep tabs on these events by following studios and instructors on social media and subscribing to hosts on Eventbrite (paired with some good old fashioned spy work).
2. Take Advantage of Free Trials!
A lot of fitness studios, gyms, and app-based fitness programs offer some sort of free trial whether it’s first class free, or a 7 or 30-day free trial. Definitely take advantage of those if you’re interested. I’ve rounded up all the first class free deals in the DMV here.
Remember to put a reminder for cancelling the trial if you’re not ready to commit to it! I use ToDoist to remind me to cancel trials that I don’t want to continue.
Another great way to grab free passes to classes is by going to fitness events. Events like Discover Arlington’s Fitness and Wellness Festival are great ways to introduce yourself to new studios and typically grab a swag bag full of free class passes. From attending events like this, I’ve snagged free pilates, a free OrangeTheory class, and a free WEEK at BASH Boxing. For some of these events that require admission, consider what studios will be there and typically you’ll find that the cost of admission is way less than the cost of the four or five free class passes (plus swag) that you get.
3. Keep Your Eye Out for Good Deals
While free classes are great, sometimes you want to sign up for something that you can control and that’s where good deals come in! Studios frequently offer good promotions so pay attention and snatch up the good ones when you see them. When I’m debating buying a class deal, I calculate the price per class to see how to good of a deal it is and use that to decide if I should buy or not. For the past three years, I’ve bought Xtend Barre’s new year deal, which offers unlimited classes for two months for $99/month. In 2019, I took 23 classes as part of the deal to make sure that each class was $10 or less.
Another great deal is to join ClassPass. I keep their lowest level plan, which in this area is 7 credits for $15/month. Those 7 credits are enough for one class and I don’t think there’s a studio in the area that has a drop in rate of $15 or less. PLUS, I get strategic with how I use my credits and take advantage of last minute bookings when studios can drop their credit amounts. The other HUGE thing I took advantage of with ClassPass this year was their audio workouts. I’ve used those all the time at the gym to get the most out of running on the treadmill and absolutely love it. That added benefit definitely makes the monthly fee worth it. (Find out more about the pros and cons of ClassPass here. If you haven’t tried it yet, get $40 to try it!)
So if there’s a studio you really like, follow them (and your favorite coaches) on social media and subscribe to their newsletter to make sure you stay in the loop for good deals. I also really like Gilt City for finding good class pack deals at local studios and make sure that I’m always sharing the good ones on Sweat Smarter.
4. Don’t Be Afraid to ASK
One of the huge things that this resolution forced me to to do was to not be afraid to do what I could to stick within my goal. If there was a cool event I wanted to attend but it was $50, you better believe I emailed the host to see if I could help promote and provide coverage for the event. Sometimes it didn’t work, but frequently it did and all I had to do was ask and show how I could add value.
On a smaller scale, this same concept applies if your class pack is expiring and you need to extend it just one more day to not lose your last class. Call the studio and ask! I’ve done this a bunch and have never been told no. (This was an especially helpful trick when I was trying to redeem a bunch of free birthday classes with quick turn expiration dates.)
Another thing to try is to see what fitness perks your office/insurance offers. Some companies offer extensive wellness programs with a fitness stipend included and other companies require you to be a little more creative. See if there’s a gym your office building can grant you access to. Ask if your company would be open to hosting a team yoga class. Call your insurance and have them explain exactly what your wellness package entails. It just takes asking a couple of questions and doing a little research, but it typically ends fruitfully.
Looking Ahead
So with all of this 2019 reflection complete, my goal for 2020 is to: Find My Routine. This year was a little crazy and between moving and having more happen during my 9-5 job, I lost my go-to workout routine. So in 2020, I want to figure out what my new routine will be. This means that, while I’m open to spending more than $10 on a class, I want to creatively figure out how to establish a routine without spending a lot.
In the short-term, this means I’m going to invest in the following things to jump start the year:
Spin Shoes: My gym is a block away from my house and has two Pelotons. I know that I’ll use the bikes more if I have the right shoes to make me feel powerful while I’m taking a class so I’m going to take my own advice and buy some good spin shoes.
SWEAT Trial Membership: Along the same lines, I want to take advantage of the free gym in my neighborhood and know that I’m someone who thrives on instruction to push myself during a workout. I’ve had a few friends who have sung the praises of the SWEAT (aka BBG) app so I want to try it out and see if it will work for me.
Booty Bands: A small investment, but a little something that will help me to amp up at-home or gym workouts.
Row House 10-Pack: This was one of those great new year deals that I couldn’t pass up (buy 5 classes, get 5 free!). Plus, this is something my husband and I like doing together and I’m all for active and healthy dates!
Phew! Those are all the tips I have as I reflect on how I was able to keep my monthly fitness budget to $10 or less in 2019. The one other plug for free classes that I’ll leave you with is that free classes are the BEST excuse to grab a friend and workout on a weekend morning. There’s no cost to you guys exercising and it’s a great way to spend time together. I’m definitely looking forward to doing it more in 2020!
