I tried ClassPass for a month instead of the gym and the $85 membership helped pull me out of my pandemic fitness rut
Hannah Towey
Prices are accurate at the time of publication.
- I ditched the gym this January and tried ClassPass for access to hundreds of boutique fitness classes.
- Compared to the monotony of the gym, its diverse offerings made me look forward to working out again.
When COVID-19 shut down gyms and workout studios two years ago, fitness providers underwent immense change. At the same time, many of their customers became different people too.
For me, the pandemic accompanied my graduation from college and later, my first full-time job in New York City. I was a life-long athlete and club lacrosse practice had been my main method of staying active over the past four years. When I left school, I began losing motivation to work out consistently.
During MindBody's acquisition of ClassPass last October, the two companies said the merger would "lead the (fitness and wellness) industry out of Covid." So, I decided to see if the monthly membership service could pull me out of my Covid fitness rut too.
Throughout the month of January, I went to 10 different boutique workout classes through ClassPass. From hot yoga and pilates to rowing and bootcamp-style strength training, the diversity of offerings was a welcome departure from the monotonous grind of the gym.
Instead of exercise feeling like a chore, I genuinely looked forward to every class. In an unexpected bonus, traveling to new classes around the city allowed me to explore different areas of Manhattan. Plus, the direct instruction and group setting cultivated a strong sense of community while also pushing me to my limits.
Here are the 10 different sessions I took using 43 ClassPass credits, which cost around $85:I started with Barry's Bootcamp, which was probably a naive move. The 50-minute "Abs and Ass" class was half strength training and half running on the treadmill. All classes are held in a dimly lit "red room," which is apparently supposed to make you look better when you're sweating.
I wouldn't go to Barry's multiple times a week, but I'll definitely return when I'm in the mood for satisfying cardio. What I loved about trying so many different classes was that I quickly learned what aligned best with my personal fitness goals.
For my second class, I switched gears and tried hot yoga at Fierce Grace. It was the perfect way to sweat it out after a freezing week. I'm no yogi, but the instructors made me feel comfortable while also challenging me to try new poses.
For my third class, I tried Barre3. It was my first barre class in years and favorite ClassPass experience to date. Every move was done to the beat of music and was a great balance between slow burns and bursts of cardio.
Next was the Mind Body project, a strength-training class that starts and ends with meditation. The studio's facilities were the most beautiful by far, but I found the HIIT portion of the class to be generally confusing and overly complicated by the TRX bands.
I opted for the no-frills Row House class next. While the studio wasn't anything fancy, it was an amazing workout for beginners and advanced rowers alike. Plus, the playlist was killer and I found the erg machine to be a great stress reliever.
I'm usually not a huge fan of pilates, but I had to try the cult-favorite Solidcore. The approachable instructor helped me and another first-timer learn how to use the reformer, which was super intimidating at first.
Halfway through the month, I explored the wellness options on ClassPass, which were added to the membership in 2018. In New York City, one-third of ClassPass credits are spent on wellness and beauty appointments like massages, facials, and manicures.
Source: ClassPass 2021 Trend Report
For two credits (most of my classes ranged from six to 13 credits due to first-time discounts), I attended a 30-minute guided meditation at Standard Dose that I will definitely be returning to.
The meditation room was stunning, topped with an LED skylight that created a tranquil escape from the noisy city streets. There was only one other person in the class and they even provided a complementary CBD gummy.
The experience helped me understand why ClassPass is betting on incorporating beauty and wellness into the subscription to help it stand out from competitors.
Up next was Physique57, Chrissy Teigen's favorite barre class. By this point, I had lost all jitters about trying new classes due to the sense of community at most studios. The instructors at Physique57 even gave direct feedback to virtual participants watching a livestream of the class.
Later in the week I hit P.volve, a workout that uses proprietary equipment. The moves were a little strange to get used to at first. Overall, it was fun to try out and challenge myself on hip alignments — but it didn't make my top five.
Last but certainly not least was 305 Fitness, a dance cardio class with a live DJ and night-club themed studios. I couldn't stop grinning for the first ten minutes — if you want to trick yourself into working out while having fun, this is the way to do it.
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