It's that time of year when gyms are suddenly packed and everyone is making New Year's resolutions to lose weight, get in better shape, and make healthier decisions. I am still finalizing my own fitness goals using these tips as a guide, but I have come across several resources that I wanted to share with you as you are thinking about your own resolutions.
ClassPass
Do you want to take fitness classes but either don't want to join a gym or can't decide which one to join? Then ClassPass might be for you! ClassPass is an app and website that allows you to take classes at different gyms without having to be a member of those gyms. There are several membership levels depending on how many classes you want to take per month and they are currently offering amazing discounts to new users. For only $9 you take take 3 classes, for $13 you can take 5 classes, and for $25 you can take 10 classes. This app has been easy to use and I have used it while traveling in other cities too.
CycleBar
Want to try it before you buy it? CycleBar offers a FREE 30 minute ride to newbies so that you can get properly fitted on a bike and introduced to the class format and technology features. Newbies get discounts on their first packages but you can also contact the CycleBar - Creve Coeur location and ask for the "Groupon pricing" to get the Groupon rate for a four class pack without having to have a Groupon account.
Groupon
Speaking of Groupon, you can amazing deals on fitness packages through the Groupon app/website. If I scroll through the Health and Fitness deals on Groupon for Washington, DC for example, I see a wide-range of options available. There are yoga packages, Bar Method passes, online classes, and even pole dancing classes just to name a few. When you sign up for Groupon, watch your email for 20% off days which save you even more money on classes using a special code. Just be sure to pay close attention to expiration dates and the fine print of each Groupon deal, but enjoy the fact that you aren't paying full price for classes!
Meetup
Meetup.com is a website and an app that allows you to connect with other people who have similar interests. There are Meetups for nearly every interest, including fitness. There are cycling groups, running groups, boot camp groups, etc. that you can join. Some have fees per event while others are completely free. Get out there and connect with other fitness-minded people!
Eventbrite
I have learned about a wide-variety of events through the Eventbrite website. Eventbrite makes it easy to find events near you by category, location, and date or you can sort by which events are the most popular in your area. What's great about Eventbrite is that as you start to search through the different events, "other events you may like" show up too. Some events are totally free while others have a fee. I am often overwhelmed by the number of events that I find each time I search, but I have found free running groups and both free and low cost yoga classes through this website.
Home Gyms
Still can't find exactly what you want? Why not create your own gym at home! You won't ever have to worry about operating hours that don't meet your needs. You can workout WHENEVER you want in the comfort of your own home!
There is a great website called reviews.com that saves you tons of time by reviewing various products for you. When you visit their website, you can scroll down to see their A-Z list of reviewed items which include exercise bikes, yoga mats, treadmills, fitness trackers, rowing machines, and even pre-workout supplements, protein bars, and protein powders just to name a few.
Regardless of what tools you decide to use as you work towards your health and fitness goals, I hope you celebrate the little milestones along the way and work to overcome the obstacles you encounter. Don't give up!
