Comments on: Fitness, Happiness Expensive

By: angry little raincloud

angry little raincloud — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 02:59:25 +0000

@chic noir You totally do NOT need any dance experience at all: despite the barre, there’s very little overlap with ballet. (Of all the barre classes I’ve taken in NYC, I think the barre class at Pilates Pro Works incorporates the most ballet-like moves.) Plies and releves (up on the balls of your feet) are about as close to dance as you get.

I do credit Physique as my gateway drug into working out. I’m terrified of the gym (no idea what I’m doing), and the classes really are very effective. I just felt better after taking the classes.

It’s 2-for-1 for new clients, and then they have intro deals. If you can swing it, I’d really say go for the 1-month unlimited, because then you can try out a bunch of different instructors.

Also, don’t be put off by the very polished, very pretty, very rich looking women (huge engagement rings, fancy bags, Lululemon head-to-toe). There are some Physique slobs like me in Target pants, too!

Is there a private message feature here? Because if you sign up and give them my name, I’d also get a free class!

By: chic noir

chic noir — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 02:44:48 +0000

@angry little raincloud oh how I want to try Physique57. Is it a very difficult class for beginners with no ballet training?

By: chic noir

chic noir — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 02:43:13 +0000

@la_di_da planet fitness and 24 hr fitness are inexpensive gyms.

By: Deb of last year@twitter

Deb of last year@twitter — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 00:11:44 +0000

It’s hard getting motivated to exercise, sometimes it helps to do the more expensive option (if you can afford it).

I swim 3-4 times a week at the YWCA near my work. It’s about $60/month with a corporate deal. I could swim at the public pool near my house for less, about $40/mo, but I like the Y better (it’s larger, it’s cleaner, and it’s not as busy at the times I’m there) so that extra money I pay a month is worth it to me. If I’d gotten a monthly pass at the public pool, I’d be spending less per month but it’d just be thrown away because I know I wouldn’t go no matter how good my intentions are to exercise.

By: sony_b

sony_b — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 23:17:58 +0000

@WaityKatie Yep. I pay $79 a month for my basic gym membership, and then $650 for a 10pack of one hour private training sessions on the reformer, so it works out to be about $350 per month. Which is insane.

We are working up to getting me into the regular reformer classes which would cut what I pay in half. I’ve got a couple of major injuries I’m recovering from so I’m treating this more like physical therapy, and hope to be at a place in another year or so where I can join the classes and keep up. Having shelled out that kind of cash for the trainer (who is awesome and worth every penny) makes it much more likely that I’ll go to the gym to lift weights a couple times a week as well. Because of that, I’ve been consistent about exercise for almost two years now – by far the longest stretch of my life.

By: ImASadGiraffe

ImASadGiraffe — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 22:04:08 +0000

I used to do CrossFit – I was a part-time coach there but the regular monthly membership was $200/month for unlimited classes. Stopped coaching and couldn’t afford the cost. Right now I’m doing barre classes and those are $99/month for unlimited classes. I’m in Chicago, so slight premium there, but worth it, I think.

By: kate@twitter

kate@twitter — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 21:41:29 +0000

I pay $65/month for 24 Hour Fitness in Manhattan, which I think is really worth it. It’s close to my office so it’s easy to go 4-6 times a week, plus I also have a NYC rec center membership for swimming and weightlifting (club in Queens, $50/year). Occasionally I go to a yoga class in Queens ($5 at Yoga Agora) or Yoga to the People in Manhattan, although my gym does have a few yoga classes.

The cheapest gym I ever went to in NYC was the Astoria Sports Complex which is $99/year, but it was so gross I hardly ever went and gained 20 pounds. You get what you pay for, in most cases.

By: stuffisthings

stuffisthings — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 21:24:08 +0000

@WaityKatie I’m a guy who walks everywhere and I can’t say I’ve lost much weight, either, but if I am having problems with my soul at least there are plenty of bars along the route home.

By: angry little raincloud

angry little raincloud — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 20:28:30 +0000

@Megoon Once, I signed up for a Physique class at 6 am. (This was punishment for something.) I do not live anywhere near there, so it required a subway. I remember my alarm going off at some ungodly hour and thinking, “Noooooo,” but then thinking, fuck, I’m not sleeping through $30+.

I haven’t been to Bar Method is ages, but I remember it being a lot easier (note, not easy, just easier) than Physique. Also, their classes times were way more limited. But the showers are nicer at Bar Method.

That is fucked up that Soul Cycle doesn’t have unlimited classes, considering the devotion of its clients. Also: I feel much better about my $250/month yoga habit (+ add the occasional Physique/Core Fusion or pilates class).

By: Megoon

Megoon — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 20:20:21 +0000

@angry little raincloud Yup, looks like 13 classes a week at Soul would run about $1475 per month, and they don’t have unlimited memberships. There was a Times article a while ago about boutique fitness addicts, that breathlessly reported that these professional ladies spend upwards of $500 a month on exercise. They should have found this girl. Thirteen classes a week is a LOT of spinning.

I really like Physique 57, and it’s kind of sick that part of the reason I’m consistent about going is because it’s so pricey. There’s no way I’m skipping a class that I paid $31 for. My friend goes to Bar Method and we were commiserating about how their unlimited deal ($270/month) is a “budget” option. Oh, New York.