My Experience With ClassPass (NYC Gym & Studio Reviews)

For the last month and a half, I have been enjoying a variety of fitness classes all over New York City. Since I haven’t committed to a studio or gym membership just yet, I figured that I would take advantage of living in a city that offers it and finally give ClassPass a try.

Sadly, ClassPass still hasn’t mad it to the Detroit area (yet), but it is available in over 30 cities across the United States and globe!

I knew I wanted to sign up when we settled into our apartment, so when I stumbled upon an anniversary  (<- that offer probably isn’t still valid, but I included it just in case), my arm was officially twisted.

That’s an incredible deal, especially for the New York City area!

I just renewed my membership for a second month, so I wanted to share an honest review of my experience using the service so far.

ClassPass is a unique membership that grants you instant access to hundreds of gyms and studios in your area. It’s designed to help get you out there to explore tons of amazing studios and classes, challenge you with new and different ways to work out, and build your passion for living a healthy, fit life!

It used to cost a flat rate of $125 for an unlimited month, which I should have known wouldn’t last forever. Now, memberships can be purchased in different tiers, and prices may vary depending on where you live.

I currently have the Base plan which allows me to take five classes and visit the same studio brand up to two times. With the ten class special, I was able to visit a studio up to three times, and I did. This post covers reviews of my first ten classes!

(I’d prefer to upgrade to the Core or Unlimited, but it’s not in the budget quite yet. We’ll see how the next few months unfold. Ideally, I’d love to continue my membership and share studio and gym reviews on a regular basis.)

 

Pros

Overall, I am very happy with my experience with ClassPass. Having a membership gives me access to try a wide variety of chain and boutique studios and gyms alike. With single classes costing up to nearly $40 at times (yeesh), I definitely think there is value in becoming a member at least long enough to try everything you’re eyeing in your area.

The prices might seem steep, but it all depends on the perspective. What does a fitness class generally cost without a membership in your area? Anywhere in NYC will usually run around $25+ (and I’ve seen up to $37 per class!), so in that regard, you can get a lot of bang for your buck. (The Core package, for example, breaks each class down to cost $13.50.)

The ClassPass app makes it extremely easy to book classes, even last minute. Simply type in what type of workout you are looking for, and a long list of options pop up all over town, or in the specific area that you search.

Some studios require you to sign a waiver or paperwork in person, but others simply check you in upon your arrival. Each option provides a detailed class description, what you need to bring, and how early you should show up to your first class.

The biggest pro in my eyes is the value. Since I am in total explorer mode, I really like bouncing around different studios and trying out everything I can. This would run my monthly fitness bill pretty high if I wasn’t able to take advantage of ClassPass prices.

Also, ClassPass makes it really easy to workout with friends! Since you’re not locked down to a studio or gym membership, it’s not hard to find something that interests an entire group. I have taken several classes with Scott, and I plan to meet up with more fitness friends in the area in the near future.

Last but not least, there is a chance to earn credit towards future months by simply spreading the word. (If you decide to give ClassPass a try, I kindly ask that you use my affiliate link to help me purchase future months. Thanks in advance!)

 

Cons

I understand why there is a studio visit cap per month, but that doesn’t mean that I like it. You can’t just visit another location once you hit your max (say FlyWheel, for example), as the cap covers all locations under that brand.

When it comes to class packages, if you don’t use them you lose them. I wish that unused classes rolled over. If you don’t get to use the full ten classes per month, I feel like you should get credit to use them for at least the next month or so.

I haven’t personally experienced an issue with this, but I have heard that that certain locations of brand studios are not offered on ClassPass. This may be because I am still so new to the area and wouldn’t know any different. Also, it’s best to book classes in advance as much as possible, as they can fill up pretty quickly.

While there is a ton of class variety on ClassPass, there are still some studios that I would like to see join (SoulCycle … where you at?) Maybe one day!

 

June & July Gym & Studio Reviews

In case you’re ever thinking about trying some of the classes I have, here are my thoughts and honest reviews of the studios I tried in my first 30-day period.

 

• Cyc Fitness (Hell’s Kitchen)

I visited Cyc Fitness for the first time (<- click for more photos) in Astor Place before we moved up here. The 45-minute cycling classes are no joke! I sweat like crazy and I am pushed to my limits every time. I love the dark spinning rooms with accent lighting, the loud music, and even drums at times that help pump you up to the finish line.

I visited the studio in Hell’s Kitchen this time, and another one just opened up in Chelsea. The two studios I’ve been to have a fun environment and friendly staff.

I like that the class includes a few song tracks include light upper body weight work while you peddle, and I always leave feeling like I just ran ten miles and completed a short dumbbell workout. I would definitely attend on a regular basis if I lived or worked closer to Manhattan. It costs $28 for a single class, so I made sure to take advantage of this class option twice!

 

• Area Yoga (Park Slope, Brooklyn)

Scott and I signed up for a Sweat, Stretch & Relax yoga class at the last minute one afternoon. It was a 70 minute class, and it was the perfect mid-day treat to balance out all of the running we had been doing that week.

The class opened with a slow but strength-building vinyasa flow and ended with 20 minutes or so of deep stretching and meditation with essential oils. It was very relaxing, but I was hoping for a little more of a challenge (hence sweat in the title) with my practice and stretches. I enjoyed the environment of the studio, however, and would be up for trying another class down the road.

 

• Pure Barre (Park Slope, Brooklyn)

I have taken classes at a few Pure Barre studios over the years, and thanks to the three visit maximum, I was able to visit both of the locations in my area: Cobble Hill and Park Slope. I loved them. You can read more about my experience with taking classes at Pure Barre here and here.

I felt challenged in all three classes with close to 60 minutes of small, intense movements. Pure Barre is formatted very similarly to the barre classes I used to teach in Orlando, so I’m a big fan. I love how each exercise focuses on and then burns out a specific muscle area, one group at a time. I also like how much stretching is incorporated.

While I am an advocate of PB, I just can’t hop on board with the membership prices here in New York City. A single class rings in at $34, and a new client special runs for $155 a month. After that, an unlimited month jumps up to $295!

So, for now, I guess I’ll pop in a few times a month to get my fix.

 

• Tabata Ultimate Fitness (CrossFit PH) (Prospect Heights, Brooklyn)

Phew! This one was killer. Craving a boot-camp style class, Scott and I signed up for a Total Body Tabata class put on by Tabata Ultimate Fitness. The class was led by Mike at CrossFit PH in Prospect Heights and kicked our booties. All over the place.

We started with a “warm-up” set of Tabatas with push-ups, sit-ups, and jump squats. We then completed three different rounds of bodyweight and weighted exercises including mountain climbers, burpees, box jumps, kettlebell swings, medicine ball slams, and more. We also ran 400 meters outside between each round of exercises (twice). Talk about an active recovery!

Both of us were pushing hard and barely made it through to the end without stopping. It was a big challenge, but it was awesome, and I left feeling like I could take on the world. I’ll be back when I’m ready for that high intensity sweat again.

A single session costs $25, and you can buy unlimited classes for a year for $100, which is a great value.

 

• Park Slope Yoga Center (Park Slope, Brooklyn)

After a hectic week, an hour of Basic Vinyasa sounded wonderful. Scott and I also took this one together, and we both really enjoyed it.

It was slow moving, but challenging with options to advance positions and exercises. The studio is like a breath of fresh air and reminded me of my old ballet studio in Maitland, Florida. It has a lot of natural sunlight, plants, and charm.

The majority of class took us through a series of asanas and transitions, and it ended with the challenge to try the crow pose and a brief meditation. You can purchase 10 classes for $150, which offers about the same value as my current ClassPass package.

 

• Bar Method – Brooklyn (Cobble Hill, Brooklyn)

I used my remaining classes at Bar Method Brooklyn. Believe it or not, this was my first time visiting The Bar Method! I was very impressed by how welcoming the staff was once I arrived. There were two studios (most barre studios have one), and I liked the light and airy design of the lobby and studio space.

I took a Mixed Level class which covers all levels, beginner to advanced. Just like most barre classes I’ve tried, it started with a warm-up with free-weight exercises, push-ups, moved into isometric leg and seat exercises at the bar, and then ended with ab exercises and stretching in the center.

Some things that stood out to me about The Bar Method was the use of equipment. Instead of each person using one mat, they were provided a mat and several risers to intensify or modify the movement. I’m not sure if this is common or not, but one of my classes had two instructors. One led class over the mic and the other went around the room to correct form the entire time. I actually really liked that, and I think it would be comforting for someone new to the style of workout.

Slightly more affordable than Pure Barre, The Bar Method charges $32 per class, offers a new client special for $109, and charges $260 for unlimited month memberships.

 

***

 

And just like that, my first 30 days were over!

I hope to be able to continue my membership and will be back with more thoughts and reviews of studios and gyms in the New York City area. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions on ClassPass or any of the studios I covered.

 

 

Questions of the Day

• Have you ever tried ClassPass?

• What are some of your very favorite studios or classes offered?

 

Have a great rest of the day!

 

While this is not a sponsored post, affiliate links are included. I chose to share my review of ClassPass and experiences at the studios and gyms I visited with my membership on my own in hopes to spike interest or benefit this audience. As always, all opinions are 100% mine.