For those who may be unfamiliar with ClassPass, it’s an innovative fitness membership that enables you to take classes at different studios around town for one fixed monthly rate – $99, in most cities. The classes range from bootcamp to barre, yoga to rock climbing, and just about everything in between. Since I was in the middle of rethinking my entire training plan {more on that later}, I decided to give it a go, and was given a free two week trial to start out {Pro tip: message ClassPass through the contact portion of their site to see if free trials are still active in your area, or try registering from this link}. Right now, the Flex option, which lets you use ClassPass in other cities when you’re traveling, is still included free – a HUGE perk for a frequent traveler! In two weeks, I completed 6 workouts at 6 studios using ClassPass. Then I cancelled. Part of the issue was just me and what I wanted, and part seemed to be caused by ClassPass growing too fast to maintain good quality control.
As a self-proclaimed gym rat, I liked that ClassPass seemed to offer many strength-based options. In Dallas, and a few other cities I searched through, there are crossfit gyms, kettlebell studios, and standard gyms – Golds, for example – that you can go to classes at or use for open gym time. {I should have taken advantage of the “gym time” options, but didn’t during my trial.} A few of the studios I tried provided amazing workouts, albeit many were more cardio than weight-based, contrary to the description. Still, they didn’t have quite enough for me, especially when I’m limited to only three sessions per studio, per month. If you’re looking for cardio, yoga, and barre classes, then ClassPass is definitely a cost effective way to get in a lot of different workouts each month.
My reason for cancelling had less to do with the class options than it did with the quality control issues. ClassPass has expanded rapidly over the last year, going nationwide with 20 cities in January 2015 and now offering memberships in 31 cities across North America and an option in London. With that has come a slight degradation in quality control. When I sign up for a barbells class, it’s mildly disappointing to arrive and find out it’s actually yoga at a CrossGit gym. When I sign up for a class at 6am on a Monday, I expect the instructor to show up. The CrossFit instructor later told me, “No one ever signs up for this through ClassPass. I didn’t realize the time was wrong on the app.” As for the gym that never opened, I sent them an email to see whether I could come try the class at another time {it sounded really interesting!}. No response. I did notice they’re no longer an active studio on ClassPass, though.
Would I do it again? Maybe when my travel picks up again. It’s a relatively inexpensive option, even if you’re just using it for the “free gym” time in different cities. And, it did have the added benefit of introducing me to a few studios that I’ll definitely be dropping in at again.
THE WINNERS
Psycho Gym Deep Ellum. Those guys don’t kid around. It was 60 minutes of non-stop physical exertion – burpees, ab work, farmers carries, kettle bell swings, rowing. My whole body was sore for days!
Crowbar Cardio. I’ve taken an IndoRow class in Boston before and loved it. Crowbar didn’t disappoint. If you want to learn proper rowing form, this is the class to go to! I’ve also heard great things about their Tsunami class, that mixes rowing with barre and bootcamp circuits.
Beyond500 Henderson. Self propelled treadmills. One of the coolest machines I’ve ever been on. Plus, they mix in some Pilates and kettlebell movements into their signature class for a full body burn. A little more cardio than strength, but a great workout regardless.
ClassPass Favorites