Welcome, welcome! Here’s your weekly blurb from me. Let’s do it…
Anyone who knows me knows that I’ll never pass up anything that’s free. So, when I saw someone promoting a two-week free trial for ClassPass on Instagram, I had to sign up, of course. ClassPass is not new, as it’s been around since 2013. If you don’t know what it is, it’s essentially a fitness/wellness booking company that allows users to attend various fitness classes, gyms, spas, and salons without having to invest in a membership to one specific location.
I’ve never actually attended a fitness class before this trial. The last time I worked out in a group setting was in my freshman year dance class, if that counts. Even though that was a fair experience, I’ve never felt inclined to sign up for a group class. Part of it is due to finances. The other is anxiety. Already, gyms make me feel a little weird. I’ve gotten better at not caring about how people perceive me there. Still, I like to stay away from certain spots, like the heavyweight area with the tsunami of gym bros and their soundscape of metal clangs and exaggerated grunts.
Because I graduated, I lost my free membership to the university gym. So for the last few weeks, I’ve switched to working out in my room or going to the track. But it’s been too damn cold outside and too snowy on the track. With ClassPass, I got the chance to get out of my apartment and be in a warm space for free, so why not try?
Here’s what I learned:
I don’t like workout classes.
Yes, I tried a few classes, and I didn’t enjoy them that much. Sorry if you enjoy workout classes, but sometimes things just don’t work out that way, and that’s okay.
There was nothing wrong with these classes. For the most part, the staff was friendly, the energy was welcoming, and the exercise was effective (I rated them all at least four stars). I tried classes like hot pilates, HIIT strength training, reformer/Cadillac pilates, and a modern dance class. All of which I have never tried before. I surprised myself with how much I could keep up, but I made modifications for certain moves.
I left each class with my heart racing and my forehead sweaty, yet I still walked out the door feeling a little eh. Usually, I like working out. I try to do so about four times a week. So, it’s not really like my body needs to adjust to this new level of movement or something. I just didn’t come out of these classes with the same satisfaction that I do when I work out alone.
I thought about this after the first class, and I continued to sign up for more to see if my mind would change. I came into every class open-minded, but my thoughts wouldn’t budge. I started thinking.
using your intuition
We’re talking more about intuitive eating, the act of honoring cravings and hunger and eating until mentally and physically satisfied. Though I’m not sure we talk enough about intuitive exercise.
The definition is similar to that of intuitive eating. According to an article from Behavior Sciences, it “involves listening to physical cues (e.g., pain, soreness, fatigue) instead of forcing oneself to follow rigid exercise routines regardless of injury or sickness.” That means listening to your body to find out what kind of movement it wants. Maybe you feel like boxing out some anger, taking a stroll outside, or dancing. Maybe you just want to skip the workout entirely and rot in bed. You don’t have to “go hard” every day.
I struggled the most in the HIIT workout class, having to make a lot of modifications or slow down. When I went on President’s Day Monday, the instructor said that she teaches this class six times a week with the same members coming every day. “Today is Monday," she said to all the newcomers, including myself. “By this Sunday, you’re going to be killing this workout.” She lost me at that point. I couldn’t fathom doing this type of workout for six days out of the week.
I came out of these workout classes unsatisfied. But my satisfaction had nothing to do with the intensity of the workout but with my enjoyment of the class and the workout itself. It wasn’t the workout that my body wanted to do.
We live in a time where we can’t sit still. “Hustle culture” has infiltrated our lives. Apple Watches continue to send reminders to close your rings, and we get rewarded with badges when we do. Relaxation doesn’t feel as linked to luxury as it does to laziness.
This doesn’t apply to exercising alone. I know that for me and many others, social media gives us a sense of FOMO. Influencers or general users will pop up on my TikTok for-you page, posting videos and slideshows of new spots that they tried around the city. They say things like “you have to go” or label something as a “must.” This is all hyperbolic language, but I think it’s okay to be reminded that you don’t have to go to all of these places to enjoy yourself. If you can’t go now, maybe you can go later. But you’re not missing out on anything. That’s something I’m constantly having to remind myself of, too.
Is it still worth a try? Yes!
Workout classes can be great and motivational for a lot of people! In their 2023 Look Back Report, ClassPass reported a 64% increase in the number of fitness reservations from 2022. A 2019 study found that people who work out in groups are more likely to have better mental health and physical activity sufficiency than those who work out alone. So, it’s definitely working for a lot of people, but it’s not working for me (and I doubt I'm the only one).
I like going at my own speed. I like that I can rewind and pause my at-home workout videos. I love working out, but I also like taking rest days when I want/need them. Sometimes, I’ll start a workout and quit after five minutes because my body’s just not feeling it. I follow my gut and my intuition. Plus, working out alone allows me to process my thoughts and relieve stress. I can’t really do that if I’m trying to follow an instructor and keep up with the class.
This workout routine that I’ve built works for me. Even though that 2019 study says otherwise, I think my mental health and my workouts are better when I work out alone. That mentality to take rest when you need it, though, is not being as normalized as it should.
That’s the great thing about free trials—they’re just trials! You get to try and have the option to cancel or sign up. I’m glad that I, at least, tried something that I probably never would’ve done otherwise.
In general, take time to figure out what works for you. But not everything new that you try has to become your new favorite thing. It’s okay to try something and dislike it. It’s okay to go at your own pace.