She Strengthens

Prioritizing Health and Wellness on a Budget

As a young professional, I’ve learned to prioritize my health and wellness. After gaining weight in college, I made a conscious effort to eat nutritious food and exercise regularly. This journey transformed me into a wellness enthusiast, always seeking new knowledge and experiences. I devour books on the topic, from informative guides like “Why We Get Fat” to satirical fiction like “Fitness Junkie”.

The Challenge of Affordable Fitness in a New City

After relocating to Washington D.C., I faced a new challenge: finding affordable workout classes and gym memberships. My apartment’s small gym was a far cry from the spacious facilities I was used to in college. To stay motivated, I knew I needed to mix up my routine with group classes. However, I was concerned about the high costs of fitness classes in this expensive city.

5 Strategies for Affordable Fitness

To overcome this hurdle, I developed some clever strategies to afford gym classes and memberships:

1. Leverage Discounts: Ask about corporate discounts, student rates, or special promotions. My roommate scored a discount at a nearby gym simply by mentioning her employer.

2. Groupon Deals: I snagged a hot yoga deal for under $5 per class, which I can use over two months. This adds variety to my routine and helps me stretch out from desk work.

3. Check Your Benefits: My company offers a wellness subsidy, covering part of my fitness expenses. Be sure to review your employee benefits package for similar perks.

4. Referral Codes: Ask friends about referral discounts at their favorite studios or gyms. I got $40 off my first Classpass month using a friend’s code.

5. Free Trials: Take advantage of new student specials or free trials at studios and gyms. I’ve got a list of deals to try, including unlimited yoga for $25 or a three-day free trial at a gym.

Putting it into Practice

Here’s how I’ve applied these strategies:

• I started with a Groupon for hot yoga, paying $4.60 per class.
• To mix things up, I got Classpass using a referral code and my work discount, paying just $1.50 per class.
• I’m trying out new studios with free trials and “first-time student” deals, which will last me through the spring.
• I regularly check Groupon for fresh deals and hope to find a studio I love that fits my budget.

Final Tip

Even if you’ve been to a studio before, if you haven’t visited in over a year, you can try again as a “new student” and snag those introductory deals.

By following these tips, you can find an exercise you love without breaking the bank. Happy sweating!