Gyms are awesome and yoga studios are calming, but they can be really expensive. Some gyms even charge another few dollars for classes on top of membership fees. Staying fit is a money saver, but it can cost a lot to keep it up. Below are some places to look in your town for free fitness classes.
Check out your local library. This surprised me too, but libraries are home to community gatherings. These big spaces are perfect to host a yoga class, step class and even kick-boxing. Like all library services, these classes are free. In Washington, D.C., local yoga instructor Heather Ferris has a close relationship with Petworth Library, and comes in weekly to offer classes.
Eric Riley, a supervisor at the library, says, “Heather lives in the neighborhood and was looking for a way to connect her passion for yoga with the local community. So she came to us right away and pitched the idea to us. At the time it was a little unconventional, but we’re big on pushing unconventional programming here. Now, there are several locations that are doing free yoga programs around the city.”
A quick google search finds that libraries across the country are offering free fitness classes. The Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library in Pennsylvania offer residents free community yoga classes Monday nights. The West Covina Library in Los Angeles offers free Zumba classes weekly. San Marcos Public Library in Texas hosts regular yoga classes. If your immediate library doesn’t have classes, consider checking out a library in a town nearby.
Niketown, Lululemon, and other athletic stores often partner with a local athlete, trainer or brand ambassador. These people lead free fitness classes in the store or at a nearby public location. The Lulemon in Palo Alto offers weekly Sunrise Sunday yoga sessions. The Lululemon in South Miami hosts special guests teaching barre classes and crossfit. Check out your local Lululemon for free classes and special events. Running stores often sponsor free run clubs that gather at the store, then go out for runs. This isn’t just for competitive runners; a lot of run clubs are simply people that enjoy the sport. You might not need a class to show you how to run, but it sure is fun to do it with someone else. A bonus is that you also are “in” at the store on new products, club member deals and discounts.
Don’t forget about the YMCA, your community pool, or community center. Community pools are often free and likely to offer water aerobics.
Also, a lot of gyms offer free trials before you have to sign up for a membership. If you live in a large town, you could hop from one gym to another and try out classes before you purchase a membership.
As we enter spring, many people are thinking about ways to be more active and get fit, but that doesn’t mean spending a lot of money. Live well for less by trying one of the above ideas for a motivating fitness class.
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Rose Overbey
Rose Overbey worked her way up at a boutique public relations firm in Washington, D.C., from junior writer to director of business development. She's worked with national brands and on executive-level ghostwriting projects. In mid-2012, she acted on an urge to pursue a career in teaching and now teaches kindergarten at a Title 1 school in the District of Columbia. Despite the career switch, Rose still freelances regularly. Rose has also been published in The Washington Post. She loves to take advantage of all the good deals the D.C. area has to offer — and refuses to pay full price for anything. She owns and operates Washington D.C. On The Cheap.
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