What type of person would go to a fancy (and expensive) gym?

[Anonymous]

I paid $179 monthly for just pure barre so I would totally join. Health and fitness are really important to me. I love yoga, barre, Pilates, running, and lifting weights. I’d hope and expect they have top notch instructors. I’m not rich. Federal attorney and non-profit household. No cleaning service (I wish) and kids will be attending public school. We drive Hondas.

[Anonymous]

I joined Lifetime because they had a decent child drop off area and an indoor pool that I could take the kids to. I would never have spent that kind of money on a gym otherwise.

I SAH and was desperate to get some regular workout time in. I loved Lifetime but went to a much less expensive gym once the kids got older because I wasn't taking advantage of the classes, indoor pool and other amenities like I thought I might.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I visit boutique fitness studios (I.e. soul cycle, pure barre, solid core) from time to time when they offer free classes or special deals and am fascinated by how many women in their 20s pay $150+/month for memberships. I say this as a married woman in my 20s with a pretty decent HHI.

When has a SoulCycle ever given away a free class other than for your birthday?

Not PP, but I was offered a free class after taking 3 and not returning for a few weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The same people who pay 30 Dollars or more for a single class. I am amazed at how many young people, who claim to be financially strapped, pay for individual classes. To them this gym woukd be cheap.

They’re not the same crowds.

I am most likely on the lower income level for my gym. I pay because its super convenient, I love the classes, and I actually use it 3-4 times/week as a result. The membership is much more economical as a result. I also belong to a cheaper gym ($10/monthly) that I rarely use.

I really don’t care for the pricing, but its sadly the norm in this area now.

[Anonymous]

150-200 for a nice setting and unlimited classes that work for you is reasonable if you can afford it and have the time for the classes. I pay similar for unlimited classes only (dance).

Is there an Arlington gym with a good steam room/ sauna / jacuzzi and a good array of classes?

[Anonymous]

When I was a SAHM with young kids I went to Lifetime because it was the only way I could get a work-out during the day, and I prioritize staying in shape. It also provides a great childcare service so the price is a great deal compared to hiring an individual babysitter all the time. (At that location you could leave your kids there for 2-3 hours while you left the facility). It's also a great place to go with kids when the weather is bad and you can't play outside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I visit boutique fitness studios (I.e. soul cycle, pure barre, solid core) from time to time when they offer free classes or special deals and am fascinated by how many women in their 20s pay $150+/month for memberships. I say this as a married woman in my 20s with a pretty decent HHI.

When has a SoulCycle ever given away a free class other than for your birthday?

Not PP, but I was offered a free class after taking 3 and not returning for a few weeks.

Also not PP but Soul Cycle gave away classes to everyone in my office when they first opened in my building. For like a month.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A person whose job pays for it as a perk.

At my first DC job, I wasn't paid well but the job paid for gym memberships.

[Anonymous]

I would pay if I were still a DINK and could go daily. The only walking distance gym to my DC apt is over $100 a month and has very limited equipment/classes.

[Anonymous]

Lifetime is wonderful. Especially when you have young kids- excellent childcare and lots of kid activities, indoor pool, etc. and Orange Theiry is $160 a month so paying $180 for equinox doesn’t seem absurd to me at all. But yes, they’re all a far cry from my basement bro gym that was $20.00 a month 30 years ago.

[Anonymous]

I go to lifetime in rockville and it's $150 for me and my husband, which works out to $75 each per month, and we both go to the gym 4-5 times a week. I consider it a huge bargain. I take 5-6 classes a week, combining spinning, yoga and weight training,and he uses the weight floor. If I were to go take all those classes at various boutique gyms, I'd be spending $150 a week. We thought about joining orange theory but I would want to do an unlimited month pass which would cost me $150 just for my classes, and isn't worth it IMO. If you use the gym, $150 is a bargain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I visit boutique fitness studios (I.e. soul cycle, pure barre, solid core) from time to time when they offer free classes or special deals and am fascinated by how many women in their 20s pay $150+/month for memberships. I say this as a married woman in my 20s with a pretty decent HHI.

Soul doesn’t offer memberships.

I don’t think this person really went to SoulCycle

maybe PP meant package and not membership. It's really just semantics.

you can buy different "packages" that offer a specific number of classes each month, that you can set to renew every month...which is how a membership works too.

Yeah, that’s not how Soul works. Why do people who don’t know keep claiming that they do?

Do you know how it works? You can buy classes in advance, in bulk, for a discount.

[Anonymous]

DINKs with high HHI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would pay if I were still a DINK and could go daily. The only walking distance gym to my DC apt is over $100 a month and has very limited equipment/classes.

Same here, except I'd do it with a yoga studio. Before we had kids, I did yoga every day after work. Now I don't have time and we need to be putting that money towards preschool and college savings. Luckily yoga is something I can do at home, and we have a Peloton for cardio.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DINKs with high HHI.

Or just high HHI ... my parents have had an Equinox membership in Manhattan for years, including when my sister and I were still at home (or in college and they were paying our tuitions).