I'm the PP who is at Lifetime now. I used to go to that location when it was Washington Sports Club and I haaaated the parking garage. It was a particularly awful one with pillars everywhere so it was hard to maneuver. I also hated being on the validation clock when I was at the gym. You were always in and out with a pay garage. Not having to think about the parking clock means I work out longer.

When I belonged to cheaper gyms I always supplemented with boutiquey places or Class Pass, which OP mentioned doing. To make it affordable you would really have to do something like OneLife. In the past you used to be able to get a free class trial here or there and if you bounced around enough you could cobble together a problem but I think those days are in the past.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a member at St. James and absolutely love the classes there. The Athletic Grit and Infantry camp classes are great circuits with motivating and fun coaches. I also really like the Beyond Strength classes, particularly those by Jenn Blackburn. She really pushes you but she also times her moves so you aren't rushing or too slow and she offers up a lot of advice on strength AND on staying healthy otherwise. I also really like the treadmill classes -- great way to keep cardio somewhat interesting. Alex and Chad are my two other favorite coaches.

I pay $140/month but there are definitely deals offered often. Follow Jenn on Instagram, she sometimes is able to finagle a much lower Friends & Family rate.

How is parking? Do you park in the PetSmart underground lot? Do they validate parking cost?

NP, also a member. Parking isn’t great. I park in the underground lot, which they validate. But parking is tight and they seem to be turning more spaces over into reserved spots. Went two days ago during lunch and almost gave up on finding a space.

Anonymous wrote:I am a member at St. James and absolutely love the classes there. The Athletic Grit and Infantry camp classes are great circuits with motivating and fun coaches. I also really like the Beyond Strength classes, particularly those by Jenn Blackburn. She really pushes you but she also times her moves so you aren't rushing or too slow and she offers up a lot of advice on strength AND on staying healthy otherwise. I also really like the treadmill classes -- great way to keep cardio somewhat interesting. Alex and Chad are my two other favorite coaches.

I pay $140/month but there are definitely deals offered often. Follow Jenn on Instagram, she sometimes is able to finagle a much lower Friends & Family rate.

How is parking? Do you park in the PetSmart underground lot? Do they validate parking cost?

I pay $210 at Equinox and think the classes are great. Jason Vanderpool is the director of group fitness and his classes are the best. He really looks at everyone to make sure they are doing the exercises safely. I do boxing, Stronger, Athletic Conditioning, Stacked (a weights class), Tabata Max, TRX, yoga and soundbath classes. There are also treadmill classes, spin, water aerobics and pilates and barre classes. The yoga classes aren't as good as the ones at PureFire, but a couple of their instructors: Nicole and Lana, are at Equinox too. Lisa Ai and Sun Kim, who are yoga instructors at CorePower, are regulars at Equinox. I love the amenities at Equinox, like the steam room, pool, and sound bath meditations, which are so relaxing. They have cold scented towels and regular towels for classes and lots of products in the locker room area. The only things I wish they had are a hot tub and cold plunge.

Anonymous wrote:I'm a member of Lifetime Potomac and suggest you look there if classes are your jam. I periodically think about changing to another gym to shake up my routine but nobody can beat the number of classes at Lifetime. I have looked at the schedules at both places recently and was surprised how thin they looked. Plus free parking.

Second this.

I'm a member of Lifetime Potomac and suggest you look there if classes are your jam. I periodically think about changing to another gym to shake up my routine but nobody can beat the number of classes at Lifetime. I have looked at the schedules at both places recently and was surprised how thin they looked. Plus free parking.

I am a member at St. James and absolutely love the classes there. The Athletic Grit and Infantry camp classes are great circuits with motivating and fun coaches. I also really like the Beyond Strength classes, particularly those by Jenn Blackburn. She really pushes you but she also times her moves so you aren't rushing or too slow and she offers up a lot of advice on strength AND on staying healthy otherwise. I also really like the treadmill classes -- great way to keep cardio somewhat interesting. Alex and Chad are my two other favorite coaches.

I pay $140/month but there are definitely deals offered often. Follow Jenn on Instagram, she sometimes is able to finagle a much lower Friends & Family rate.

How is the class quality at these two gyms? Trying to figure out if it makes more sense to pay the monthly rate (any latest on the cost of that?) for one of these gyms versus bopping around to different speciality studios. I am planning on visiting both but thought I’d check for feedback specifically on classes…and how much the monthly rates vary if anyone has that info. TIA!