My lifetime is $100/month. It’s honestly very expensive for us. I do get a little discount through work, but I go bc it’s the only gym I’ve felt comfortable at and motivated to go to. I prefer group classes, and if I joined a Yoga studio or something, it would be more expensive. I also like their daycare. We are middle class.

Who really cares? People spend money on different things and have different priorities. Why does it matter?

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

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?

Lifetime was great when the kids were little. I could put them in childcare (great staff, fun things for kids of all ages to do, and clean) while DH and I worked out, swam, got haircuts, and had lunch (not all of the same day - there is a 2hr max per day for child care.)

The outdoor pool was great in the summer - and indoor in the winter.

The kids went to camp there through elementary school and even with the monthly fee, it was cheaper than most camps. The kids loved it and it was many of the same counselors year after year.

Now that the kids are in HS and involved in so many sports and activities, we are considerng going to a gym that is closer to home for 1/4 of the cost. We don't need childcare, camps, etc and it doesn't make sense to pay $$$ for a gym.

Rich SAHMs with elementary-or-older kids who take lots of classes.

I used to belong to a higher-end gym in Chinatown because of the pool. (It was one of those single person swim-against-the-tide machines.) But I didn't have a locker, I just brought a lock every time.

The big splurge is the permanent locker and the classes/trainers, not general access to even a really nice gym.

At the lifetime near me I see mostly affluent young families with toddlers. I think the parents work out, do classes, swim, and then everybody eats lunch together in the cafe. It is probably not a terrible value if you go every weekend as your big activity.

Is there a lifetime or similar in Arlington?

It depends how often you go. It's not going to be worth it for a casual gym goer, but if you go to a facility more days than not, I can absolutely see how people pay such fees (I don't, because there isn't a facility near me and convenience trumps all).

For a lot of people, their fitness isn't just about physical health, but mental/emotional, and can be a form of therapy. So in that sense, it's a hell of a lot cheaper.

We are not rich- but spend $200 a month for a family gym membership. Why? I like clean & orderly gyms. We tried the ymca ect. But it’s always run down & scuzzy. I’m also a class person. I was shelling out $98 for a yoga studio. Once I discovered lifetime classes are great- I was sold. M

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'm a member of two gyms- one fancy and expensive (studio), and one not. The kind of person I am: woman, late 30s, high HHI professional, mom, favorite hobby is exercise.

There IS a difference between high and and mainstream gyms, especially if you go to classes. After experiencing a fancy studio class, I can't go to a class at my regular gym because the experience is too disappointing. The main difference is that studios dont waste your time. They start on time, have an aggressive schedule to get through the scheduled routine, have top notch and varied equipment, and create an environment in which you can maximize your time. And the staff is very focused on being effective and efficient. As a busy mom and professional, I need to know that hour I am there will kick my a$$. I go my regular gym only to run or lift weights.

Anonymous wrote:How much is a family membership to Lifetime?

When I looked into it a couple years ago it was around $200 for me and 2 kids. I didn’t even include DH in the quote. I’m assuming that would be another 100 or so. I am tempted every summer to do that instead of the summer pool though. I’m the PP and it financially makes sense but we rarely go to the pool. I’m not sure we would go there either.

The majority of people in our neighborhood except us and a couple of others go to that one in Reston. Many are SAHMs and drop the preschoolers off for the classes and care while they workout. Others work and go before or after. Many join because it is less expensive in the summer than the local pool membership for their families.

How much is a family membership to Lifetime?