Maintaining your health is very important and there’s no experience quite like going to the gym. Whether you love or hate the gym, the experience itself is unique. Being surrounded by people who have similar fitness goals as you, all the equipment you could ever want or need, and the resources and help from staff members and trainers can really motivate to stay healthy, fit and see real results.
The real secret is that you can actually enjoy the benefits of the gym for free or an extremely low rate. I couldn’t find the motivation to work out from home even though I had every resource and tool known to man available to me. I recently signed up for a membership at my local park district that’s about 2 miles away from my house for only $36 per month. Affordable gym memberships like that are definitely worth it in my opinion. Not all gym memberships are free or cheap, but there are a few ways around those costs.
Visit the Gym on Free Days or Sign Up for Trials
Privately-owned facilities or new gyms often have free classes or days when the fitness center and group classes are free to the general public. The YMCA is known to host free group fitness weeks during the fall in most areas.
If there’s a new gym opening in your area, attend their free fitness days or you could even sign up for 30-day free trials at a few gyms in your neighborhood to see which location you like best.
Utilize Your Student Discount
If you’re a student, you can get a gym membership for an extremely discounted rate. You may need to verify your enrollment by showing your current schedule or some other documentation, but it will allow you to exercise at the facility for a fraction of what other people will have to pay.
Some college campuses even have a fitness center on-site that enrolled students can utilize free of charge. College is expensive enough, and this was something I definitely took advantage of to get more bang for my buck while I was in school.
Become a Group Fitness Instructor
If you love attending group classes, consider becoming a fitness instructor. Fitness instructors often receive free or reduced gym memberships and you don’t have to teach an advanced class. Zumba classes are very popular and easy to teach because it’s all about moving and having fun; there’s no such thing as a dance expert at a Zumba class.
To become a fitness instructor, you may have to undergo some training and pay a small fee to become certified. Then, you’ll be able to score free workouts during the classes you teach.
Redeem a Coupon or Discount
Tons of gyms and fitness centers offer coupons or discounts on memberships in the hopes of getting more people in the door to use their facility. Some deals may even allow you to receive a monthly membership for up to 50% off or more.
To secure coupons and discounts that will lower your gym membership rate, start by checking out email offers you receive along with offers or coupons you may get in the mail. You can also do a direct search online for local gym membership offers and discounts. LocalSaver rounds up coupons for hundreds of offers along with some of the best gyms in your area. This makes it very easy to search for discounts online and save money on exercising at the gym each month.
Join a Running or Physical Training Program
If you are sign up for a triathlon, running program or even a 5k, you may qualify for a free or reduced gym membership to utilize during the time you train. The YMCA is known to partner up with coaches, trainers and community groups to offer membership incentives to the participants of various different training programs.
If you’re in a physical training program, it’s definitely worth a shot and allows you to get more for your money.
Do you favor having a gym membership or working out at home? If you have a membership, do you ever try to get a discount on the rate?