It's no secret I love to workout. I run and spin at least five times a week. It keeps me sane, helps me sleep, and I'd like to think keeps me healthy. I always wish I had the time and money to try all the fun and cool fitness crazes constantly popping up in New York City. I've jumped on the SoulCycle bandwagon but beyond that and a few others here and there (Flywheel, Revolve, PedalNYC, Yoga to the People), I've never really ventured out into other fitness classes because of location, timing, and money.

These classes are located in all different neighborhoods around the city and there truly is so much to be offered.  Classes I am interested in range from yoga to pilates to crossfit to HIT training to other spin classes to all around body conditioning and so much more. The thing is, in New York City, many of these awesome 45-55 minute classes range anywhere from 20-40 dollars a class. To quench my curiosity into some of these classes on a budget, I recently I purchased something called the Classtivity Passport. This passport is $49 and in a 30 day period you can try out ten classes of your choice from their long list of boutique fitness gyms and clubs. Sounds awesome, right? Well it is! 

I actually purchased my passport in the spring of this year after hearing about it on Twitter. Once purchased, the passport has to be activated within 60 days. I knew I wanted to have optimal time to use it and get the most classes I could out of it so I had to time it perfectly. I knew price-wise it'd be worth buying it even if I only took like three classes, but I wanted to do all ten if possible. However as time went by, I began battling another UC flare-up. I wasn't able to work out or do anything physical, let alone my normal daily tasks, so I couldn't use my passport at the time I had originally planned. I reached out to Classtivity explaining my health issue (and upcoming vacation) and asking if they could extend my passport activation and they were beyond wonderful. The customer service rep was phenomenal and I was grateful to have the option to wait until I got healthy and back from Europe to use my passport. (Thankfully the steroids worked and my 7-week flare ended a week prior to heading abroad. Phew.)

The week I got back from Europe I was feeling fat and disgusting and was sooo beyond ready to try out some new classes on top of the marathon training I had to resume (and the spin classes I was teaching). I had to use my 10-class passport within 30 days of my first class and I was ready. Although I would miss a week of it being gone in Chicago, I figured I'd get in around five-seven classes. So I was off...using a passport for the second time this summer, but a way different one this time around. Below are the classes I took...

1) Aqua Spin. Aqua Studio NY. (TriBeCa, regularly $40 a class.) Aqua spin is apparently very big in Europe, but Aqua Studio is the only aqua spin studio in NYC. I was totally psyched for this class since I love regular spin and couldn't wait to try it. The studio has a pool with fifteen spin bikes in it. I wore my bathing suit (with a sports bra underneath for extra support, natch) and the studio provided special water shoes. The bikes have three resistances: light, medium, and heavy and of course there is the extra resistance from the water that makes the class so challenging. The class was 45 minutes long, had decent music, and a knowledgeable instructor. I didn't feel it was the workout I was looking for aerobically, but I liked that it was low impact and was really working my muscles. I actually felt it loosened them up and also kind of stretched them. Overall, I am really glad I took this class and got to experience aqua spin. I would give it another go; however, I think I am going to stick to regular spin for now on.

2) Signature FHIX. Fhitting Room. (UES, regularly $35 a class.) This small boutique gym opened up in my neighborhood a few months ago and I walked past it many times with my curiosity piqued. When I saw it on the passport list, I knew I had to take it. My mistake was taking it the same morning as a four mile run and teaching and participating in my own spin class. Needless to say, going into it, I was already exhausted. The smokin' hot, tatted up (who also had perfect teach) instructor definitely got my energy level up again but this class was hard. But in a good way!! Whenever I think I am in great shape, I take a class that has to do with upper body strength (TRX, free weights, push-ups, etc...) and I am completely shocked with how little I have. Ugh. This class was basically a bunch of interval training with circuits, hence the HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training). The 55 minute workout was comprised of a warm up, group circuits (I was paired with two other girls and we took turns doing different exercises (TRX, rowing machine, squats) for timed intervals), some free weights/calisthenics/abs, and a cool down. I loved it! I just wish I was stronger. But I guess the only way to build this strength is to continue taking these classes. I think this may be a place where even though the classes are expensive, I may buy a package in the future because of its close proximity to my apartment and the high intensity of the class. Doing this is still cheaper than a personal trainer and is more intense. Oh, and did I already mention how hot the instructor was?!

3) Uplifting Cardio. Uplift Studios. (Flatiron, regularly $32 a class.) Located in Flatiron, this women-only gym has numerous class offerings. I took the cardio class in place of my morning run. The class I took was just me and another girl and our instructor, who was wonderful. The class was cardio circuits with strength training in between. Everything was timed out perfectly and it was definitely challenging. There were jumping jacks, high knees, lunges, burpees, sprints, squats, pushups, sit-ups, planks, etc... So basically, this class covered a lot in a 55 minute period and I worked up a really good sweat. If this place was more convenient, I would probably buy a package and attend regularly. I enjoyed the class and walked out having had a good workout (and once again reminded I have zero upper body strength).

4) Run + Yoga. Fitness Runs. (Classes in outdoor spaces all over the city, regularly $28 a class.) My first attempt at taking this class was a bust. It was raining and there was a miscommunication about the meeting location so I trekked all the way to the west side for nothing. After an email to Classtivity (who once again had phenomenal customer service!!), who then reached out Fitness Runs, I received a text from the head of Fitness Runs apologizing and offering me free classes in the future if I give them another chance. Of course I would give them another chance and I am glad I did because I did really enjoy the class on my second attempt. The class met at 70th and Riverside on the pier. Unfortunately, it was drizzling so we had to go under the highway which was also fine. Out of their control. This 60 minute class consisted of a half hour of running and a half hour of yoga/stretching. The running part started with a warm-up and then there were running intervals. At about an 80 yard distance, seven times, we jogged down the 80 yards, then sprinted back. Between each interval, we then did a one minute strengthening exercise like lunges, squats, burpees, jumping jacks, etc... This was exhausting yet enjoyable. Something different for me as far as running goes. After the seven intervals, we then did something call Tabata training where for four minutes, of 20 seconds on, 10 seconds off, we did four different high intensity exercises twice. The four minutes flew by surprisingly and then it was time to get our yoga on. We did this on the grass and I really loved this part. I realized how much I really need to add stretching to my daily agenda and how important it is for my body. Last summer I took yoga once a week and thoroughly enjoyed it but once work started, I had no time for it along with my running. This class made me realized I need to incorporate yoga and stretching into my routine and make it more of a priority.

Fitness runs has quite a few outdoor locations in the city depending on the day except all of them are inconvenient for me. Although it was a great workout, its really hard for me to make them based on where they are. I will probably go back and use my free ones once marathon training is over and I can go on a weekend when I have more time.

5) Beginning/Intermediate Yoga. ISHTA Yoga. (Upper East Side. Regularly $30 a class.) Since my legs were really sore and tired from running and I was still in a yoga mood from my last class, I wanted to take another yoga class and this one fit my schedule and was decently close to my apt. The studio was small in a good way and the class wasn't full either which was great. Right away the instructor introduced herself and asked me if I had any injuries or anything she should know about. I told her I'm one of the most inflexible people on the planet and that my leg muscles were very tight. Throughout the class she helped me adjust with poses and pointed things out for me that might help me out. The class was a great stretch and relaxation for me and challenging at the same time for some of the positions. Toward the end of class, it was time to lay on our back, close our eyes and just meditate. I was actually able for a few minutes to clear my mind. It kept wandering back to things but I would try to push it out of my head for that time. When class ended I felt very energized and my mind was clear. I felt an aura of positivity that I loved having. I really need to add more yoga to my life for both the mind and the body. Even if it makes me chill out for like three minutes of the hour class, that's three minutes more than usual in my day and every little bit helps.

The experience of trying out each one of these workouts was pretty great. Although I didn't get to take all 10 classes, I still feel I did get my money's worth and got to try some new workouts which is always fun. I wish I had had more time to use my passport but with my UC flare and then vacation and then work starting up, it was just too much and my schedule was already packed. However, as you can see, if I had taken each one of these classes individually, it would have cost a fortune so taking the five that I did take definitely paid for themselves anyway. Using the passport made it easy to try each one out and see what works for me. I may actually buy package or two from one of these studios to get more strength training and stretching in my life. This Classtivity passport was excellent and I would most def recommend it to any of my friends. Go on and get your passport to fitness.