It may be too late to get a bikini body this summer, but it’s still a great time to join a gym.
That’s because many fitness clubs and classes waive sign-up fees, offer discounted sweat sessions and even throw in the first month free to lure in new customers during the sluggish summer months when people are more likely to exercise outside or go on vacation.
As opposed to peak sign-up season in December and January pegged to the glut of New Year’s health resolutions, which is also a prime time to find discounts, new memberships hit a low point from June through August, according to International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association research. So now the ball is in the customer’s court.
“Since gyms are getting very few new signups, you’ll be in a great position to negotiate your membership,” Benjamin Glaser, features editor of DealNews, told Moneyish, who suggested leveraging your student ID, workplace affiliation or health insurance provider to get an additional discount.
“If you can’t haggle down the price, at least try to get freebies like training sessions,” he added. And consider only joining gyms with month-to-month contracts, or that allow you to pay per visit, which provides more flexibility and helps avoid the lump-sum bills you can get with an automatic membership renewal.
Moneyish reached out to several national fitness chains and pulled six sizzling August gym specials.
Crunch Fitness
This chain is slashing its $159.99 enrollment fee by up to 75 percent (so you pay just $40 to sign up) at signature locations (which feature more classes, yoga and cycling studios, saunas and steam rooms,) with the month of August free (memberships are normally $79 to $119 a month.) But signing up at some lower price clubs (which still feature plenty of classes and equipment, but just fewer bells and whistles) could see enrollment for as low as $1 to $10, with August free. And all guests can get a free five-day pass to try the club and see if it’s a good fit.
New York Sports Clubs (NYSC)
Join this family of local gyms for just $5 during August (it’s normally $99.) Regular membership prices remain the same; $44.99 for a month-to-month membership, or $89.99 for a month-to-month passport membership to access all sports clubs. You can save an extra $10 per month by signing a one-year commitment. Perks include gym and locker room access (some with steam rooms,) small group training, babysitting and indoor pools at select locations.
New York Health & Racquet Club
Only pay half the initiation fee (normally $200 to $300) when signing up in August – as long as you’re a first-timer, this isn’t a student or corporate membership and you’re not a Pan Am or Monoco affiliate. Or join in-person at a gym (not online) by Aug ust 16 and tag @NYHRC on Instagram to get 80 percent off the initiation fee – so you could be joining for just $40. Perks include four one-day guest passes for friends, an hour-long personal training session and access to pools, racquetball courts and laundry services
Body Space Fitness
Book a month of semi-private coaching classes – so just you and one other client getting the trainer’s undivided attention – for 10 percent off during their summer sale. That shakes out to the once-a-week package for $340.20 (usually $378) for four weeks, or twice a week for $650.70 (usually $723,) or one month of unlimited group sessions for $275 (usually $440.)
Flex Studios
The boutique NYC gym at Union Square and Noho offers individual classes for $25 throughout August (normally $38 apiece) with no commitment necessary. Normally class packs are five classes for $180 ($36 per class,) 10 for $340 ($34 per class,) 20 classes for $600 ($30 per class) or one month unlimited $375 – so the summer special is even cheaper than the bundles.
Physique 57
The fitness studio also streams more than 80 barre, strength training and cardio classes, as well as restorative workouts, that you can do in your own home for $30 a month, with a free one-week trial. But in August, enjoy a free month-long trial and a limited $19.95 per month offer.