Young & Savvy: Finding unexpected joy in low-cost exercises
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As fitness trends come and go, finding the type of workout that suits one’s lifestyle, preference and body type is what matters most.
ST ILLUSTRATION: MANNY FRANCISCO
SINGAPORE - Some years ago, setting my phone alarm at night to book a spin class with my favourite instructor became a daily affair.
Then came the daily checking of e-mails and the booking app to make sure my “waiting list” status had changed to a seat number. That meant I’d successfully booked a spot in the class. The cycle repeated itself for weeks.
To save costs, I opted for off-peak class packages that started before work hours, such as the 7am slots. These cost $18 per class, a more budget-friendly option compared with weekend or weeknight ones that cost more than $30. Still, even buying only on discounts, I was spending hundreds of dollars on these packages.
But it was worth it, I thought. The studio became my happy place, and I remember looking forward to the funky music, adrenaline and being part of a community.
Over time, I stopped going for spin classes and rejoined ClassPass, an app that allows people to subscribe and buy credits to gym-hop. I had previously cancelled my subscription of it after deciding to commit to the spin studio, but now, exploring and trying out different gyms and types of workouts with friends – from reformer pilates to barre to boxing – was fun and refreshing.
That was until I started struggling to finish the credits I had subscribed to monthly.
What I failed to realise then was that my lifestyle and work schedules had changed, and the commutes and fixed timings of classes were no longer suitable.
Meanwhile, the subscription service continued to renew automatically monthly, and I often felt a familiar pang of frustration when the renewal deadline neared. Why couldn’t I be more disciplined with my workouts this month? Why am I spending more money on classes I couldn’t make time for?
I felt compelled to “downgrade” to fewer credits or cancel the service entirely. Yet, I stayed on, month after month, because I didn’t want to “waste” the credits, as cancelling felt like throwing money away.
Eventually, I managed to finish my credits and cancelled the subscription.
Taking a break from fitness memberships
Lately, joy and contentment have come in the form of walking, jogging and cycling – all of which do not require hefty financial commitments and commutes.
When I moved into a new Build-To-Order home in late 2023, I started looking forward to the development of a new park. About a year later, I began to notice my neighbours taking slow walks and jogging at the newly opened park. There were many others who opted to cycle too.
Living on a high floor and in a unit facing the park meant I enjoyed a bird’s-eye view of the daily buzz. Perhaps it was a case of FOMO, or fear of missing out, but I decided to join my neighbours in the park.
What is more, a recent health check-up revealed that I have high levels of low-density lipoprotein, also known as “bad” cholesterol. The doctor told me the best ways to lower it include activities like jogging and cycling.
While I’ve been actively hunting for a budget-friendly city bike, bike-sharing options like Anywheel and HelloRide have become a trusty, affordable companion for now. They cost $1 for 30 minutes.
I realised these exercises can offer me a kind of freedom and flexibility that fitness classes can’t. I no longer beat myself up when I have to forfeit a class due to work or personal commitments. Being outdoors also offers a different kind of happiness and stress relief.
So yes, subscribing to fitness memberships has perks that I truly enjoyed, but the benefits I’ve reaped from simpler, inexpensive options may not have been any less.
After years of being in an “on and off” relationship with subscription packages, here are a few things I’ve learnt:
Accept that what works for someone else may not be for you. For years, I tried to keep up with the next trendy thing. Social media played a huge part in my decisions as well. But I learnt that as fitness trends come and go, finding the type of workout that suits one’s lifestyle, preference and body type is what matters most.
Peer pressure should not decide your choice of workout. As the Hyrox competition gains massive growth in popularity worldwide, including in Singapore, my Instagram feed continues to show highlights of friends achieving their personal bests. In Hyrox, participants run a total of 8km and complete eight workout stations, from rowing to burpee broad jumps. I even joked with my sister that maybe we could sign up and train together for it next year. Is it something I will love (or hate)? I would not know until I try. But one thing’s for sure: I should not get into it just because it’s what everyone else is doing.
No matter what the workout, staying disciplined is key. I used to swear by cardio workouts and their benefits – most of all, they are mood boosters. But I’ve learnt that as priorities and commitments change, workout preferences may evolve too, and that’s okay. Exercise and nutrition professor Stella Volpe summed it up perfectly in a 2024 interview with Time magazine: “The best exercise is the one you will do.”
