YES: Charlotte Dross

I was a freshman the first time that I went to a spin class. Although I had never gone to a group workout class nor ridden a stationary bike, I was curious to try it out. Armed with my water bottle and workout clothes, I ventured into the Ride House, a popular cycling studio in Inwood Village. I was not prepared in any way for what I had signed up for.

Forty- five minutes later, I limped out of Ride House, drenched in sweat, unable to feel my legs underneath me. I was utterly exhausted. As I collapsed on the couch back at home I realized something: I felt good. Sure, my legs and feet hurt, and I had an unidentifiable throbbing in my chest, but soreness aside, I felt like I had accomplished a feat.

After that first class, I began to attend spin classes more frequently, about two or three times a week. The more I spun, the more I enjoyed it. I realized that it was the group aspect that appealed to me the most. Something about struggling through the forty- five minute power ride with others was motivating. When working out in groups, it’s easier to push through a hard interval or combination if you can mutually connect with others who are experiencing the same challenges as you.

Of course, there will always be those few people who breeze through the workout without so much as breaking a sweat, but they too serve as motivation for you to up your game to match theirs.

The empowering group aspect is something that you can’t achieve working out on your own. Although some of these workout classes may be more expensive, in the long run you are getting your money’s worth because they motivate you to actually complete the whole exercise.

A standard class at the Ride House is $25. However, most workout classes offer packages where you can get a discount if you buy a certain amount of class- es. If you are looking to save some money, they o er great opportunities to do so.

Every good workout class is taught by an enthusiastic and well-trained instructor. These people are usually insanely t and can easily take on intense workouts, motivating the rest of the class to do the same. Often times, an instructor will lead a class with a loud, upbeat playlist that is great to spin, do pilates or dance to. This type of encouragement from an instructor is something you can get only get from participating in a group class.

Workout classes offer a large scope of exercises to choose from, allowing the customer to engage in sessions that meet their personal interests and workout needs. There is always the standard spin, yoga and pilates classes, but other options range everywhere from indoor sur ng to shooting range classes.

In the Dallas area, some of the more popular workout classes tend to be spin class at SoulCycle, kickboxing class at Title Boxing Club-Uptown, pilates class at BEYOND Studios and barre class at Barre Method.

Ultimately, exercise classes are beneficial Yes, some of these classes may be pricier, but they come with great instructors, other people who have similar goals as you and the general liveliness that the environment of a workout class has to offer.

So go ahead and try out a class. You may be exhausted after it’s over, but in the long run, it’s very rewarding and completely worth it.

NO: Niamh McKinney

With trendy fitness classes such as barre, pilates and spin on the rise, companies like Pure Barre and SoulCycle demand high prices for short workouts. As a result, tness is becoming more and more of a luxury item. In reality, to get in shape or to train for a sport, you don’t have to break the bank.

In Dallas, there are many effective, free workout options, such as yoga classes on Thursdays at the Nasher Sculpture Garden and ve days a week at Cosmic Cafe, and a daily schedule of tness classes, including boot camp and tai chi, at Klyde Warren Park. There’s also, of course, Hockaday’s own gym, track and pool.

If you prefer to consistently go to one place, your family might have a gym membership that you can use. If not, there is most likely a gym near you, and a membership is an easy thing to ask for as a gift or just to buy for yourself. Memberships at 24 Hour Fitness can be as low as $30 per month, and often times, they offer limited-time deals to help you save extra money. This price is cheaper than one $30, 45 minute class at trendy spin studio, SoulCycle. This gym membership at 24 Hour Fitness, however, does not just provide access to machines; you also have access to group exercise classes, like spin and pilates. Similarly, At Anytime Fitness, they offer personal training, spin, cardio and yoga classes with a $33.99 monthly membership. In comparison, to go to SoulCycle ve times a week would add up to a staggering $580 a month.

While packages at trendy, expensive workout places may seem appealing as they do save some money, the packages in the end are still pricey and can also restrict your schedule. For example, if you buy a package of 20 classes for $540 at SoulCycle, you have to use all of the classes within nine months. It might seem like a long time, but anything from a summer vacation to a two-month period away at sleepaway camp can quickly limit your available time to use the classes.

Workout places also may keep your credit card details in their systems. Studios like Pure Barre often send emails about seasonal discounts on packages, and it is very easy to make an impulse purchase with a single click. Workout gear with studio logos that are advertised in their lobbies also can tempt you to spend even more money.

And if you or your family belong to a country club, many have useful gyms available to members. Hockaday’s own gym also has all the facilities you need to achieve great exercise. Jenny Francuzki, Hockaday’s personal trainer, teaches classes open to students and teachers in the Wellness Center. Every Upper Schooler has taken health courses and has learned about how to utilize the gym for e ective workout moves. If you feel a little lost when you look at the machines, you can always plan ahead by looking up a workout online or on an app such as Workout Trainer. This way, you have an organized workout plan with a su cient number of steps and reps as well as a variety of exercises.

Next time you’re thinking about getting in shape, you don’t have to worry about the price–there’s options all around you.

Charlotte Dross – Assistant A&E Editor

Niamh McKinney – Staff Writer