Tuesday, December 6, 2011

How to Become a Healthworks Member Without Going Broke

Source: blog.nj.com

After paying only $10 a month at Planet Fitness for several years, I finally decided to take the plunge and sign up for a membership at Healthworks. One of the top fitness centers in the United States for women, Healthworks is a spa-like gym complete with a variety of fitness classes, equipment and more. It also costs a pretty penny - up to $98 per month, on average. Here's how I justified paying $88 more a month for a gym membership:

-I signed up for their emails. Without being obnoxious, Healthworks consistently sends out current promotions and discounts to non-members, including open houses and free classes. By being on this list, I was able to take advantage of a few free classes and trips to their fitness center without having to pay a dime. These visits also helped me make an educated decision on whether or not this gym was for me.

-I did my research. Before signing up, I looked at Healthworks' class schedule online, at the location I would be going to. I made sure that there were classes that intrigued me at times that I could actually go. What would be the point of paying more for a gym if I can't even attend any of their classes?

-I took advantage of discounts. One of the most recent emails I received from Healthworks said that, through November, they were offering $0 enrollment - and the month of December was free. In addition, if you signed up before November 30th, you received a massage and a personal training session. I ended up signing up right before they closed on November 30th.

-I inquired about my health insurance. Most health insurance programs offer discounts for a variety of gyms. When signing up with Healthworks, I asked if my health insurance offered a discount - which it does. All I have to do is go onto my insurance's website, print out a fitness reimbursement form, and $150 goes back into my pocket. Obviously, all health insurance programs will differ, but this is what mine offers.

-Some things are just worth the money. After thinking it over for a few weeks, I knew that attending this gym would motivate me to work out more and be healthier overall. Some things, such as my health, hair products and good food, are just worth the extra money.

What's the maximum amount of money you would pay for a gym membership?

9 comments:

  1. YAAAAAAAY! I swear- I am not a crazy gym go-er but this makes me SO happy! I can't wait to hear how much you love Healthworks. It's the first gym I have been consistently motivated to go to, and have actually enjoyed my time at. I've been going 5-6 days a week since June and have loved every minute of it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. That's awesome! I actually had a free membership with the YMCA when my husband was deployed, but now that's he's home, I'm thinking about looking at other gyms. Healthworks is right around the corner from work and I think my hotel offers discounts too. I'll have to check it out! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love Healthworks and miss it, but I'm pretty happy at my current gym (Wellbridge at the Charles Hotel). I think a gym membership is a good investment because it definitely motivates me to be healthier!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Agreed, Bianca! And Alaina, I highly recommend checking it out and seeing what current promotions Healthworks has going on.

    Fiona, thanks again for the recommendation!

    ReplyDelete
  5. It sounds like you got a really good deal. I cringe if I have to pay more than $20 for the gym. I guess the more I had to pay, the more I'd be encouraged to go to "get my money's worth" though.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I contemplated going to Healthworks for a while before I moved, and now I really wish there was one near me! I think it's so important to invest in good health, but only to an extent... the $145/month my boyfriend pays for Equinox is just TOO MUCH! I think anything less than $100 is probably fair, if you'll make the money worthwhile.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I realize this post is a year old, but it was just what I was looking for! I recently mentioned to a friend that I am thinking of joining Davis Square's BSC and she said that she is a member at Healthworks and she loves it. I liked browsing their site but I didn't see any prices listed. Low and behold, I googled for price info and this post came up. I love the idea of signing up for their e-mails to receive info about promotions, but can't seem to find an e-mail link. If possible, could you please let me know how to sign up? Thanks again for the advice and insights. If nothing else, I'm now a fan of your blog! I'm a vegetarian and I love to cook, discover new recipes, and go out to eat. Looks like this site will be great for me. ;-)
    Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So glad you found this post, and that it was helpful! A year later, I have no regrets for signing up - I love Healthworks! I think I signed up for their emails at an event - but if you go to the page for your club's location, there are email addresses for some of the people who work there under "Club Info." (on the right-hand side of the page). I'd suggest emailing one of them and asking if they can sign you up, or how you can go about doing so. Thanks for reading, and let me know if you do sign-up!

      Delete
  8. Thank you! I appreciate the response and vote of confidence. I just sent an e-mail requesting more information. It's great to hear that you're still happy with your membership there. I'll chime in with an update later on. Thanks again!

    ReplyDelete