We heart ClassPass.

ClassPass is so much cheaper than a gym membership, especially with its new month-long free trial — and it motivates you to work out more

We all know that exercising regularly offers countless physical and mental benefits, but that doesn't make it any easier to do. Over the years, I've discovered that I need someone else to push me when I'm working out. As much as I love to think of myself as a person who is very strong and motivated all the time, the reality is that when I workout at home or by myself at the gym, it's tempting and easy to give myself a break I don't actually need or just stop the workout early. Sometimes I don't even make it onto a mat or machine at all. I grew up swimming and playing basketball in my hometown's youth leagues, and in college my favorite things to do at the gym included the cardio kickboxing and core workout group classes, so it occurred to me that I didn't hate exercising, period. What I did dread was being bored out of my mind as I went through the same uninspired and un-challenging movements, without anyone by my side to keep me going. If you're in a similar fitness rut, begging for the variety and motivation missing from at-home workouts or exercising at large fitness clubs, you're not alone. Participation at smaller fitness studios that offer more unique activities like spin, barre, and boxing is on the rise precisely because people like you and me are looking for change. These classes are led by trained professionals who will push you to no end, often with smiles on their faces. Sure, in the moment you'll hate the teachers for being so chipper, but you'll ultimately be grateful for the amount of coaching and motivation that's difficult to muster up on your own. Another benefit is the small group setting, which reminds you that you're not alone in your exercise endeavors. You might even make some friends, having bonded over these sweat-inducing, heart-pumping workouts. Despite the many clear advantages of boutique fitness studios, perhaps the greatest barrier to join is the steep cost of classes. Depending on the location and type, they can often put you back $20 to $30 per one-hour session. If you wanted to take these classes regularly, you'd better be ready to pay up. That's why the introduction of ClassPass four years ago breathed new life into the fitness studio world, opening up fun and challenging fitness classes to a much larger group of participants who previously couldn't afford to buy into them. With ClassPass, you get to "shop" around and take classes across a variety of activities, for a much cheaper price. It's flexible, affordable, and trust me, much more interesting than hopping on the treadmill.