How to Choose the Right Fitness Class: My Journey
- Sarah Tian
- 6 days ago
- 7 min read
Updated: 5 minutes ago
As the weather warms and life seems to spin faster than ever, I’ve found my body and mind craving more movement to stay balanced and healthy. Group fitness classes have been my go-to way of staying active since my college days—and now, as I transition back to life in the U.S., I’ve been rebuilding a routine that fits my current season of life.
After hearing recommendations from friends, I decided to sign up for a free two-week ClassPass trial. It turned out to be the perfect opportunity to try out a variety of workout classes and tune into what my body and mind needed most.
Why Group Fitness classes?
There’s something undeniably powerful about sweating it out with others. The collective energy in the room, the encouragement from instructors, and the unspoken motivation of seeing someone next to you push through—these things elevate the workout beyond just exercise.
As someone who works mostly remotely and tends to enjoy solo activities at home, group fitness also gets me out of the house, into the sun, and around real, live humans. Some days, a fist bump from a workout buddy is all the social interaction I need to feel recharged.
How Do I Choose Which One is For Me?
Step 1: Define Your Fitness Goals
When I joined ClassPass, I wasn’t just looking to burn calories—I wanted variety. I know myself: after about two months of doing the same workout, I hit a plateau—physically and mentally. My attention drifts, and so does my motivation. I wanted to break out of routine, explore new movements, and have a little fun doing it.
Like many of us who sit for long hours at work, I’d started noticing neck and shoulder tension from poor posture. After a visit to the physical therapist, the advice was clear: strengthen my core to better support my posture. (Swapping my second screen from above to beside my laptop also helped.)
I also wanted to make sure I was getting at least one or two hours of cardio each week—for heart health and stress relief. Since I’m not a fan of running outdoors (thanks to pollen allergies and easy sunburns), indoor classes became the perfect alternative.
And finally, I’ve always struggled with flexibility. My hope was to find classes that could help improve my range of motion—especially for dance and pilates—and reduce injury risk overall.
Step 2: Try them out and take notes!
Armed with my goals, I started exploring. Here are my unfiltered takes on the classes I tried:
This class gave me flashbacks—in a good way—to PE circuit training and university HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training). It’s fast-paced, efficient, and perfect if you’re short on time but want maximum impact.
Each session is either cardio-focused, strength-based, or a hybrid of both, and with over 5,000 exercise variations, you’ll rarely do the same thing twice. I loved how clear everything was—demo videos play on screens, so you know exactly what to do at each station. Equipment is prepped for you, and staff handle all the cleaning.
The end-of-class ritual of high-fiving your teammates and cheering each other on gave me a real sense of community.
Yes, the first class (and the next morning) might be painful—but if you stick with it, your body adapts. And the soreness fades, replaced by a quiet sense of strength.
[solidcore] is a reformer-based, high-intensity, low-impact workout rooted in pilates. It's designed to break down your muscles so they can rebuild stronger—think of it as strength training in slow motion. Every move is ultra-controlled, and those 15-second isometric holds? Brutal—in the best way.
To be honest, I struggled to follow the instructor at times (they talk fast), but it wasn’t a deal-breaker. I watched others and adapted as needed, and instructors were always ready to help if you looked confused (or visibly frozen in time). There’s no built-in warm-up or cool-down, so plan to stretch before and after on your own.
This class is not for the faint-hearted—but if you're someone who believes in the “no pain, no gain” philosophy, this will light your muscles on fire. In a good way.
I didn’t expect to like boxing, but TITLE stole my heart. Each person gets their own bag, and the coach guides you through combinations using six basic punches. I was so focused on following along that I barely noticed how much effort I was putting in—until I saw my drenched clothes and hand wraps afterward.
Boxing is an incredible stress reliever. There’s something cathartic about visualizing your frustrations and channeling them into each punch. If you’ve ever needed a safe space to release tension or anger, this is it.
Rumble splits the class into two groups: one starts with boxing, the other with strength training. You switch back and forth, which offers variety—but personally, I signed up to box, not to lift weights on a bench in a dark, neon-lit room.
The "nightclub" vibe with flashing lights and loud music aims to create a fun Friday night atmosphere, but I found the low lighting made it easier to slack off. The self-paced nature of the class meant the intensity was largely up to you, and I didn’t push myself nearly as hard as in other workouts.
If you’ve ever dreamed of being a ballerina—or just wished you’d taken ballet as a child—this one’s for you. Pure Barre combines elements of ballet, pilates, and yoga, using a bar, mirrors, and small, targeted movements.
Expect to point your toes, engage your core, and tuck your belly with elegant precision. It’s gentle on the body but surprisingly challenging on the muscles. I left class feeling graceful, stretched, and a little more in tune with my body.
SoulCycle is a 45-minute, high-intensity indoor cycling class that blends cardio, choreography, and strength training—designed to move your body and your soul. Each session weaves together segments of climbs, sprints, upper body weights, and what they call the “soulful moment”—a chance to reflect, release, and reconnect with yourself.
What makes SoulCycle stand out is the music. Every instructor curates their own playlist, bringing full energy and presence to each ride. My first class was a Taylor Swift-themed ride—and let me tell you, it was as fun as it sounds. Clipping into the bike with specially designed cycling shoes felt a little intimidating at first, but once the lights dimmed and the music kicked in, I was immersed. You're not just pedaling—you’re dancing, sweating, and vibing with a room full of people who are likely just as into the music as you are.
It’s a joyful way to feel part of a community, even if you don’t exchange a single word. If you enjoy the music that your local SoulCycle instructors feature, this class might just become your new weekly highlight. It’s cardio with a touch of connection—and a whole lot of rhythm.
Step 3: Choose the fitness class that works for YOU!
So, how did I decide which class to stick with?
I began by eliminating the ones with clear red flags—those that, for one reason or another, just didn’t fit into my lifestyle.
First to go was boxing. As much as I enjoyed the release and intensity, I wasn’t ready to invest in extra gear like hand wraps and gloves, especially knowing I wouldn’t commit to it long-term.
Next was SoulCycle. While the music and atmosphere were fun, the studio was farther away from where I live, which made regular attendance impractical. The limited number of bathrooms also caused long lines before and after class—likely because many people were using them as changing rooms—which added unnecessary stress to what should be an energizing experience.
Then there was Pure Barre. I loved the gracefulness and the nostalgic ballet vibes, but ultimately, I felt that many of the movements could be replicated at home with a good online class and a bit of self-discipline.
That left me with two contenders: F45 and [solidcore].
Looking back at the goals I set at the beginning—building core strength, getting in regular cardio, and improving flexibility—F45 and [solidcore] surprisingly checked all the boxes.
F45 has become my dependable go-to—the “bread and butter” of my fitness routine. It gives me that reliable dose of cardio and strength training, helping me stay consistent with movement while supporting my posture and cardiovascular health. The circuit-style workouts also keep things dynamic and fun, which is key for someone who gets bored easily.
[solidcore] had my heart from the first class. It directly targets my core through slow, controlled movements that force my muscles to engage deeply—especially the small stabilizers I often overlook. While it’s the most physically demanding, it was also the most rewarding. I fell in love with the slow, deep burn, and the fact that I left each session feeling stronger than before (even if I was shaking the entire time). Maybe there’s a fine line between pain and love—turns out, I don’t mind walking that line.
To round out my flexibility goals, I also started attending 1-on-1 assisted stretching sessions with StretchMed. It’s been a gentle but necessary complement to the intensity of the other classes, helping me stay limber and injury-free.
Together, these practices have created a balanced, sustainable routine—one that doesn’t just support my physical health, but uplifts my mental and emotional well-being too.
Final Thoughts
When you find a workout that truly clicks, exercise stops feeling like a chore. You don’t have to drag yourself to class—you look forward to it. It becomes something you crave, something that fills you up rather than drains you.
Whether you're looking to break a sweat, boost your mood, meet people, or simply reconnect with your body, I hope this review inspires you to explore what’s out there. Try, reflect, and most importantly—listen to what lights you up.
Once you find that match, just watch how your energy, health, and even your mindset begin to shift. Movement isn’t just about fitness—it’s one of the most powerful tools we have for building a more joyful, resilient life.
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