FitSugar

Yoga Classes For Less Than a Buck? You Bet!

FitSugar — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 03:30:06 PDT

I'm all about saving money when it comes to fitness. I barter for free Pilates classes, use collective-buying websites to get group discounts, and work out at home. I'm also loving Passport to Prana. A $30 fee lets you take one yoga class from each of the participating Passport to Prana studios located in a specific city. For example, if you enroll in the Boston Passport to Prana program, you can take one class from each of the 52 participating studios until your membership expires in January 2011. That's less than $1 a class!

At the moment, Passport to Prana is only available in eight US cities (and eight in Canada, too), but there are plans to add eight more cities by the end of the year. When you sign up, you're mailed a card that you can use when checking in to each studio. Next to free yoga, this is a deal that really can't be missed - especially when yoga classes can run anywhere from $10-20 per class.

Barter Your Way to Free Pilates and Yoga Classes

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 09:00:10 PDT

Taking a class at a yoga or Pilates studio is not cheap. I did an informal survey of classes in San Francisco, and came up with an average drop-in rate of $17. If you buy classes in bulk, it's more affordable, but for many, it's still a luxury that's hard to maintain. A friend of mine recently opened up his own studio. Since he can't afford a receptionist yet, he has a steady rotation of friends who work there in return for free classes. Same goes for any friends who have more specialized services to offer. The studio's Twitter account, marketing material, and branding are all done free of charge by friends who, in exchange, get a free monthly membership.

When he first told me that he was doing this, I thought, "How brilliant!" But my friend says that this is nothing new. Bartering is a pretty common practice in private studios - at least the ones he's worked at. I also have a friend who is a member of the "karma yoga" program at her Bikram studio. For every hour of work she donates to the studio, she's given a free class.

Find out how to barter for your own free classes when you

Try Out the Latest in Fitness at Almost No Cost

FitSugar — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 03:00:24 PDT

In the past we've shared with you some great ways to recession-proof your workout, like renting exercise DVDs or buying used fitness equipment. Unfortunately these things don't always cut it when you're in a fitness rut or want to try something new. One way I and a lot of other folks work around this without spending too much is by joining collective-buying websites like Fresh Guide, Groupon, LivingSocial, SocialBuy, and BuyWithMe.

To learn how to save on things like kayaking, TRX suspension classes, and yoga,

Recession-Proof Your Workout: Split a Personal Trainer With Friends

FitSugar — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:00:32 PST

If 2010 is your year to get in shape but you're not quite sure how to get started, meeting with a personal trainer is one way to get you on track. He or she can map out a plan to help you reach your weight-loss and fitness goals by giving you exercise tips, nutrition advice, and much-needed motivation and support.

The only issue is that sessions aren't cheap at about $50 or more a pop. If that's not possible with your budget, here's an idea: split a session or more with a few friends. Many trainers will offer special small group rates, and since times are tough for everyone, they'd rather train a group of people rather than no one at all. Not only will you save money, but having friends join in will make you more likely to stick with it.

Don't forget to join the Get Fit For 2010 community group for extra support in meeting your fitness goals for the new year. By writing a blog post of your goals in the group, you will be entered to win the weekly prize, a $100 gift card from Nike!

Free Workout Music From Podrunner

FitSugar — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 03:00:03 PDT

Music is the great fitness motivator, and the faster the beat, the faster you move. If you're looking for an entire playlist that offers non-stop, fixed tempo music for your running, walking, or cycling workouts, check out Podrunner.

The site offers free workout playlists to help keep your pace constant, with ranges between 152 to 181 beats per minute. Podrunner also has mixes designed for interval training. You can download these music mixes online or through iTunes, and the MP3 files can be played on most digital music players. The playlists are all electronica, and the music is energetic and upbeat. Best of all, it's free.

Recession Proof Your Workout: Inflatable Kayak

FitSugar — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:01:18 PDT

While kayaking will keep you cool in the Summer, buying one of these boats won't exactly help your pocketbook. Kayaks cost anywhere between $400 and $2,000 - not including the paddle. Here's a much cheaper way to paddle along in the water. For $100, you can get this Coleman 2-Person Touring Kayak, and it comes with two aluminum paddles.

Although it's made with durable 26 gauge PVC, I still wouldn't take this kayak over roaring rapids, but it'll do a great job keeping you afloat on a calm lake or river. Paddling will strengthen and tone your upper body and core and will also increase flexibility in your hamstrings. The best part is you can always fall overboard into the crisp water to cool off. Another great feature of an inflatable kayak is it's lightweight and can be deflated, so it's easily packable for camping trips. If you plan on kayaking alone, then go for the 1-Person Kayak ($80) instead.

Recession-Proof Your Workout: Do-It-Yourself Yoga Retreat

FitSugar — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 03:00:16 PDT

If you've always wanted to attend a seven-day yoga retreat, then you can imagine the benefits of immersing yourself in a new place, practicing yoga daily, and enjoying healthy meals loaded with fresh fruits and veggies. While these retreats are wonderfully relaxing, they often come with a hefty price tag, and in today's economy, it's not something many of us can even consider. You can, however, create your own do-it-yourself yoga retreat.

To learn how,

read more. Find a yoga studio near you that has daily classes and go to one class every day for a week. You'll reap the benefits of the daily yoga practice you'd get on a retreat, but it'll cost about $70 to $150. During that week, eat meals that are full of juicy fruits, tender veggies, and lean protein (or go meatless), and avoid sugar, processed foods, alcohol, and caffeine. Throw in relaxing hot baths, steaming cups of herbal tea, and a full-body massage. By the end of the week, you'll have spent about $300, and though you may not feel as revitalized as if you were doing sun salutations on the beach in Maui, you'll definitely feel like a new person.

NYC, You Can Recession-Proof Your Fitness

FitSugar — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 03:00:00 PDT

The folks over at Vital Juice Daily want to help you take care of yourself. They are hosting a free wellness retreat right in the heart of Manhattan. The event will be chock full of goodness with samplings of healthy foods as wells as tastes of a variety of fitness classes. You can check out the schedule of the three-day event here. Admission to the event is free when you sign up for a free subscription to any Vital Juice email. How's that for an easy way to beat the recession while taking good care of yourself?

Recession Proof Your Fitness: David Kirsch's Free Ultimate Summer Slimdown

FitSugar — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:00:00 PDT

Memorial Day comes a bit early this year, which means we have a little over three weeks to get ready for opening beach day. While you are looking for a program to tighten your abs, celebrity trainer David Kirsch knows that times are tight. After training the likes of Heidi Klum and Anne Hathaway, David is sharing his Ultimate Summer Slimdown for free. Sign up today, since the program starts tomorrow. Kirsch has created an exercise plan designed to maximize fat and calorie burning. It is rigorous, but he will also supply you with a daily dose of motivation and healthy recipes to fuel your workouts.

I received a sneak peek at the program, so learn more about it when you

read more. The first sculpting workout is 45 minutes long and works every muscle. This workout is designed to keep your heart rate up while toning and using a medicine ball, an exercise ball, and hand weights. If you don't have those exercise accessories, get creative. The moves look fun and challenging, like this plyometric exercise that almost reads like a haiku: sumo lunge with side kick and frog jump. You are asked to combine this workout with another 45 minutes of cardio. Signing up for the challenge is one thing, but David asks that you really dedicate the next three weeks to whipping yourself in shape with his workouts, recipes, and motivation. Speaking of recipes, check out David's turkey lasagna.

David Kirsch's Turkey Lasagna
David Kirsch's Ultimate Summer Slimdown

Ingredients

Lasagna ½ small eggplant, cut lengthwise in ¼ inch slices Pinch freshly ground pepper Pinch cayenne pepper ½ small zucchini, cut lengthwise in ¼ inch slices 4 ounces ground turkey breast ¼ teaspoon ground coriander ½ cup *Marinara Sauce 1 teaspoon chopped fresh basil Marinara Sauce 1 Vidalia onion, chopped 6 plum tomatoes, chopped 1 cup chopped canned tomatoes ½ cup fresh basil leaves, finely chopped

Directions
Lasagna:

Preheat oven to 400 F.
Lightly coat a nonstick cookie sheet with nonfat vegetable cooking spray. Place eggplant and zucchini slices on the sheet, cover with foil, and bake for about 15 minutes or until slices are soft. Remove from oven and set aside.
Heat a skillet over medium heat and coat with nonfat vegetable cooking spray. Place ground turkey, coriander, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in the skillet and sauté until brown-approximately 3 to 4 minutes.
Lasagna assembly: Lightly spray an ovenproof baking dish with nonfat vegetable cooking spray. Alternate layers of baked eggplant, ground turkey, marinara sauce, and baked zucchini. Top with marinara sauce. Repeat the process if necessary.
Bake for 15 minutes or until heated through.
Top with chopped fresh basil.

Marinara Sauce:

Heat a medium-sized, nonstick skillet over medium heat and coat with cooking spray. Add the onion and cook for 2-3 minutes, until softened. Add the plum tomatoes, canned tomatoes, and basil.
Simmer gently for 15 minutes. Let it cool and refrigerate for 3-5 days, or place in freezer until ready to use.

Print recipe with images | without images What I want to know now is, are you signing up?

Recession-Proof Your Workout: Active.com Budget Page

FitSugar — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:00:00 PDT

Staying active doesn't need to cost a fortune. While you might be used to flying across the country for fun races, traveling might not be in your fitness budget this year. Active.com, my favorite Internet resource for finding athletic events, now has a web page dedicated to working out and racing on a shoestring budget.

From lists of camping-friendly races to at-home workouts, Active on a Budget has plenty of information to help you recession-proof your workout. They even provide tips on how to fuel yourself without breaking the bank. Have any tips of your own on recession-proofing your fitness life? Share them in the comments section below.