One of the first things I did upon arriving in Barcelona was look for a gym. I visited a few near my apartment and had no trouble deciding which one was the best fit for me. I knew I wouldn’t find an Equinox-level facility here (or at least not one I could justify paying for at the moment). Even so, the gym around the corner was a great option. It’s now been four months since I joined and I’ve been a regular, going multiple times each week. Pretty perfect. It’s never crowded, has all the equipment I want, plus has an open area that’s ideal for my BBG workouts.
Why I’m Quitting the Gym
And then this week, I quit. If it’s such a great gym, why did I quit? As good as the space was, the gym was not giving me everything that I wanted. The two big items lacking: challenging classes and friendly people. I guess I can’t say the people at the gym aren’t friendly, but I can I spoke to zero people there during these four months. Gyms in general are a tough place to meet new people, especially when you don’t speak the language (as compared to in a small group fitness class). So I quit! Sometimes you need a place to workout and any gym will do. With the change in the fitness atmosphere over the last few years, it’s okay to want more out of a gym than just a good space to workout.
While being a regular at my gym, I’ve also popped into a few boutique studios around town. I haven’t made any friends through these classes BUT I actually talk to people in them. These classes get me interacting with more people and are a great way to practice my Spanish. Knowing these types of classes are out there in the city, I’ve decided to forgo my easy workout situation and challenge myself with trying different studios and gyms around town.
The Downside of Quitting the Gym
There is a downside though. With a steady gym membership I know the space, it’s close to home, it’s fairly inexpensive and it’s an easy routine. When you bop around town trying different things it costs more, you don’t always know what you’re going to get and there’s a bit of a commute involved. I know myself and I know I can get stuck in a workout routine because it’s easy. However, now is the time to push myself out of the easy & close to home option and explore more of the wellness opportunities in Barcelona (even if it involves public transportation *gasp*).
What’s Next
I’ll be in the US for the next week, but when I return to Barcelona I’m signing up for GymForLess. I’m not sure I 100% understand how it works, but it seems like a ClassPass equivalent. Despite the name, it’s actually a bit more expensive than my current gym membership, but I think it will be worth it.
I’ve been a gym-goer for years and this is putting me a bit out of my comfort zone. But I know that living abroad is the time to abandon all comfort zones. So bring on the classes in Spanish and the confusing workouts, I’m ready to give it a try. And as always, I’ll share the experience with you here. More to come once I get started!
I’m curious about you, are you a gym-goer or a ClassPasser/Boutique Fitness kinda person?
