Browse nearby fitness classes with MindBody
One app gives you access to a wide range of clubs and classes. Tim Bothwell shows you how.
Let’s face it… finding the motivation to workout can be a challenge, especially in a gym surrounded by the sounds of vigorous grunting. Fitness classes, then, are a nice alternative, offering the perfect balance of exercise, guidance, and motivation to help get you through your workout. MindBody is an app that offers access to classes at nearby gyms and studios. Unlike a gym, where you’d normally sign up to a lengthy contract, MindBody allows you to book and pay for individual classes with no long-term commitment required. While some classes are pricier than others, MindBody is great for trialing different workout types to find the styles that suit you.
The basics
Creating an account. To get started, download the MindBody app from the Google Play or Apple App Store. If you don’t already have an account, create one using an email address, or log in with a Facebook account. The app also allows you to browse classes as a guest, but note that you’ll need to create an account to actually book anything.
Browsing. Once set up, you’re ready to browse through the different classes on offer. On the Home tab are a series of categories displayed at the top of the page. Tap Fitness to see a list of classes happening today, or use the date and time picker to see classes occurring later in the week. Every class has a description, star rating and location. If there’s a particular workout that you’re looking for, try using the search tool. You can also tap the map icon to see what businesses are located around you. In addition to workouts, the app allows you to book beauty and wellbeing services such as acupuncture, hair removal and massages.
Booking a Class. After finding a class that you like, it’s time to book in. From the class details screen, tap Next to be presented with a pop-up confirming the class date, time, and cost. Note that some businesses offer numerous pricing options, including discounted rates for multiple classes. Once done, follow the prompts and enter any additional information where required including a payment method. After booking a class, you’ll find it saved alongside other bookings on the Profile tab.
Unlike a gym, where you’d normally sign up to a lengthy contract, MindBody allows you to book and pay for individual classes with no long-term commitment required.
Step it up a level
Gyms. In addition to searching by class, you can also browse entire gyms and fitness studios by tapping Businesses at the top of the Explore tab. To see a gym’s class schedule, tap its name and select View Schedule. You can also see contact details, reviews, and class pricing. In this same way, the app allows you to view class schedules and reviews for specific trainers by tapping their name on a class’s details screen.
Favourites. If there’s classes you book regularly at a particular gym, marking them as a favourite will
allow you to browse and book future classes in just a few taps. To do this, tap the heart icon located on a business’s home page. You can see a running schedule of classes from all your favourite gyms and studios on the Favourites tab.
Activity. As you book classes more and more, you can keep track of the workouts you complete via the Activity tab. It’s here that you’ll find a breakdown of every class booked in the last day, week and month. If you own a Fitbit, you can also sync health data recorded during classes – we’ll show you how to set this up later.
Filters. If you know the type of class you’re looking for, then you may want to take advantage of the app’s search filters. From the Explore screen, tap the filter icon to be presented with a range of activity types you can choose from such as pilates, bootcamp, or gymnastics. To remove all filters, tap Reset in the top-left corner.
Going pro
Calendar. In addition to viewing your class schedule in the app, you can also sync classes to your calendar automatically. To do this, tap the settings cog and select Calendar syncing before toggling the switch to on. You may be asked