Getting into shape — without breaking the bank
Did you make a New Year’s resolution around healthfulness, wellness, or the hope of losing weight? Before you use your good intentions to lock yourself into gym membership or studio classes, try exercising in a group setting for free. From bike tours to group yoga classes, here are several ways to get your heart rate up without putting a credit card down. Just make sure to check websites for more information, as schedules can change and advance registration is sometimes required.
Pilates
Sundays at Levy Park, 3801 Eastside. Times will alternate weekly between 9 a.m. and noon; levyparkhouston.org.
Boot Camp
Square Fit: Boot Camp at The Square at Memorial City, led by Fit Factor, entails cardio, strength training and circuit training. Tuesdays at 6 p.m.; memorialcity.com/events.
Farmer’s Market Bike Tour
Bayou City Outdoors hosts a monthly 10-12 mile group bike ride that hits area farmers markets. The next one takes place 8:30 a.m.-noon Jan. 13 starting at Onion Creek Cafe (3106 White Oak). The nonprofit suggests those who don’t own a bike rent one from Bike Barn (105 Sabine) or a BCycle kiosk (bcycle.com). Bike ride schedules are available at bayoucityoutdoors.com.
Yoga
Lululemon locations host regular in-store classes; lululemon.com. And beginning March 4, Black Swan Yoga will lead a free all-levels yoga class at Raven Tower (310 North) on the first Sunday of every month from 10 to 11 a.m. Bring your own mat and towel; facebook. com/BSYHouston.
Spinning
CycleBar in The Woodlands, Vintage Park and Sawyer Heights hosts a 30-minute introductory class, typically on Saturdays, to teach the basics of indoor cycling; cyclebar.com.
Kickboxing
A participant’s first class at 9Round is free. The cardiobased, 30-minute class promises a full-body workout as students rotate through nine stations for three minutes each. Studios are located in Houston, Pearland, Missouri City, Sugar
Land, Katy, Richmond, Spring, Humble, Cypress, Rosenberg, The Woodlands and other parts of Greater Houston; 9round.com.
Hot Pilates
Inferno Hot Pilates leads a one-hour class at Evelyn’s Park in Bellaire at 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday. The session takes place in a heated, high-humidity room when space is available. Otherwise, students gather outdoors. The indoor conditions are meant to cause sweating, which burns more fat. Traditional Pilates movements are set to loud, fast-paced music; evelynspark.org.
Running
The Kung Fu Running Club, popular with young professionals, meets at 6 p.m. Wednesdays at Kung Fu Saloon (5317 Washington) for registration. The onehour runs begin at 6:30, and 3- and 5-mile routes to Memorial Park and back are available. Kung Fu is one of many community clubs operated by Houston-based FFP Running Clubs; ffprunningclubs.org.
CrossFit By filling out a waiver online proving residency, first-timers get one week of free classes at CrossFit Town Center in The Woodlands. The pass allows access to up to six classes in a sevenday period. All fitness levels are welcome, and one-on-one attention is given to newbies; crossfittowncenter.com.
5k Challenges
The Houston Wellness Project is a nonprofit that hosts 5k challenges (about 3 miles) three weekends a month at various locations, including George Bush Park and White Oak Bayou Greenway. All paces are welcome (walkers and runners); participants can choose to be timed each week to track their improvement; thehwp.org.
Dance
Athleta offers a variety of regular, in-store fitness classes. On Jan. 10, 6:307:30 p.m., Athleta in the Galleria hosts a Samba dancing class; athleta.net.
Hiking
Bayou City Outdoors hosts guided 6-mile hikes that start in Cleveland Park (4200 Scotland). Participants traverse trails, hills and bridges. The next hike takes place March 18. Many participants bring dogs; bayoucityoutdoors.com.
Biking
Bayou Bikers meet downtown at Market Square Park the first Sunday of each month for 25-mile (or longer) rides along Houston’s bayous; marketsquarepark.com. Baby Yoga
Caregivers of children who are not yet walking can participate in the Houston Public Library’s Baby Yoga classes, which teach the fundamentals of yoga to parents and caregivers who participate with their baby. Young yogis will benefit from stretching and massage. Offered at various branches; check the library’s online event calendar at houstonlibrary.org. The library also offers Zumba, tae kwon do and other types of fitness classes.