4 tips for finding free and low-cost fitness classes around Boston

Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's Saturday morning newsletter, The Weekender. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here. 

Boston is often referred to as “boring” or “sleepy” by the outsiders who don’t appreciate our locals’ loyalty to their bedtimes. We’re a hardworking bunch, and our bars close relatively early. But that doesn’t mean we don’t know how to have a good time!

Ayanna Moise, a Boston influencer, has made it her mission to prove this point. “It’s another day of me convincing y’all Boston is not boring,” Moise says at the beginning of this video, one of a countless number she’s posted all about things to do in the city. On Instagram, she explores third spaces, classes, nightlife and “underrated” neighborhoods across Boston, with the hope of introducing her viewers to new ways they can stay engaged and interact with their community.

One of the easiest ways to do this? A group fitness class, according to Moise. “ That's one of my main ways to find friends and stay active, especially since I'm not really a person who likes to go to the gym or pay for a membership,” she told me. “Most people in the city have a hard time making friends, and I think a lot of people go to these classes to make friends.”

You’ve got an abundance of options when it comes to finding a fitness class in Boston to take. To narrow things down, we asked Moise to share some of her favorite easy, affordable workouts in the city — with some tips on how to find one that will fit your lifestyle and routine. Here’s what she said.

You may have read reports that many Gen Zers use social media apps like TikTok as a search engine. With pictures and video clips, these platforms can make it easier to scope out local workouts that you may have missed by only searching on Google.

One of Moise’s favorite social-media based workout groups is Boston Girls Who Walk, which organizes casual meetups for low-impact exercise through Instagram and Discord.

“They choose different Boston neighborhoods to walk in, like Seaport or the North End waterfront,” said Moise. “You get to just meet a bunch of new people, and a lot of people come alone. So this is a perfect place if you are anxious and don't have a friend to bring with you. This group is perfect for people who are solo, and it’s also free.”

Here’s a little insider info: “Some people might not know, but a lot of hotels offer complimentary fitness classes, and you don’t have to be a guest,” said Moise, who often reviews hotels on her page. Depending on the hotel, these public classes can range from yoga to high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts.

Moise suggests checking out the Omni Hotel in Seaport, which is offering a series of free, full-body workouts by “Kick it By Eliza” on its rooftop every Saturday at 9 a.m. through the end of June, and the Liberty Hotel’s free yoga series every Saturday at 10 a.m. “If you’re not a hotel guest, all you have to do is bring a mat,” said Moise.

Sometimes, the best workout is the easiest to find. “I like to participate in the Boston Parks Fitness Series,” said Moise. “It’s a free summer program … with a different range of activities, like Zumba or Tai Chi.”

The annual summer  series is excellent if you’re searching for something quick. There are in-person classes every single day of the week at various public parks in the city, from Roxbury to Allston to Charlestown to Jamaica Plain. You’ll find HIIT workouts on Sunday and Monday, Zumba and yoga on Tuesdays and Thursdays, dance workouts on Wednesdays, barre fusion on Fridays and a walking group every Saturday. There are also virtual sessions if you’re itching for a last-minute workout that doesn’t require you to leave the house. (You can register for the free sessions here.)

“A lot of people are just there to get their workout and go,” said Moise. “And there’s often a more diverse age range, from people in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s. It is free, and I would definitely recommend.”

As confident as she may appear, Moise admits that venturing into a new fitness class — and trying to make new friends — can be a little awkward. “I’m definitely not immune to that,” she said. But it comes with the territory, she added.

“I think the awkwardness is always gonna be there,” said Moise. “But, especially as you get older, people are not as judgemental.  [In class], everyone's kind of at a different level, and they have other things to do. They have work, they have their social life. The last thing people are thinking is like judging you. You really just gotta dive in.”

P.S. — Looking for more ways to get active and make friends? Check out our guides to social cycling and surfing clubs in the Boston area.