Never Use Your Gym Membership? Going Hybrid Could Be Your Answer

If Going to the Gym Is a Struggle, Try a Hybrid Membership to Get Some of Those Benefits at Home

Mar 13, 2025

woman kneeling beside man — Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash

Money seems to disappear each month in the blink of an eye. Your hard-earned cash goes to many bills, subscriptions, and services. Still, you like to have access to a gym, so you shell out as much as $100 a month on a membership.

The trouble with gym memberships is that you often have to lock in on an annual contract. As a result, you don’t always get the most out of your money. If you only go to the gym a couple times a week, or if you need to stop mid-year to have a baby or go on vacation, then you end up throwing money at something you’re not even using.

A hybrid gym membership may be the answer. Going hybrid makes it so you can work out either in-person at a facility or online through classes or tutorials. Many gyms across the country are now offering this option to allow for more flexibility and convenience.

The Perks of Hybrid Gym Memberships

Some people enjoy the group atmosphere of a gym. It’s a bonus to have access to cardio machines, free weights, and other equipment that you may not have room for at home.

On the other hand, it’s nice sometimes to just stay home to exercise. If the kids are sick or the weather is bad, you don’t want to go to the gym. The catch is you also don’t want to sacrifice your fitness gains or weight loss progress as a result.

Hybrid memberships offer the best of both worlds!

Flexibility is the top benefit of signing up for a hybrid membership. You can do the virtual workouts in any location and at any time, which is nice when making the trek to the gym just isn’t possible.

Another benefit of hybrid gym memberships is the variety of online workouts that are available. You can take HIIT classes, yoga, guided meditations, and 60-day 5K running programs, all from the comfort of your home or even your hotel if you’re traveling. The classes are hosted live or prerecorded, and you can access them from your phone or tablet using apps like LifeTime Digital or Mindbody.

Some hybrid memberships give you access to your very own online coach or personal trainer. They guide you through the workout and help you stay consistent. This is huge since consistency is key to a successful exercise regimen.

Gyms want you to continue to use their services and not to cancel your membership when life gets busy. For that reason, you may even get a discount if you sign up for online services through a hybrid membership.

The Downsides of Hybrid Gym Memberships

Cost is perhaps the biggest downside. According to PushPress, you may spend over $300 a month on a hybrid gym membership. It’s only worth that extra money if you plan on being strict and doing the virtual classes when you can’t hit the gym.

Aside from cost, there’s also a lack of accessibility to hybrid gyms. Not every town or state has facilities that offer this type of membership. Runner’s World curated a list of gyms that currently have hybrid options:

Barry’s
LifeTime
Equinox
24-Hour Fitness
Crunch
Anytime Fitness
Pure Barre
CorePower Yoga
Blink Fitness

Chances are, other gyms will go hybrid in the future as memberships become more popular. It won’t be long before you’ll be able to sign up for one at a facility near you.

Is Going Hybrid the Right Move For You?

Take an honest look at your schedule. Do you not have as much time to go to the gym as you thought? Have you traveled in the last year for work or leisure? Are your kids always on the go with their own activities? A hybrid gym membership may be good for you!

Going hybrid gives you options! You can hit the gym in-person whenever you have the time or when you crave social interaction. Stay home when it’s more convenient. Who knows what kind of beach bod you’ll get as a result?!