6 ways to work out in Montreal this spring that don't need a gym membership
Reclaim your dignity from the clutches of the squat rack.
Someone climbs on a Montreal silo. Right: A person holds weights.
Let's face it, the gym isn't everyone's cup of whey. With the constant battle for machines, the unsolicited trainers, and the sheer monotony, it's easy to see why some people prefer to skip leg day. Instead of throwing in the towel on your fitness goals, however, you might want to explore ways to incorporate physical activity into your daily routine that don't involve gym bros hogging the weights.
As spring rolls around, the city has tons of opportunities to mix up your fitness routine without the commitment of a gym membership. Whether it's taking advantage of the great outdoors or finding classes that actually make you want to keep coming back, Montreal has you covered. Here are six ways to get moving this spring that ditch the traditional gym setting:
Try indoor cycling at SPINCO
Cost: $70 for four classes
Where: 50, rue Saint-Jacques
Reason to try: If you're looking for a fun workout that will make you sweat, indoor cycling might be for you. At SPINCO, participants ride to the beat of the music with some fun and simple choreography to go along with the different tracks. For much of the time, you are riding in the dark following the instructor who is positioned at the front of the class. Those who feel uncomfortable in group workout settings won’t even notice there are people around because of the lack of lighting.
Midway through the class, there’s a brief arm workout using two-, three-, or five-pound weights. The 50 minutes will fly by at SPINCO and leave you feeling exhausted and quite sweaty. Check out their new member discounts and themed rides to exercise to the music of your favourite artists.
Get rock climbing at Allez-Up
Cost: $23.50/day
Where: 1555, rue Saint-Patrick
Reason to try: Rock climbing has become an increasingly popular sport among millennials and Gen Z in recent years. Some people are nervous to try it for the first time, thinking they won’t be successful because of a lack of upper body strength, but that isn’t the case. Allez-Up offers bouldering (free-form climbing without a harness), along with top rope and lead rope climbing. With top rope and lead rope, climbers use both their upper body and lower body to climb the wall and it is a great full-body workout that feels too fun to be a workout.
Allez-Up is located in Pointe-Saint-Charles and the climbing walls are located in a refurbished factory that has two 125-foot silos that guests can climb. Rock climbing will help you get a full-body workout while also getting your adrenaline pumping.
Test out team intramural sports with CMSS
Cost: Varies by sport
Where: Varies by sport
Reason to try: Club Montreal Sports and Social (CMSS) is a club that connects young people who want to play on casual sports teams around the city. CMSS has soccer, basketball, flag football, softball, volleyball, badminton, hockey, and even cornhole leagues that you can sign up for individually or with a group.
There are regular leagues year round both indoor and outdoor that let you meet other young professionals while also playing a sport you love. There are different levels for people of all abilities so whether you’re looking for a fun drop-in league or a more competitive environment, there's something for you. Players can select days of the week that work best for them and be assigned to a team for the season. Blow off some steam, meet new friends, and stay active with your favourite sport at CMSS.
Boxing Classes at Boxe Office
Cost: $35/hour
Where: 560, ave. du Président-Kennedy
Reason to try: One of the ultimate ways to blow off steam and get a workout is boxing. Boxe Office hosts different classes for those of all skill levels and abilities. Boxing can help improve hand-eye coordination, reflexes, concentration, memory retention, perseverance, stress relief, balance, endurance, muscle tone, and flexibility.
Boxing is both a stress relief outlet as well as an excellent form of exercise. Boxe Office offers core workout classes and has group sessions and individual classes if you're looking for a one-on-one experience with an instructor.
Go hiking with the Urban Hikers Montreal Group
Cost: $15/year
Where: Across Montreal
Reason to try: There are few better ways to stay active and make friends with like-minded people than joining a local hiking group. Urban Hikers plans walks and hikes around the city and to destinations close to by. All walks and hikes take place on Saturday mornings at 9:30 a.m. and last about two to three hours. The group tries to make sure that all starting points for the walks are close to public transit stops so they are easy to get to for those who don’t drive.
If the group plans a hike outside of the city, members can pay $20 for a seat on a chartered bus to the destination. The group will often hire a guide who is knowledgeable of the route and history of the area to give a talk during the walk. The group prides itself on being inclusive of everyone and not being competitive in speed or physical ability.
Class Pass
Cost: $49 to $159 per month
Where: Varied locations
Reason to try: Class Pass is a great option for those who are looking to try out new workout classes like yoga, pilates, martial arts and rowing but don’t want to commit to a membership at the facility. Class Pass works on a credit system, where members sign up for a monthly membership and receive a set amount of credits they can then use for different activities.
The number of credits that each activity costs varies based on popularity but the majority range between three and seven. This is the ultimate solution if you want to gain new skills and find new activities in your area via a user-friendly platform. If you find an activity you love, you can still use Class Pass to sign up for classes and if you find LOTS of classes you love, then you have one simple membership to manage instead of making individual accounts at each facility.