This article is offered in partnership with Studio App—they’re dedicated to making all the perks of top quality boutique fitness classes more accessible and affordable for you, and we’re honored to help ’em spread the word. ~ ed.

Confession: left to my own devices, my workouts look more like cooldowns.

I was spending money every month on a big box gym membership and getting almost nothing out of it.

Then a friend introduced me to group fitness class. I fell in love. The music, the vibe, the friendly competition—seeing my name low down on that leaderboard was a gamechanger! I loved it all. But my budget…ouch.

And, to be super honest, once the honeymoon period passed I stopped making it to classes regularly. I wanted to go, sure. And when I was there I got a great workout, but the scheduling got tough. I hated the idea of arriving just as class started—or worse, five minutes in—and I realized I was down to two good workouts a month.

… and did I mention that all that money I was spending kept taking up way too much of the pie chart on my budgeting app?

So, what’s a girl to do? Self-guided workouts clearly weren’t working for me. But neither was making it to class on time.

Turns out…there’s an app for that. An awesome one.

I saw an article about the Studio App, activated my two-week free trial, and immediately fell in love.

Exclusive Elephant Journal readers’ offer: get 45% off Studio and a two-week free trial, when you download the app here. (only for iPhone)

My first workout was a HIIT treadmill class. I started when it was convenient for me, and got a killer workout. The music was great, the instructor was so motivating, and with my Apple Watch, I was competing against others doing the same workout! It was the IRL fitness classes I loved, on my schedule.

They even have outdoor running, dumbbell strength training, and bodyweight strength training classes. Lisa’s Shred It program from the Studio App has helped me build muscle and lean out. It’s the perfect compliment to my cardio routine and it hurts so good! (Like, the kind that tells me I did a great workout.) And, to be honest, I’m not a natural at strength training so seeing the training videos when I pause the workout has been magical.

And the best part, at least according to my budget app’s pie chart? I am saving so much money.

I’m getting unlimited classes with the Studio App for less than $9 a month. Those boutique studios were charging me like $30 per class! Do you know how many lattes I can buy guilt-free now? (Budget-wise, not calorie-wise.) So many!

By the way, the friendly competition feature actually pairs you against others who have done or are doing that workout, so you don’t have to start at the same time as them. Technology is magic, am I right or am I right?

I know… I’m right.

Ready to save money and workout better than ever before? Join me on Studio App for iOS now. I’ll see you in class!

Exclusive Elephant Journal readers’ offer: get 45% off Studio and a two-week free trial, when you download the app here. (only for iPhone)