Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How to get on to a popular gym class??

59 replies

AliceRR · 12/05/2019 11:52

I’m a member of a well known gym chain. I have been to various classes in the past but currently I am not quite up to some of the more vigorous classes. I keep trying to get on to pilates or yoga but even pilates or yoga class this week is full with 7-12 people on the waitlist. It is the same every time I use the app to check.

You can book a class for 8 days so e.g. today is Sunday so you can book on classes for today up to a week today. I can only assume people know what time the booking goes live for each class and then do it straight away or that the classes are just wildly oversubscribed and there are too many people for not enough classes.

WWYD? I am wondering whether to call the them and at least feedback the issue as there may be a demand for more classes.

I pay for gym membership and so don’t really want to pay extra to do yoga elsewhere but there has to be a limit to classes and some people are clearly more on the ball at booking on.

Maybe it’s as simply as getting up early to book on each class 8 days before 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Kenny235 · 15/01/2025 09:33

Nuffield Pilates classes: no chance of booking a space. As soon as it goes live at 7am 8 days out the classes are all full with a huge wait list. I’m wondering if there’s some sort of snipe tool being used, just like using auctionstealer for eBay, but or sniping gym bookings. Nuffield say they don’t operate a priority booking system, but there’s something duplicitous going on here.

sneakysausage · 30/01/2020 19:21

I used to hate this. Some of the classes are packed and cliquey. Forked our for one PT session a week instead, worth it. Lost a bucket load of weight and no stupid alarms and walk of shame out of classes 👍

Norma27 · 15/05/2019 16:44

That walk of shame list made me think about a time I booked a spin class years ago. This was before booking via apps. I turned up to my first one and there were too many people. Everyone adamant they had booked. Register called. Everyone’s name called. Register called again and when they said my name there were 2 of us with the same name! Obviously when confirming our spaces they had knocked one of us off as thought the same person had double booked!

Original poster
AliceRR · 15/05/2019 11:01

Don't forget - if you do manage to get Sharon's spot in a mat class, don't fuck it up further by taking Jane's spot on the front left hand side 😱

Oh yeah I’ll want to be near the front too so I can see what I’m doing as I’m new. They’re gonna hate me 😂

OP posts:
thatmustbenigelwiththebrie · 15/05/2019 10:25

I also had this so stopped going to classes and now just do my own spin class by myself with headphones that I've made up.

sar302 · 15/05/2019 10:22

Don't forget - if you do manage to get Sharon's spot in a mat class, don't fuck it up further by taking Jane's spot on the front left hand side 😱

Original poster
AliceRR · 15/05/2019 10:13

Yeah I called and they said 7 am which I don’t have a problem with really as long as I can get on that way

I’ve worked out now which classes I’d want to do (there are pilates and yoga at different times and on different days) so I need to set the alarm the day before!

OP posts:
shitholiday2018 · 15/05/2019 09:32

Ok but same applies. If classes are high demand, you have it be one of the first in. Ask about when classes are released on the app. You’ll get into the habit, promise!

Original poster
AliceRR · 15/05/2019 09:28

It’s NH

OP posts:
shitholiday2018 · 15/05/2019 09:25

This is DL isn’t it? Yes I put reminder in my phone when they are released. Ask the gym what time they are released ( they will happily tell you) and set your timer. Ours are released 8 days ahead, so on Sunday morning I can book a class for the following Monday morning. You have to be the first one there or you don’t get in. It’s just organisation, not favouritism.

Original poster
AliceRR · 15/05/2019 09:21

So I managed to book on as fifth person in the waitlist for a pilates class a week tomorrow - great! 🙄

OP posts:
Original poster
AliceRR · 13/05/2019 10:12

my gym does the same, releases the classes at 7am for example Mondays classes at 7am on the previous sunday

You’re right this is what my gym does. I thought I could book until a week today but actually I can book now up to a week tomorrow (Tuesday)

I am on the waitlist for a few classes but it’s difficult to plan my week without knowing which ones I’ll get on

I still want to go through the timetable and pick one pilates class and one yoga class and then get up early (the day before I think) to book on

OP posts:
Starbonnet123 · 13/05/2019 09:33

If your at nuffield gym the classes go live at 7am but if you book and find that you can't go you have got the option to cancel and then somebody takes your place

Starbonnet123 · 13/05/2019 09:17

Hi , my gym does the same, releases the classes at 7am for example Mondays classes at 7am on the previous sunday . The only way i get my classes is to take my phone to bed and set my alarm for 6.50 book my class and go back to sleep if its weekend

Loopytiles · 13/05/2019 08:49

Mac, hope you asked about the booking policy and complained.

Lelly, I wish my gym did that! One gym I visit occasionally does occasional “spot checks” at the door with a register, doesn’t need to happen that often to reduce people turning up with no place.

LellyMcKelly · 13/05/2019 08:39

I remember going to a popular aqua class as my local gym. There were 28 people in the pool instead of the max 20 allowed. The instructor had to go and get the register and call out everyone’s name. If your name wasnt on the list you had to leave the pool - talk about the walk of shame 😂

frenchknitting · 13/05/2019 08:27

Often I join the waiting list at number 15+, and still get a place on the day. It's an early morning class and there are penalties for not turning up without booking so people do tend to cancel the night before if they can't face setting the alarm that early.

So I'd join the waiting list as early as possible and plan to be in the gym in case you get a last minute spot.

Loopytiles · 13/05/2019 08:10

They won’t put on more classes if they can meet their targets for member numbers without doing so, and save on instructor pay.

Mac47 · 13/05/2019 00:15

At my old gym, I was actually advised during my induction that I shouldn't bother with trying to get into Pilates as it was "too cliquey" so i would never get in.

Original poster
AliceRR · 12/05/2019 23:13

There's an electronic waiting list with emails sent for spaces

I think my gym does similar but there are often a lot of people on the waitlist anyway and I’ve never got one before for a yoga or pilates class. It’s hard to plan around that too sometimes. I just want to be able to book on.

With a private gym you shouldn't need to set an alarm for 7am 8 days before to get a place. That's ridiculous.

I agree. There’s clearly demand for more classes.

OP posts:
VanessaShanessaJenkins · 12/05/2019 22:47

Sounds like they need to put on more classes. Given classes is what I joined for I'd be very unhappy if I didn't get to do the ones I wanted. With a private gym you shouldn't need to set an alarm for 7am 8 days before to get a place. That's ridiculous.

lisasimpsonssaxophone · 12/05/2019 21:40

StrawberrySquash sounds like we go to the same chain! If I’m on the waiting list then I usually get a space maybe 2 out of 3 times, which isn’t so bad.

That reminds me, must book my spin class in 20 mins!

StrawberrySquash · 12/05/2019 17:19

My gym they fine you if you don't cancel at least 2 hours in advance. Not ideal if you get stuck at work, but it means people do cancel, rather than just fail to turn up. There's an electronic waiting list with emails sent for spaces. It mostly works. If I stick myself on the list I get a place more often than not. Could your gym do similar?

Cakeisbest · 12/05/2019 16:30

At my gym full members can and do book their favourite classes as soon as the app goes live and then cancel if something comes up that prevents them going, so you need to keep checking multiple times daily until you get a cancellation.

lisasimpsonssaxophone · 12/05/2019 16:20

At my gym you get fined £3 if you cancel with less than 2 hours’ notice. I normally have quite a lot of success getting in from the waiting list if I haven’t been quick enough to get a space.

Swipe left for the next trending thread