The method, in plain English.
Short version: real places only, facts from their own websites, dates on everything, and nobody pays to be here.
What gets in
- Real and open. A place is listed only if its own website shows it's operating now, with an address or a meeting point. If we can't confirm it, it's out, however famous it is.
- Somewhere a newcomer can start. A free class, a first-class price, a day pass, a fun run anyone can join. Members-only clubs with no way in don't help you today.
- A spread of prices. Free options sit next to boutique ones on purpose. NYC has a lot of good free exercise (NYC Parks classes, NYRR Open Run, run clubs), and we'd rather you found it.
Where the facts come from
Every price, address, time and booking link comes from the place's own website (or, for public programs, the organizer's), and each place's page lists the pages we checked and the date. The most recent check was on 2026-10-14. Prices are theirs, in their words. If a place doesn't publish a price, we say "price on their site" rather than guess.
We can't see live availability, so we never say a class has space. The button on every place goes to its own schedule or booking page.
Have we been?
Not to most of them, yet. A place's page says "We went" with a date only when someone from Fitness Jesus actually has. Until then it says "We haven't been yet." We'd rather be honest than impressive.
How the finder ranks
It's a few plain rules, not an algorithm with opinions:
- Your mood and budget are hard limits. Your part of town is too, except for things that run all over the city, like park runs.
- Among what fits, a place in your exact area comes first, then one that says beginners are welcome (if you said you're new), then free and cheaper ones.
- The top three are kept varied, so you don't get three spin studios.
- Ties rotate once a day, so the same place doesn't win forever.
- Seasonal things (summer yoga, outdoor boxing) drop out of results when their season ends, and come back when it starts.
Money
Nobody pays to be listed or to rank higher, and nobody can. We don't earn commission on any link today. If that changes, the link will say so right next to it, and it still won't change the order. See how we make money.
Spotted a mistake?
Prices and schedules change. Tell us and we'll check and fix it, usually within a few days.