5 Free Places to Work Out in Cape Town

No more excuses! If you’ve long been relying on the old ‘can’t-afford-a-gym-membership’ thing, then you’re going to need to find a new shtick. There are plenty of fantastic ways to get fit without breaking the bank, or in this case, spending a cent. Cape Town, being the beautiful and temperate place that it is, is a great place to workout for free amid some pretty astounding nature, especially now with the warmer weather ahead. Run along the Sea Point Promenade, hike up the forests and mountains, practice yoga on the beach — the options are endless. Going to the gym or hiring a personal trainer, on the other hand, is a costly business, so we’ve found 5 fun free fitness classes for you to join that are totally free in the Mother City:
F45 — Woodstock
While relatively unknown in SA, this group-workout franchise has established itself as a big player in the Australian and US fitness scene, thanks to endorsements from celebrity superstars Hugh Jackman and Mark Wahlberg. Attend a class and you’ll understand why there’s such a big hype around F45 — its workouts will push your limits to superhero level and make you feel like you’ve conquered the world in a mere 45 minutes! While you can’t work out here for free all the time, the gym does offer a free 7-day trial to all newbies wanting to try out the studio.
F45 has one studio in Woodstock, Cape Town with plans to open more studios soon. For those further afield there are also studios in Somerset West and Stellenbosch. To book your free week click here.
YogaLife — De Waterkant
If you’re a beginner yogi and want to try it out to see if it’s your thing before committing, YogaLife offers free beginners classes four times a week and also gives studio newbies a 1-week free trial. Free beginners classes take place on Monday and Thursday nights from 19:30 – 20:30 as well as Sundays from 10:00 – 11:00 and 17:00 – 18:00. As for the free week, the offer includes seven consecutive days of unlimited yoga – any classes, any time of the day. This allows you to try out the different kinds of yoga on offer, from Vinyasa to Bikram, so you can find the flow that moves you.
To find out more and to see this week’s schedule click here.
Bloc 11 — Paarden Eiland
Did you know rock climbing is becoming an increasingly popular workout choice for women? Indoor rock climbing gyms offer a space to enjoy an intense calorie-burning and core strengthening workout — grappling on climbing walls allows you to use every muscle in your body and can help you burn upwards of 400 calories in just an hour. Bloc 11, an indoor climbing gym based in Paarden Eiland, offers free beginners bouldering classes every Saturday at 10:00. Just book your spot and join in!
For more information click here.
ParkRun — multiple locations
If hitting the tar is more up your alley, then ParkRun organises free weekly 5km runs in areas all over Cape Town so you can find one closest to you. Taking place in beautiful parks, these runs are open to all ages and fitness levels, from toddlers and seniors to Olympians in training. It’s a fantastic way to get your heart pumping!
For more info on upcoming events click here.
BeFit
This women’s exercise studio based in Goodwood offers free Bootcamp classes every Saturday morning. Starting at 08:30 sharp, the classes are a great way for newbies to get started on their fitness journey. Sweat it out with like-minded ladies, make some new friends, and get a weekly full-body workout that will leave you ready to tackle the weekend.
For more information click here:Â