Safe to say that moving across the country just months after having my second baby and arriving at our new house just in time for my husband to hit the road for a 4-week training had me feeling stressed. Truth be told, emotionally I wasn’t feeling it as much as I was physically, which is when a military friend recommended finding an outlet at a local gym. An opportunity to get out of the house and take some time for me a couple of days a week. But where do I even start in an area as large as the Washington DC area and how do I possibly find a budget-friendly option after the amount of money we just dropped for our PCS?
This is where Active&Fit Direct enters the chat!
Among the many imbalances of military life, finding a solution for physical fitness often ebbs and flows depending on what season of military life you’re in. While we love utilizing on-base resources when we can, sometimes that solution doesn’t make sense based on commute time, class options, or childcare availability.
Ready to learn some more??
What is Active&Fit Direct?
Active&Fit Direct is a flexible, fully loaded low-cost fitness program offered to military families that are members of USAA. The Active&Fit Direct program’s mission is to help you become more active without breaking the bank. Because let’s be honest the last thing any of us need to worry about is added financial strain just to take care of our physical health and the natural stress that comes with this lifestyle.
If you’re like me and had no idea USAA offered incredible perks like this it’s members, you can view more USAA member perks HERE.
What does it cost?
The Active&Fit Direct program offers a standard gym membership at $25/month, and/or a premium membership with 20% – 70% discounts on most exercise studios. Fees may vary based on fitness center selection. When you enroll, you’ll pay the enrollment fee and the monthly fees for the current and second month of enrollment (plus any applicable taxes). Additional fees apply if enrolling your spouse or domestic partner.
Note: there is a 2-month minimum enrollment period, and you will be required to pay the enrollment fee ($25) and both months’ membership fees upfront. After 2 months, participation and payment are month-to-month…making it easy to quickly cancel if something pops up!
What is the difference between standard and premium plans?
The standard plan is cheaper and offers more basic gym options (think…Lifetime Fitness, Planet Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Gold’s Gym, etc.) whereas the premium plan is more expensive and variable depending on what you choose and offers access to more specialized fitness options (YogaSix, Pure Barre, Club Pilates, Cycle Bar, Title Boxing, etc.)
I initially opted for the more expensive plan to take advantage of our local YogaSix studio but switched to our local Lifetime Fitness through a basic membership to help as a childcare solution for my workouts when my spouse is on the road.
How do I enroll?
Head HERE to see more information on how you can enroll through your USAA membership.
What are the perks beyond cost?
Access to childcare while you work out through certain gym locations, their Healthy Living Program which provides one-on-one coaching, and daily at-home on-demand workout classes…to name a few!
