Why We Don't Use ClassPass

And Why That's Actually Good News

If you're reading this you probably noticed we're not on ClassPass. Maybe you're frustrated by that. Maybe you're curious. Maybe you think we're leaving money on the table or being difficult for no reason.
Fair enough – let us explain why!

We Get It

ClassPass solved a real problem. Before it existed, trying new studios meant paying $25-35 for a single drop-in class, which added up fast if you were genuinely exploring your options. ClassPass made discovery affordable and easy. That's valuable, especially when you're new to yoga or new to a city.
We're not anti-ClassPass. We're not judging people who use it. If you're in that exploration phase, honestly, keep going. Find what resonates. Try different styles, different teachers, different environments.
But here's the thing: we're not built for explorers. We're built for people who are ready to commit to their growth. And ClassPass and commitment don't live at the same address.

Here's What ClassPass Actually Costs (That Nobody Talks About)

The Studio Economics Are Brutal
Here's what ClassPass doesn't advertise: if you book a class through their platform that would normally gross us $25, we get about $4. Sometimes less.
And it gets worse – ClassPass forces studios to provide first classes for free to new users. So your first visit? We get literally zero dollars while still paying our instructor, keeping the lights on, and cleaning the studio after you leave.
We're supposed to deliver the same quality experience, the same expert instruction, the same community care – for $4 per person. Or nothing.
We have two choices: slash our standards to make the economics work, or charge our committed members more to subsidize people who won't commit. We refuse to do either. The people who show up and invest in themselves shouldn't have to subsidize those who won't.
You Never Stop Being a Stranger
Walk into any ClassPass-heavy studio and look around. You'll see it: a room full of people who don't know each other's names. Instructors who can't personalize because they don't know your injuries, your goals, or where you were last week.
Community doesn't happen by accident. It happens when the same people show up, week after week, and actually get to know each other. When the instructor remembers that your left shoulder is tight, or that you're working on a specific pose, or that you just went through something hard and need a gentle class today.
ClassPass optimizes for variety. We optimize for depth. Those are fundamentally different experiences.
Your Practice Never Actually Progresses
Here's what nobody tells you about the ClassPass shuffle: you're probably getting a different instruction every single week. One teacher says engage your core this way. Another says the opposite. One studio's vinyasa is another studio's power flow.
If you're serious about yoga – not just checking a workout box, but actually getting better at it – you need consistency. You need to build on what you learned last week. You need a teacher who knows where you're struggling and where you're ready to be pushed.
Hopping around feels like freedom, but it's actually what keeps you stuck at the same level year after year.
The Mental Load Is Real
If you've used ClassPass for more than a few months, you know: you're constantly doing credit math. Can I afford this class? Is this studio "worth" 10 credits versus that one that's only 7? Should I save my credits for next week?
You're making financial calculations every time you want to practice. That's not freedom – that's exhausting.
Compare that to a membership: you just … go. No math. No guilt. No wondering if you're "getting your money's worth" from this particular class. You show up because you're part of something, not because you're optimizing a credits budget.

What We Chose Instead

We made a decision early on: we'd rather build something deep than something wide.
We chose to be a home base, not a stop on a tour. We chose personalized instruction over packing the room. We chose community over convenience. We chose to work with people who are ready to commit to themselves, even when it's uncomfortable.
Does that mean we're smaller than we could be? Probably. Does it mean we turn away potential revenue? Definitely.
But it also means that when you walk in here, you're not a credit transaction. You're a person. The instructor knows your name. The people on the mat next to you become your friends. And your practice actually evolves because there's continuity and care.
That's what we're protecting by staying off ClassPass.

What This Means For You

If you're still in exploration mode – genuinely trying to figure out what style of yoga works for you, what kind of teachers you connect with, what studio vibe feels right – then keep exploring. ClassPass is perfect for that phase. Use it, learn from it, and find your fit.
But if you've been on ClassPass for six months or a year, bouncing around, never quite finding your place? The problem isn't that you haven't found the right studio yet. The problem is that you haven't made a decision.
At some point, growth requires commitment. Not because commitment is virtuous, but because transformation doesn't happen when you're always hedging your bets.
Let's Talk About The Money
"But ClassPass is cheaper."
You're right. It is.
If you're taking 2-3 classes a month and bouncing between studios, ClassPass absolutely wins on price, no argument there.
But here's the question that matters: Is price the only thing that matters to you?
Our unlimited membership is $99/month. If you come twice a week – which is often what it actually takes to see real progress – that's about $12 per class. ClassPass works out cheaper per class if you're casual about it.
But here's what you're actually comparing:
ClassPass at $49/month:
You take 3-4 classes scattered across different studios
Different teachers, different styles, different rooms every time
Nobody knows your name, or your body
You're locked out of prime time slots (members get priority)
You're doing credit math every time you want to book
At the end of the year, you're basically the same practitioner you were at the beginning
Membership at $99/month:
You can come as many times as you want (most members average 8-12 classes per month once they commit)
Same community, teachers who know your progression, personalized adjustments
Book any class, any time – no rationing, no waitlist penalties
At the end of the year, your practice has genuinely transformed
So yes, ClassPass is cheaper if you're treating yoga like a casual hobby. But if you're serious about actually getting better – not just showing up, but genuinely progressing – then you're comparing the wrong numbers.
You're not comparing the cost per class. You're comparing the cost of staying stuck versus the investment in actual growth.
The real question isn't "Can I afford $99/month?"
It's: "Is my growth worth an extra $50/month?"
If the answer is no, then honestly, ClassPass is the right call for you right now. But if the answer is yes – if you're tired of dabbling and ready to commit – then the membership isn't expensive. It's the obvious choice.

The Bottom Line

We're not for everyone, and that's the point.
Some studios are built to serve the masses. They're on every platform, they pack the rooms, they optimize for volume. That's a legitimate business model, and there's nothing wrong with it.
We're just playing a different game.
We're building something for people who are done exploring and ready to grow. People who want to be known, not just counted. People who understand that the things that change your life aren't convenient – they're committed.
ClassPass optimizes for variety. We optimize for transformation. You can't have both.
And honestly? We're okay with that.If this resonates with you – if you're tired of being a stranger everywhere you go, if you're ready to stop shopping and start growing – here's how to join us: https://phoenixpower.yoga/
If it doesn't resonate, we genuinely wish you well. Keep exploring. Find what works. But understand: we won't be on ClassPass next month, next year, or ever. Because what we're building here is worth protecting.
And the people who get it? They're worth waiting for.