The Old Virgin Active Free Zumba and BODYCOMBAT Classes, and How to Find Similar Offers Now

What the original 2017 promotion offered

From October to December 2017, Virgin Active opened up free access to its Zumba and BODYCOMBAT group classes to the public. Pairing these two formats made sense as a promotion, since they appeal to fairly different crowds: Zumba draws people who want a dance-based, high-energy class, while BODYCOMBAT is a martial-arts-inspired cardio format built around punches, kicks, and structured combinations set to music.

That specific three-month window closed at the end of 2017. If you are looking for a way to still register for those exact free sessions, they are no longer running. What is still relevant is understanding the format of this kind of promotion, since gyms regularly repeat similar offers under new names and dates.

Promotions like this usually ran for a fixed number of months rather than indefinitely, which meant the class schedule and available time slots often shrank as the window approached its final weeks. That is worth remembering with any current promotion you spot: book earlier rather than later.

Zumba versus BODYCOMBAT: what each class involves

If you are ever offered a free trial covering both formats, it is worth attending each at least once rather than assuming you already know which one you will prefer. Plenty of people go in expecting to love one and end up sticking with the other because the group energy or instructor style suits them better than expected.

How to find current free group class offers

Since this particular 2017 promotion is no longer active, the more useful step is checking current sources for similar offers:

• Check the gym's website or app directly for seasonal free-class campaigns.
• Ask front desk staff whether a trial pass or open house week is currently running.
• Look out for promotions tied to a new class launch, since gyms often offer free sessions when introducing a format for the first time.
• Consider a short paid trial pass if no free option exists, since many gyms offer a low-cost week or month to new visitors.

If group classes like these are new to you, pacing yourself in the first session matters. High-energy formats like BODYCOMBAT can be intense if you go all-in on the first class. Starting at a comfortable effort and building up over a few sessions tends to work better than trying to keep up with the front row on day one. A format like this can also double as a genuine stress reliever once your fitness catches up to the pace, which our guide to movement for stress covers in more depth.

Making group fitness classes part of a lasting routine

Whether it is Zumba, BODYCOMBAT, or another format entirely, group classes work well as a habit because the schedule and the group energy do a lot of the motivating for you. That said, a single free trial period will not build a routine on its own. It helps to treat a good class as the start of a plan rather than a one-off event.

If you want to build a week around a class you enjoyed, the Workout Builder can help you combine it with other training so your week feels complete rather than random. For more restored fitness content and current guidance, the fitness hub is where the SHAPE archive continues to be rebuilt.

Old promotions like this one from 2017 are a useful reminder that free class windows are always temporary. The habit worth keeping is checking directly with gyms for what is currently on offer, not waiting on an expired page to reopen.