Gym closed? Don’t sweat it.
With fitness studios and gyms closed due to the spread of COVID-19, many of us are looking for ways to stay active and fit at home. Thanks to extensive virtual offerings, you don’t need fancy equipment to build strength and burn calories.
Virtual Variety
While Peloton is well known for its expensive spin bike and treadmill, the Peloton digital app features thousands of live and recorded classes, including yoga, meditation, cardio, strength, stretching, outdoor, and more. Classes run anywhere from 10 minutes to over an hour. As a Peloton devotee, I find their instructors to be top-notch and the workouts effective.
Obé Fitness is another service that includes a wide range of 4000+ live and on-demand classes spanning cardio, strength, and yoga. One friend cited that she enjoys the dance and rhythmic workouts. Classes are 28 minutes long, with a selection of 10-minute express offerings.
Active POPSUGAR features over 500 toning, dance cardio, yoga workouts, and more, with new classes added monthly. Their multiweek fitness plans are structured challenges to help you meet your fitness goals. And did I mention, it’s FREE.
Raise the Barre
I usually attend in-studio barre classes twice a week. After my third child was born in December 2017, and I found it challenging to get to my regular classes, I tried a variety of on-demand barre programs, including Bar Method, Barre3, and Physique57. While I still prefer in-studio classes, there’s a lot of burning and shaking you can achieve from home using a chair (no barre required).
Pure Barre, which has studios in White Plains, Mount Kisco, and Bronxville, also has an extensive on-demand library and is live-streaming daily classes for their members.
If you aren’t a devotee to one particular barre style, I recommend taking advantage of the various trial offers to familiarize yourself with the style, instructors, and interface before committing to a monthly subscription.
Find Your Zen
Self-care in times of uncertainty can be more critical than ever. A regular yoga practice can help ease stress and anxiety. Your heart center is just a click away.
There are several popular virtual yoga programs, including CorePower Yoga, Glo, Gaia, and Alo Moves. If you’re looking for a program that incorporates Pilates and yoga moves, the Melissa Wood Health Method features a series of low impact movements to create long, lean lines.
Stick to Your Routine
If you’re a regular at a boutique fitness studio, you may be pleasantly surprised to find that many studios are leveraging social media and online classes to keep their members and followers engaged during closures.
For example, Orangetheory Fitness is posting a daily workout on their YouTube page. Barry’s is hosting Barry’s At-Home workouts daily on Instagram. StretchLab and Club Pilates are sharing workouts regularly through Facebook.
Fit Inn Tarrytown, which provides small group classes and personal training, has introduced 30-minute virtual classes, capped at 8 students to offer “all the form correction and witty humor of regular classes.”
Get Personal
Many personal trainers are now moving towards virtual sessions for new and existing clients to provide individualized attention and interactive experiences.
According to Westchester-based personal trainer and physical therapist, Emily Rappaport, virtual personal training is particularly beneficial if you’re injury-prone or have specific needs. Rappaport uses FaceTime with her clients and works with them to make sure their device is set up so she can see their complete form. She tailors the workouts based on what clients have (and don’t have) available in their homes.
The best way to find a personal trainer, besides through a gym or fitness center, is to rely on word of mouth or social media. Be sure to check references.
Make It a Family Affair
Kids need daily movement to replace physical education and afterschool activities.
I discovered Cosmic Kids Yoga on YouTube (also available on Amazon Prime) a couple years ago when desperately trying to keep my children busy during a snow day. There are a variety of fun themes, including Trolls, Moana, dinosaurs, mermaids, and Frozen.
GoNoodle is a new program we started since we’ve been isolated at home. Their many short and often silly videos get kids moving and dancing along. Our favorites are Never Eat Soggy Waffles, Repeat the Beat, and Banana Banana Meatball.
Live stream programs are also available for children. The Well Center in Armonk, which offers mindful movement and healing treatments, now hosts virtual offerings via Zoom, including Kids Yoga on Fridays and Middle School Yoga on Wednesdays.
Just Move
Technology has made it possible for us to remain active at home, with or without equipment. Fitness is a way to find a community and stay connected. It’s good for your body and your soul. Whatever you choose to do for exercise while we navigate difficult times, just move.
