Best At-Home Workouts: Pandemic Edition

If you’re a regular at a local gym, yoga studio or fitness club, the COVID-19 pandemic has probably totally thrown you off your game. On top of everything else we’re trying to muck through right now, losing that physical outlet is yet another misfortune. 

The good news is, a number of local fitness studios, like so many other workplaces, have worked to transition their services online as much as possible. So make sure to check if your favorite local workout spots have any remote offerings. It may not be quite the same as an in-person class or training session, but there’s comfort in the familiar right now, plus you’d be supporting your local businesses and economy.

If you’re still struggling to get into a new routine at home, below are some of what we think are the best at-home workouts, both free and subscription-based. 

*Don’t beat yourself up over lost time or barely-there motivation — just give something a try and see how you feel. Exercise has all kinds of health — and especially important right now, mental health — benefits, even in short bouts. If something resonates with you, awesome. If not, throw it out along with all the other #shitwedontneedrightnow, and try something else. 

Working Out With Kids at Home

Most of us are trying to squeeze in physical exercise with kids in tow (or in utero!), which can be tricky. Of course, everyone’s preferences when it comes to exercising with children are different, but we personally love a quicker (< 30 minutes), high-energy option for when kids are awake, and saving things like yoga flows or longer workouts for naps, early mornings, or after bed (because: sun salutations are not about plowing through many and frequent interruptions). In any event, there’s something here for everyone, and with so many free and affordable options out there, you can feel good about mixing things up — or even create your own calendar.

Best At-Home Workouts — Free:

• Bodyfit by Amy — Free videos led by personal trainer Amy; workouts range from 10 to 45 minutes in length and offerings include cardio, HIIT, pilates, strength training, pre- and post-natal fitness, and (new!) mommy-and-me classes. Amy is great, and if you subscribe to her newsletter she sends out a monthly calendar so you don’t even have to worry about choosing what to do.
• Fitness Blender — Fitness Blender was created by a husband/wife team (both are physical trainers). The site has hundreds of free workout videos varying from 5-90 minutes long; offerings include pilates, HIIT, boxing, cardio, strength training, etc. I love that you can search FB easily for a certain length/type of class as well as body area focus (i.e. legs, abs, etc.), and equipment needed. 
• Nike Training Club — This app offers hundreds of the best at-home workouts ranging from yoga and kick-boxing to HIIT and lifting; search for workouts individually or enroll in any number of curated regimens. Their premium (upgraded) subscription is currently free. 

• POPSUGAR Fitness — POPSUGAR’s workout video library is so extensive, it’s almost overwhelming… offerings range from quickies (just a few minutes) to the real deal (30-45 minutes), and include pilates/barre/yoga, dance cardio, HIIT, strength training, and more; if you think variety is the spice of life, this is a good place to land. 
• Orange Theory — For those of you who can’t live without your OT fix (we totally hear you!), you don’t have to. During quarantine, Orange Theory is offering all its cult-fav workouts free on its website, via instagram, or at the Orange Theory App. #OrangetheoryAtHome
• Corepower Yoga — Everyone gets free access to weekly online classes during the pandemic. Namaste.
• Bikini Body Mommy — Many readers recommend this site, especially for efficient pre- and post-natal workouts; most workouts are under 20 minutes and require a mat and light handheld weights (optional).

If you’re currently pregnant and want to learn more about exercising during pregnancy, read our synopsis: Don’t Sweat It. If you’re postpartum and wondering what’s up, check out Postpartum Fitness.

Best At-Home Workouts — Subscription-Based:

• Barre3 (~$29/month after free 15-day trial) — Choose from a wide array of full-body workouts that combine strength conditioning, cardio and mindfulness. You’ll need a mat, and though many workouts call for light weights, a core ball, and a resistance band, if you don’t have them, no problem; all workouts can be done without as well. 

• Daily Burn (~$19/month after 30-day trial) — Offers access to over 1,000 workouts, which include cardio, yoga, dance, Pilates, strength conditioning and more. The Daily Burn 365 workout program is also a cool feature — it’s a live 30-minute workout aired for members every morning at 9:00 am EST (no equipment needed). If you miss it, no problem — you can watch it later on-demand on the Daily Burn 365 page.
• mXe Movement Studio (~$35/month after 7-day trial) — mXe (sounds like “moxie”) is a fun workout community with a matching catalog of online classes ranging from strength, to cardio mix, to choreographed dance, to barre, to HIIT, to yoga, and more.  Most classes are 60 minutes, though there are some “quickies” that range from 10-30 minutes in length. Some equipment (think weights, bands, mat, etc.) is ideal for some classes, but others require no equipment at all. 

• Beachbody On Demand (~$39/3 months after free 14-day trial, or $99/year) — Sign up for unlimited access to all the best infomercial-worthy exercise programs (kidding!) from your pre-kid days (not kidding); yes, this is where you can get your fill of Tony Horton, Shaun T and tons of other new faces; not for the faint of heart! 
• Peloton (~$13/month after 90-day trial) — Contrary to what you may think, you don’t need a bike to use Peloton (it’s true, I swear). This app has a ton of live and on-demand classes to choose from, such as strength, core, yoga, cardio, running/walking (both indoor and outdoor), cycling, stretching and bootcamp. Workouts range in length, running anywhere from 5 to 60 minutes, and everything in between; some utilize equipment (weights, bike, treadmill, etc.) and some don’t. 
• Glo Yoga (~$18/month after free 15-day trial) — Yogis everywhere are obsessed with Glo’s simplicity, variety, and high-quality classes (one reviewer beamed that it was the only yoga subscription to rival taking an in-person class); membership comes with access to thousands of classes with dozens of teachers in all different yoga styles (and meditation); take a three-question survey when you sign up for classes tailored to your preferences… and then get your flow on. 

• Obe Fitness (~$27/month or $199/year after 7-day trial) — Offers beginner, intermediate and advanced cardio, strength and yoga classes that you can do live or on-demand at your convenience. Most classes are 28 minutes — brief, yet highly effective (note that some classes are longer). No equipment is needed for beginner-level classes, but the more advanced sessions use resistance loops, hand and ankle weights, and sliders.
• Mommastrong (~$5/month) — This reader-recommended subscription service costs just $5/month; there’s some optional equipment involved, but you’ll want at least a mat to get started; pick from one of four programs (prenatal, immediate postnatal, postpartum, and beyond) and commit to just 15 minutes/daily. 

Good luck moving, friends! What are the best at-home workouts you’ve tried? If you have suggestions to add, leave them in the comments below!

See also: Spring Athleisure and Maternity Workout Clothes

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