With many of us temporarily locked out of our gyms, or confined to the four walls of our home (we’re looking at you 14-day isolation, you frustrating and entirely necessary beast), here is no better time to wander into your living room, turn the TV on and hit play on… an online workout.
Without the barriers of having to find two matching socks and actually get up and walk out the front door, we really have no excuses left. So, let’s change the game and have this COVID-19 isolation give us the opportunity to find our healthiest and fittest selves yet.
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Plus, exercise has been proven to ease anxiety and improve your mental health. So if you don’t want to do it for your body, do it for your brain.
Here’s our edit of the best workout apps and online tools for an at-home sweat sesh.
#1 Keep it Cleaner
KIC’s online fuss-free program run by Laura Henshaw and Steph Claire-Smith offers HIIT, strength, boxing, meditation and yoga workouts all available without having to leave the comfort of your own home (not that you really had the option anyway…).
Image credit: @keepitcleaner
#2 Down Dog
For all you homebound yogi’s out there, Down Dog lets you personalise your flow by selecting the intensity, length and style of yoga that best suits your practice. You can even customise your savasana period, in case you need an extra minute (or 10) to unwind.
And the best news is, the app is currently free until the end of the week, (1st April 2020)!
They also offer a Barre version for those who like a more Pilates based work out.
#3 Flow Athletic
Flow Athletic’s studio located in Sydney’s (normally) bustling suburb of Paddington, is run by trainer Ben Lucas and Yoga extraordinaire Kate Kendall. The duo have quickly adapted to our current climate and are offering over 60 + live streamed classes per week.
If you’re looking for a strength, Pilates, Yoga or spin (yes it helps if you’ve got a bike) then check out Flow Athletic and join a live virtual workout with some of Australia’s top trainers.
#4 Joja
You’d be hard pressed to find anyone who wouldn’t be motived by Victoria’s Secret models and friends Jospehine Skriver and Jasmin Tookes. They are sharing their work outs via the @joja Instagram and Youtube channel here.
So grab your housemate, partner, soft toy, dog.. and have a go at one of their videos. It doesn’t say anywhere in the fine print that you won’t turn into a super model after one session.
Image credit: @joja
If you’ve been wanting to try Kylie Jenner’s hips and waist routine, or Meghan Markle’s arm, butt and ab work out. Jump on over to Blogilates youtube channel, along with the 4.8 million subscribers and get squatting.
Founder, Cassey Ho leaves no workout stone unturned, with her quick body-blasting videos – all of which are apartment friendly!
#6 Fluid Form Pilates
With a loyal celeb following including Lara Worthington and Phoebe Burgess, founder of the popular Sydney Pilates studio, Kirsten King, is bringing her one-on-one sessions to the comfort of your living room.
Access over 150 custom Pilates workouts, suitable from beginner level to advanced, and start lengthening your limbs and toning up your tummy.
Plus, receive a free equipment pack including exercises disks, bands and a ball when you sign up, here.
Image credit: @fluidformpilates
#7 Peaches Pilates
For full-body toning, Peaches Pilates offers both high-intensity workouts and soothing yoga sessions, with weekly live sessions that include ab workouts, booty-burning routines and boxing videos guaranteed to raise your heart rate.
Plus, if working from home has got your neck and back in all sorts of pain, Peaches also offers posture-improving videos to relieve muscle pain and straighten you out.
Image credit: @peachespilates
#8 Kirsty Godso
Nike Master Trainer Kirsty Godso is offering free quick workouts via her Instagram page. The mobility, core, strength and cardio mashups are completely free and available to you anytime. Just visit her page @kirstygodso and have a scroll. *Kirsty’s abs are not guaranteed*
Image credit: @kirstygodso
#9 The Pilates Class
Designed for every ‘body’, The Pilates Class offers a one-size-fits-all workout platform.
Whether you prefer the ballet-inspired Barre, mat Pilates, high-intensity interval training or a deep stretch, founder Jacqui Kingswell brings you her own personal method of getting into shape and staying there.
Image credit: @thepilatesclass
If a quarantine six-pack or yogi guru headstand isn’t your goal. Then have a go at some of these just to keep your mental health in check and add some routine and structure into your day:
- JS Health app
- Centrfit – Free for 6 weeks!
Main image credit: @cyd_morris
Have you tried any of these apps or online tools? Are there any others you’d recommend?
I do the Sam Wood program and lately he’s been doing free daily workouts, that are also kid friendly. Love them.
I was going to go for a walk outside but it’s raining! I miss going to the gym so I think I’m going to use the one pair of weights I have at home, listen to my music and do some squats, lunges, arm work and then ab exercises.
I definitely need to look into these. I keep complaining about my mum bod and not doing anything about it. Time to get motivated. Thanks for the inspo
I LOVE blogalites – Cassey does fab short workout videos that are super easy to follow and she has lots of different fun ones for different parts of the body.
Haha…I thought that my nickname is one in the world….now seeing here number 4. omg! What! =D
Will have a peek for sure! Even though I do my own thing.
One thing to keep in mind: no exercise, no workout will correct what one has done with bad diet. Just please eat healthy, plenty of fresh fruit and veg every day is crucial! And if possible avoid animal based stuffs….besides, this is where all bad viruses and bacteria did and do come from.
Love you all, take care! x
I’ve never used anything like this before, but they certainly do appeal, especially Blogilates. I’ll check it out.
This is very timely. I had only gone back to the gym for 2 weeks before the shutdown. Really miss it and not good at home exercise.
If only there was an app to motivate!
I’ve never tried any of them but it looks like i might be soon.
This is good now that we are home
We had a similar email at work today about how to keep fit and healthy through this.
At this stage, I’m OK walking around the block a few times, or to my local shops, instead of catching the bus to the shopping centre. If we go into a stricter lockdown, I’ll get on the exercise bike.
The keep it cleaner facebook sessions look really tempting. So little exercise at home.
Im going to be getting exercise today. I have to drop a car at the mechanics this morning and then im going to walk 1.5km to the local shopping center and will hang there until the car is fixed and ready to be collected when I will walk back there to pick it up. That will do me for today.
Great that there are Fitness Apps for those who want to keep active through this very difficult time.
Going to the gym 3 times a week is part of my routine for the past few years. I have been trying to do stuff at home but it’s harder to be disciplined and push on when it gets hard (I need someone to shout ‘keep going!’ at me!)….thanks for the list of apps to check out!
I have to go with what my body is comfortable doing so I’ve been enjoying a 20-30 minute power walk once or twice a day. I can always do more if I feel inclined.
I need to get back onto a fitness routine at home. So hard to be motivated at home. But I have to eat healthy and stay strong in my body
Does dancing count? Coz I just dance when noones around.
These all make me soo happy since being stuck indoors.
Down Dog is my all time fave so I think I might mx it up a bit with some new workouts.
I have not tried any exercise apps or on line tools. There looks to be quite a few different ones.
I go for a run most days
Ive been trying to go for walks, but will def try out some of these channels.
There’s so many online exercise options. Lots of freebies too. You’re only limited by your own willingness and motivation. I’ve got an interval timer app which I love. I create my own timed circuits. I like Joe Wicks, Kayla Itsines, Body Boss, Blogilates to name a few
Sad my Yoga class has been cancelled for now but I do love walking – anything that clears my mind is what makes me feel good. A beautiful bird, a pretty flower a kangaroo staring – isn’t nature wonderful.
I like Les Mills On Demand because I do Les Mills classes at the gym. It is a lot harder to get motivated at home though.
Online workout videos are so handy!
Need to try this now that gyms are shut and it is hard to exercise without aid.
There are a couple of online videos I love – one is Fitness for Over 50s, and the other is Leslie Sansone’s walking at home videos.
My work asked a group of us to start working from home on the 18th March as a trail (the trial was initially meant to be for 3.5 weeks) and by the next Monday they advised everyone else that our office doors were being locked from 5pm until further notice and that everyone needed to take with them everything they needed from the office to work remotely. I am so glad that I work for a place where the vast majority of us can work from home (the only issue is the internet which is super slow during work hours! The first few days were fine but it got worse and worse after that).
Routine is the key, I usually have commute to work which is over a hour one way. I have been waking up at around the same time (maybe 15min later) and get ready to go out for a fast 40min to 1 hour long walk before having a rinse and getting dressed for work. I do not like exercise but this is the only way I am getting some movement in my day. I also take shorter walks at lunch and after work.
I am going to hate it when they say that we can only leave our homes for essential travel and that we can no longer go for walks for the sake of getting our steps up.
I have already installed Down Dog as I have already completed their beginners program and(someone else told me that they were doing a free trail until 1 April for the full version. I just checked and it is now completely free during Covid-19!
I don’t like exercise but I know that I need to keep moving so hopefully I will use this when I can’t go out for walks due to bad weather.
Thanks for telling me about Barre, they called it Ballet Workouts, they are free until 1 May, same with another one of their apps called HIIT | Interval Workouts by Down Dog.
A lot of people are not good at home exercise, rather than exercise I try to keep my steps up. 10,000 a day is my aim (I am ever happy with 8,000 as long as I get 10,000 most days).
At lot of people went out to buy exercise equipment because of the fear that we would be locked down to our homes. If it comes to that I will need to make the time to follow work outs in the space of my room as I don’t have the space for a bike, I can imagine getting only a few hundred steps completed in a day if it came to that.
In the book “Papillon” the main character was in solitary confinement in a prison in French Guyana. He kept his sanity (& health) by pacing up & down his tiny cell. I saw a guy online training for a marathon by running up & down his small balcony! He said the worst bit was motion sickness from constantly turning around.
If you’re REALLY cramped for space, there’s always running on the spot or jumping jacks. To be honest, I’d rather just sit on my butt & let it all slide. Haha!
I would love to sit on my but and let it all slide! With a few months supply of chocolate to go with that! But I fear that I am getting to an age where if I don’t get a good amount of movement in (even if it is just walking, which is my preferred option) I start to feel stiff and sore! I have enough space to walk up and down in the court yard or between rooms, if worse comes to worse, might need to move the furniture a bit knowing how uncoordinated I am I will be bruised from head to foot!
I have struggles with commitment but when I do some yoga or stretches I really notice the difference in my body and mind
I find there are plenty of YouTube videos for whatever exercise you want, some better than others. You can just search for the duration and type of exercise you want and there is always something! I’m still working but if I have to stay at home it will be hard to exercise enough.
This is perfect, thank you!
Such a great article BH I am exploring the different exercise options today.
I know this really gives me no excuses, but give me time…….I’m sure I can come up with one.
I am going to check a couple of these out, thank you!
I remember when years ago I when my children were little, I would switch on the TV and start my morning work out. The aerobics show was pretty good and gave you some really good moves with warm up and warm down.
I have’t seen these apps before
An interesting way to keep you in track.
Some great ones to try!!!
Time and motivation are still issues for me
I downloaded Centr (because it had 6 weeks free haha – perfect for iso!) and I find I can use it everyday.. I’ll be moving to another program though once I get some resistance bands (Natacha Ocean has a new home guide and boooy am I both afraid and excited)
I don’t do work outs any more. Got enough workout doing my packing for my big relocation to place yet unknown.
I haven’t used any of these apps
Definitely finding it harder to be motivated at home. But I also think we need to be easy on ourselves during this terrible time