I think one of the most daunting things about maintaining a fitness routine is the fact that it requires leaving the house. Even without packing up a kid, the extra time it takes to get to and from the gym is just ridiculously daunting. (Please tell me it’s not just me!) To help remove that roadblock, here are some fun workout classes you can do at home.
Daily Burn: This program offers a variety of classes for all levels—and they vary in length too, so you can squeeze in a workout no matter how little time you have. There’s a free monthly trial, and then it’s $19.95 a month.
The Core Rehab Program: If you’re a postpartum mom looking to strengthen your core (and your pelvic floor muscles because no one needs to pee when they sneeze—seriously, you can fix that!), this is the workout class for you. Note that it currently has a waitlist and doesn’t “re-open” for new members until June 2018. And let me tell you that I am well past postpartum (except for the really real sense in that I have had a child in the past), and I think this workout sounds great. It’s very similar to the PT work I’ve been doing to try to treat persistent low back pain.
Tula Babywearing Workouts and Exercise Routines: Speaking of postpartum, here are some workouts that incorporate your little one! Check out Tula’s blog for some routines and exercises that work with babywearing. They’re not official classes, but they’re a great way to enjoy your baby while also taking some time to take care of yourself. And here’s a quote from the blog post I liked to above, “Dr. Stephanie Williams Libs, DC shares how beneficial babywearing is for your first exercise postpartum. She shares, ‘The weight of babywearing is the closest thing to having our baby bump, so it’s a slow transition adapting to not having that weight in our belly, which leads to better spine and core stability.’” That’s actually pretty cool!
Bikini Body Mommy: This is a YouTube channel with workouts you can do whenever and wherever you’re free! Most—although not all—of the videos are set up in seven series of 90-day challenges. This is great for those of us that need a goal to reach and a finish line in sight, rather than an exercise program that never seems to end. Hello, hamster on a wheel! Of course, we all know that getting in shape and taking care of our bodies is an ongoing process, but I like the feel of completing a class or, in this case, a challenge and having a sense of accomplishment at having seen something through.
VFit Studio: This is another program that offers a variety of classes, but all of VFit Studio’s classes are thirty minutes. There are multiple rate packages, which you can check out here. What I think makes this program special, though, is that classes are live and take place in real time. I have friends who are VFit Studio members and they love this program so hard; not only the workout that they get, but the virtual community that they’ve become a part of and the emotional support it can provide. And, hey, who can’t get behind exercise that’s good for your body and your soul.
Pure Barre: Another friend of mine swears by Pure Barre. She’s fortunate to live near a studio, and raves about the in-person classes. I’ve always been super-jealous, but just recently discovered that for $29.99 a month Pure Barre offers on-demand classes, too! (If this sounds fun for you, but you’re not into using a smart device to exercise, you can check out their DVDs.) Workouts range from 5 to 60 minutes, so this is another flexible option to allow you to workout whenever you can fit it into your schedule.
BeFiT YouTube Channel: This channel offers a variety of fitness videos to choose from. It doesn’t appear to be organized in any specific way, which is a bit of a struggle for me. Anything that requires a lot work on my end in order to get started isn’t really my jam. However, I know that’s not true for everyone. Plus, this resource is free, so that may be an incentive to sort through all the different options to find a few that work for you!
Gaiam A.M./P.M. Stretch DVD: I have had this DVD for years now and it’s one of my favorites. It’s clearly not a high-intensity workout, but it’s a great way to make sure I’m moving my body on non-gym days, or when I’m tired or otherwise not feeling 100%. It’s also fun to do with my six-year-old, who likes to stretch with me!
Yoga with Adriene YouTube Channel: Here’s another free option. It came recommended to me by a couple totally unconnected friends of mine. I love it because there are so many options, including a 30-day plan, a weight-loss workout, a beginners’ workout, and workouts as short as 5 minutes! There’s bound to be something that works for you.
C25K: Okay. Technically, this free app does require you to leave the house, but that’s only because it involves running. Or walking really fast. Or walking really slowly—whatever fitness level you’re at, C25K will meet you there. I can’t say enough good things about this app. When I found myself suddenly a stay-at-home parent who needed to get my kid out of the house and get my own butt moving, C25K was a great find. And it’s totally true: I was a couch potato who had never run a mile in her life who successfully trained for a 5K. Six months after finding this program, I completed my first half marathon. (To be fair, at the end of the race, instead of medals we got Tiffany necklaces handed to us by hottie butlers holding silver platters, so I was highly motivated, but still.)
Gaia: This yoga website (there’s also an app) used to be GaiamTV, from yoga powerhouse Gaiam. There are a couple different subscriptions options, which cost $9.95 a month or less after a trial month for $.99. Whether you’re looking to practice yoga, barre, tai chi, qi-gong, or Pilates for fitness, or you’re looking to incorporate the practice of yoga into your life, there’s something here for you. With the ability to stream on multiple devices, this is another awesome portable and flexible fitness option.
Class FitSugar: This website from POPSUGAR Fitness offers a collection of wildly different workout videos including workouts for “lazy girls,” high-intensity workouts, boot camp workouts, Tabata, yoga, dance, and workouts from celebrity trainers. It’s free, so poke around and see what looks fun!
Alright. You’ve got tons of options here, especially given that so many of these resources have hundreds of workouts to choose from. You can do all of them from home, and most of them wherever you can access Wi-Fi. There are free workouts, short workouts, long workouts, on-demand workouts, live workouts, intense workouts, and low-impact workouts. No excuses! Let us know what you found to help you improve your fitness and make yourself a priority in your busy life.