Here’s How To Workout During Quarantine
Because you’re living in those yoga pants anyway
Under these extraordinary circumstances, it’s easy to let your normal workout routine completely drop off. Luckily, there are tons of live and on-demand streaming services you can utilize during this strange time at home. Most programs are even offering long free trials and some equipment is dropping in price.
Here are some of the services and equipment I tried that can help keep you on track while you’re stuck at home…
Streaming Services
Obé Fitness — This service features live and on-demand classes that give off an ’80s group class vibe. The pastel walls and upbeat NYC-based instructors will keep you motivated throughout the week. Some of my favorites — Cardio Boxing and Dance HIIT. $27/month, obefitness.com
Peloton Digital App — One of the more widely known choices, the Peloton App offers live and on-demand classes ranging from strength and boot camp to cycling and yoga. Some classes will require a treadmill or bike so keep in mind if those types of classes are important to your routine. I love the concept of fitting in a cycling class whenever I have time during the workday and choosing the type of music I want to spin to. There is also a 90-day free trial happening right now so definitely utilize before signing up. $12.99/month, peloton.com
Aaptiv — This app is great if you’re itching to get outside and do something active. It’s audio-only which makes it great for workouts like running and cycling. Aaptiv also has classes for yoga, strength training, and other indoor workouts. There’s currently about 2,500 classes and more added each week. You can pick workouts based on time, level, trainer and even choose the music you want. $99 per year with a free seven-day trial or $14.99 per month (without a trial), aaptiv.com
Equipment
Bowflex C6 Bike — Not everyone can afford the Peloton bike so luckily there are a lot of other reasonably priced options on the market. The C6 bike has an open platform allowing you to access connected apps of your choice — including Peloton. I was able to use this bike with all of the Peloton cycling classes making it seem as if I already had the Peloton-specific bike (for a fraction of the price). All you need is your own tablet. I also could connect my bike’s cadence to the app by using Bluetooth so I could keep up with the rest of the class. The bike is sleek and extremely modern looking and you can literally hear a pin drop while using this bike it’s that quiet. Don’t forget to grab a mat too if you want to protect your floors from any accidental scratches. $949, bowflex.com
Bowflex SelectTech 560 Dumbbells — While using some of the streaming apps, you’ll notice some instructors give you ways to ‘level up’ with hand weights or resistance bands. That’s where these dumbbells come in. With this set, you’re getting weights ranging from 5–60 pounds so you’ll have the right weight whenever you need it. Changing the weight is super easy and simply requires twisting the weights to the amount you need. They may look intimidating but they are one of the best sets I’ve used for training at home. $549, bowflex.com
Resistance Bands — Although most streaming services offer their own equipment and accessories, they can sometimes be pretty pricey. I used these resistance bands from Walmart and they were just as useful as any other expensive option. Some of the bands did feel the same in terms of resistance and I personally felt the X-Heavy was the only challenging one. $12, walmart.com
Mirror — The Mirror combines HIIT, yoga, boxing, and personal training all into one. The design blends into any room in your home that a mirror would be a natural piece of decor. There are 70+ new live classes weekly as well as on-demand classes to fit in whenever you have time. The only somewhat frustrating part is if any moves are done on the floor, you won’t be able to see yourself in the mirror. This is also one of the more expensive options and requires a $39/month prescription for classes. $1495, mirror.co
S’Well Bottle — The BBC Earth x S’well collaboration is perfect for Earth Day. Celebrates our planet while keeping you hydrated. I like S’Well bottles the best because it keeps my water ice-cold throughout my entire workout. To sweeten the deal, spend $35 and you’ll receive a free bottle with code EARTHDAY50! That’s two bottles for the price of one. $35, swell.com
