Working Out @ Home: 23 Workout Platforms, Apps, and Live-Streams for COVID-19 Times

image borrowed from a great thrillist post about at-home workout hacks. Check it out here.

In times of stress (and self-quarantine), working out is critical. There’s a lot of content to choose from, but for those used to going to classes or gyms it may be hard to switch.

With that in mind, I’ve made a list of a few of my favorite online workout platforms, classes, and apps. Most of them at least offer free trials (yay!) and some of them are always free.

Even more exciting, they’re super varied — from boutique NYC and LA workout classes offered digitally to running apps, Instagram Live Streams, large scale platforms, and even a magazine offering free online workout videos, there’s something for everyone.

me, trying to get motivated about sweating at home

All that said, here’s the list of 23 sweat-inducing platforms, classes, and apps for those feeling a little trapped:

1. Bandier is temporarily offering a daily class on Instagram at 4pm EST. Today’s class is “sculpt society”.
2. Alo Moves gives a 15-day free trial for a variety of yoga, fitness, and mindfulness classes. There are 15 videos on their online youtube channel. If you purchase an item from their associated merchandise website, you receive a 30-day trial instead.
3. Dailyburn.com offers a 30-day free trial (Hulu’s associated workout website).
4. Zombies, Run! Is my favorite running game. It’s free but offers in app purchases for when you want a new story.
5. Nike Training Club is a free fitness app for your phone that people who travel for work rave about.
6. Youtube has a very large community of exercise gurus. If you would like a curated list of specific workouts that are minimal (relying on body-weight largely) let me know. It’s free.
7. Planet Fitness is offering online classes. The at-home workouts will be streamed on the company’s Facebook page. These classes are open to anyone, including non-members. No equipment is needed, and the classes last 20 minutes or less.
8. New York City-based yoga studio Sky Ting has meditation and yoga classes available to stream to your phone, tablet or computer 24/7. From quick yoga sequences for energy to guided meditations and full-length restorative yoga classes, there’s something for every mood. Free 7-day trial, then $20/mo.
9. The Class by Taryn Tooney is a “therapeutic stress-relieving class” involving jumping, body-weight exercises and breathing exercises (some chanting, too) set to music. It requires no equipment, but you do “need an open mind”. You can watch the classes on your smart TV, phone, tablet or computer. Free 14-day trial; $40 a month.
10. Kayla Itsines’ Sweat app has easy-to-follow resistance workouts that are just 28 minutes long. (Try her 10-minute workouts for morning energy first.) Free seven-day trial; $19.99 a month
11. Chris Hemsworth’s workout app, Centr (available to stream on iOS, Apple Watch and online). In addition to challenging high-intensity interval training, boxing and strength workouts, you also get access to meal plans (including vegan and vegetarian options) that may be a healthy respite from your stress-baking. Free seven-day trial; $10 a month
12. The fitness app and website Obe hosts more than 4,000 cardio, strength-training and stretch classes from dozens of top trainers. If you want a structured program to follow over the next two weeks, this is a great place to start. Got kids home from school? Obe even has quick, kid-friendly classes set to Kidz Bop music. Free trial; $27 a month
13. Barre3 workout offers online classes. You don’t need a lot of space or any equipment to do the barre routines, and the exercises are all low-impact (key for apartment-dwellers who are worried about disturbing their downstairs neighbors). The online workouts are available to stream online from your computer, phone or tablet. Price: Free 15-day trial; $29 a month
14. The Bar Method Online. Try 15-to-60-minute barre classes from instructors around the country with The Bar Method’s online program. The classes are suitable for any level (you don’t need to be flexible to try them), and emphasize stamina and full-body strength. All you need is a chair to use as a barre, pillows and weights (or any hand-held item, like cans or a water bottle). The workouts can be streamed from a computer, phone or tablet. Price: Free 14-day trial; $19 a month
15. Peloton offers an app for workout classes that does not require their bike. It’s currently a 90-day free trial.
16. The Ness offers curated, digital classes curated videos designed to bring your [ness] to you wherever you are. The workout method is anything but ordinary, offering bounce, a beat based trampoline class that will challenge you both mentally and physically and sculpt, the perfect compliment to bounce that will leave you strong, lean, balanced and focused. If you don’t have a trampoline, don’t worry — they have plenty of sculpting class. Free 3-day trial, $39.99/month, $399/year.
17. 30 Day Fitness Challenge is an app for exactly what it says: 30 day challenges. The workouts are short and daily. Depending on how much you want to workout in the next couple months, this might be great for the minimal, consistent excerciser.
18. Popsugar, a magazine and online media platform, has all kinds of free workout videos. My sister loves them — maybe you will too?
19. FitOn is a free app offering classes from cardio to strength training to HIIT, yoga, Pilates, dance and more — all from top celebrity trainers like Cassey Ho (of Blogilates), Jeanette Jenkins, Katie Dunlop, Christine Bullock, Kenta Seki, Danielle Pascente and many more.
20. If you live near the woods and like hiking, AllTrails has you covered. The app has a ton of trail guides to work from. As they say: 100,000+ trails. 10 million explorers. Endless memories. Take care that you’re not going on populated trails, keep a 6 foot distance from others, and soak in some sun. It’s free.
21. Body By Simone is an app from “Hollywood’s Hottest Workout Empire”. Celebrity trainer Simone De La Rue and celebrity nutritionist Kelly LeVeque walk you through workouts and nutrition. Free, offers in-app purchases.
22. Akin Akman is doing free live-streams of his aarmy bootcamp on Instagram right now. Look at their most recent posts to get an idea of their schedule. They’re fun, intense bootcamp classes.
23. If you’re missing your personal trainer, Master Trainer at Burn60 Keith Anthony will train you via Skype. IDK how much he charges, or his availability, so email/DM him.

Hopefully you’ll find a great fit from one (or more) of these options! If you have other recommendations, definitely comment below. Good luck and stay safe!

* * updates: more fun workouts! * *

• 24. CorePower Yoga offers on-demand, streaming yoga classes to maintain your practice.
• 25. The Classical Stretch facebook page is offering free short classes online at 4:30 pm EST every day
• 26. FitnessBlender offers free workouts for all levels.
• 27. Aaptive is offering free workouts and guided meditations through podcasts, found here.