What is your favorite online fitness class?

September 9, 2024 1:00 PM

Looking for some online exercising. Can you share your favorite, what the class does, and why you like it? I need to get active to compensate for the hours hunched over the keyboard. (Can be on-demand or video)
posted by storybored to Health & Fitness (9 answers total)

I feel like I am the only person in the world who uses it, but I have been enjoying Apple Fitness classes. They have a big library of different types of activities (core, strength, yoga, etc) and I find their overall approach to be more my style (moderate-ish exercise, not a gym maniac). The overall vibe/style is calm and fun as opposed to "we're going to get shredded today!!!" that some other courses have. Also, they do not have a lot of self-affirmance/spiritual/etc. talk about "how amazing you are" and stuff like that, which I do not love. Basically, just straight ahead and positive but not loopy or aggro focus on getting fit. I think there are various free or reduced trials.
posted by Mid at 2:01 PM on September 9

I have made this suggestion many times, but it's still my go-to. Fitness Blender offers a wide range of classes at a variety of levels that meet all your preferences. Down-to-earth instructors; short to long workout options; plenty that are equipment free. While they do offer free classes, you get a lot more content if you pay the very minimal subscriber fee (under $100 for a year). You can also get access to programs that pick out workouts for you if you hate having to decide.
posted by brookeb at 2:13 PM on September 9

+1 for Apple Fitness+ workouts, if you’re in the Apple ecosystem at all.
posted by outfielder at 4:40 PM on September 9

+1 to Fitness Blender. Super high quality workouts - I've been doing them for 10 years.

I also really like Caroline Girvan, she's primarily weights focused and the workouts can be challenging/intense.

And Emkfit is really fun, I enjoy her dance workouts a lot!
posted by rachaelfaith at 5:19 PM on September 9

Depending on your schedule, I've loved Grit Life. It's one instructor (who I'd known in-person before COVID took things online). She does live classes Mon-Sat, and if you sign up there's also a bunch of recorded classes if you want to do one at a different time/day. Classes are almost entirely bodyweight, include things like HIIT, bootcamp (extremely scalable, I'm a pudgy retiree with a replaced knee and enjoy class), kickboxing. She's upbeat and extremely knowledgeable, so I've done personal training (she's in the Boston area) as well as the monthly subscription. I think it's still less than $50/month for more than 20 live classes plus recordings. I like live class - I work harder if my camera is on.
posted by ldthomps at 6:46 PM on September 9

For yoga, I really like Yoga with Adriene. I like her delivery and how there are reasonably bite sized sessions to fit into different schedules.
posted by eekernohan at 6:56 PM on September 9

I’ve enjoyed apple fitness plus and also FitOn which has plenty of free workouts. Both are relatively mellow and supportive while also being decent workouts, at least for me (female, in my 50s, in ok but not great shape)
posted by 2 cats in the yard at 6:58 AM on September 10

Another vote for Apple Fitness. As mentioned above, the vibe is relaxed, and I gravitate toward certain trainers that I like. I do a lot of strength training, but sometimes I just like to dance it out for a little bit of fun.
posted by thejanna at 12:55 PM on September 10

Another recommendation for Fitness Blender. Both my partner and I love it and have been using it regularly for a couple of years now.
posted by mydonkeybenjamin at 7:27 PM on September 11