Quarantine workout/yoga video suggestions
July 8, 2020 10:35 PM Subscribe
I've moved back to Canada from the US, and as a result I'm just starting my two weeks of hard quarantine. I've been falling out of shape for the last two months as it is. Help me with some structured workouts I can do in my small empty apartment?
Background and details:
- I'm a cis woman in my mid 30s, was reasonably fit until recently. I used to run a decent amount (15-20 km a week) but in the last two months a combination of injuries, thesis writing, and shelter-in-place has disrupted my routine. I did barre classes for about a year as well but haven't been to one in about 6 months.
- I haven't done a formal yoga class in a few years but I regularly do a bit on my own. I could do intermediate classes but not advanced.
- I'd like to do classes instead of just stringing exercises together for now because structure helps me to keep my place up and not flail around thinking of the next thing to do.
- I don't really have a preference over live video vs recorded, although I am in the Pacific time zone.
- I have a yoga mat, and that's about it (no weights, little furniture)
- I'm open to different types of exercise. I'd like to get a mix of cardio, general strength training, and flexibility.
- I've looked into local studios and while some have online options, I'm not sure about the quality, and would rather just wait to check them out in person when I can.
- Free is great, although I'm willing to pay for something that's worth it.
Thanks AskMefi!
Background and details:
- I'm a cis woman in my mid 30s, was reasonably fit until recently. I used to run a decent amount (15-20 km a week) but in the last two months a combination of injuries, thesis writing, and shelter-in-place has disrupted my routine. I did barre classes for about a year as well but haven't been to one in about 6 months.
- I haven't done a formal yoga class in a few years but I regularly do a bit on my own. I could do intermediate classes but not advanced.
- I'd like to do classes instead of just stringing exercises together for now because structure helps me to keep my place up and not flail around thinking of the next thing to do.
- I don't really have a preference over live video vs recorded, although I am in the Pacific time zone.
- I have a yoga mat, and that's about it (no weights, little furniture)
- I'm open to different types of exercise. I'd like to get a mix of cardio, general strength training, and flexibility.
- I've looked into local studios and while some have online options, I'm not sure about the quality, and would rather just wait to check them out in person when I can.
- Free is great, although I'm willing to pay for something that's worth it.
Thanks AskMefi!
The thing that got me exercising on a regular basis during lockdown is my Oculus Quest. It is fantastic for cardio in particular and makes workouts fun. You can join virtual classes using the Oculus if you like so that you are exercising with other people although they aren't of course physically in the same room as you are. Depending on whether you are happy to make the investment, I recommend the quest and in fact consider it the best thing I've ever bought.
posted by hazyjane at 2:28 AM on July 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by hazyjane at 2:28 AM on July 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
There's a reason why people are obsessed with Chloe Ting's workouts. They just feel good somehow, and get you strong fast. And she usually provides a low-impact version of every move, which I find crucial at the moment. All you need is a mat, and the vids are all available for free, you just have endure her plugs at the beginning asking you to subscribe, and endure the click-baity lettering on the thumbnails of the videos which make it all feel like a weird scam, and makes it almost impossible for me to bypass my bullshit detector and engage with any of it.
posted by thegreatfleecircus at 5:22 AM on July 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by thegreatfleecircus at 5:22 AM on July 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
Fitness Blender could scratch this itch for you. Hundreds of free videos covering all types of workouts, many of which require no equipment (including strength training). They do have some affordable paid plans made up of the existing free videos, or a blog post on how to build your own plan from their free videos using the calendar feature of their website.
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 5:27 AM on July 9, 2020
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 5:27 AM on July 9, 2020
The peloton app has a one month free trial and a decent sized library of no-weight, no-machine workouts with new ones added daily - bodyweight strength, core strength, hiit cardio, yoga, meditation, etc. When you go to look at a class it'll tell you what equipment is required so you can avoid any that require weights (it'll usually just be a yoga mat). Classes are a mix of live and recorded and are various (marked) levels from beginner on up. Quality is extremely high.
posted by true at 6:04 AM on July 9, 2020
posted by true at 6:04 AM on July 9, 2020
Best answer: Big boost for the Nike app, which even in its free invocation has literally hundreds of workouts that can be partitioned by time, difficulty, focus, and availability of equipment. There is voice coaching if you want it and videos showing every move. My partner started from nearly nothing 18 months ago and based on about 30 minutes a day is now rather remarkably buff. I reiterate this app is free to download and use as described above.
posted by seanmpuckett at 8:42 AM on July 9, 2020
posted by seanmpuckett at 8:42 AM on July 9, 2020
Best answer: There's tons of free/good stuff on youtube.
For challenging yoga which also has a cardio element, try:
Fightmaster Yoga
Heart Alchemy Yoga
Five Parks Yoga
(all free, on youtube, lots of different videos of different lengths. Most are challenging/flow types, but there are also some that are slower and more restful- the titles will tell you)
I mainly workout every day with these three channels, and never run out of stuff.
posted by bearette at 10:53 AM on July 9, 2020
For challenging yoga which also has a cardio element, try:
Fightmaster Yoga
Heart Alchemy Yoga
Five Parks Yoga
(all free, on youtube, lots of different videos of different lengths. Most are challenging/flow types, but there are also some that are slower and more restful- the titles will tell you)
I mainly workout every day with these three channels, and never run out of stuff.
posted by bearette at 10:53 AM on July 9, 2020
I'm loving the Peleton app, and I don't have any equipment other than a yoga mat and a couple of hand weights. It's free for the first 30 days and then $13 a month after that. They have yoga, HIIT workouts, guided outdoor running and walking workouts, meditation, strength workouts using bodyweight or weights, stretching. It's great. I'm on my 4th month of doing it. They have badges and challenges, which are a little gimmicky but motivate me.
posted by apricot at 11:16 AM on July 9, 2020
posted by apricot at 11:16 AM on July 9, 2020
I hear good things about the online classes at Bluebird Sky Yoga. They are in the U.S. Eastern timezone but have enough variability in times/offerings that some still might work for you.
They have some tips for yoga from home props on their webpage:
WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE FANCY YOGA PROPS?
Consider the following options to create your own yoga props at home.
Blocks: stack of books, sturdy box, empty crate
Bolsters: pillows, blankets/sheets stuffed inside of a pillow case, couch cushion
Blankets: Towels, blankets
Strap: scarf, robe tie, belt
Eye pillow: small bag of rice (option to add lavender), small bag of dried beans. Make sure eye pillows are filled with light materials to avoid any temporary or long-term damage to the retina.
posted by gudrun at 11:37 AM on July 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
They have some tips for yoga from home props on their webpage:
WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE FANCY YOGA PROPS?
Consider the following options to create your own yoga props at home.
Blocks: stack of books, sturdy box, empty crate
Bolsters: pillows, blankets/sheets stuffed inside of a pillow case, couch cushion
Blankets: Towels, blankets
Strap: scarf, robe tie, belt
Eye pillow: small bag of rice (option to add lavender), small bag of dried beans. Make sure eye pillows are filled with light materials to avoid any temporary or long-term damage to the retina.
posted by gudrun at 11:37 AM on July 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
For yoga, my favorite teacher does live classes on Instagram that you can access for a couple of days after they air. Free with suggested donation. His classes are intermediate in that he rarely breaks out advanced poses, but some of the holds can feel intense. He works flexibility and strength in equal measure, and I always leave his classes feeling more integrated.
I love this workout by Gunnar Peterson (trainer to the Lakers). It's strength-training with household items--if you have a cardboard box, two cans, jars, or jugs to use as weights, and a long piece of fabric (towel/sweatshirt/etc.), you have everything you need.
Korey Rowe's strength-training workout on youtube kicks my butt. No equipment needed for this one. I have to really motivate myself to do it because I find it difficult, but I feel great and strong afterward.
Jessica Olie posts great strength-training workouts on Instagram. You have to count reps and sets, but she shows you the moves and you can move through them at your own pace.
My favorite for cardio is the Supernatural app on the Oculus Quest. I'm not a gamer, I hate cardio, and buying the Quest is an investment, but wow--it actually makes cardio fun. I actually got the Quest to stay fit and entertained during the pandemic, and the money I would've paid a gym covers the Quest plus the cost of my Supernatural subscription. This is the one I go to when I feel no motivation to work out because it's fun, gets me super-sweaty, and is over in ~20 minutes.
posted by saltypup at 1:50 PM on July 9, 2020
I love this workout by Gunnar Peterson (trainer to the Lakers). It's strength-training with household items--if you have a cardboard box, two cans, jars, or jugs to use as weights, and a long piece of fabric (towel/sweatshirt/etc.), you have everything you need.
Korey Rowe's strength-training workout on youtube kicks my butt. No equipment needed for this one. I have to really motivate myself to do it because I find it difficult, but I feel great and strong afterward.
Jessica Olie posts great strength-training workouts on Instagram. You have to count reps and sets, but she shows you the moves and you can move through them at your own pace.
My favorite for cardio is the Supernatural app on the Oculus Quest. I'm not a gamer, I hate cardio, and buying the Quest is an investment, but wow--it actually makes cardio fun. I actually got the Quest to stay fit and entertained during the pandemic, and the money I would've paid a gym covers the Quest plus the cost of my Supernatural subscription. This is the one I go to when I feel no motivation to work out because it's fun, gets me super-sweaty, and is over in ~20 minutes.
posted by saltypup at 1:50 PM on July 9, 2020
If you once did intermediate classes, I recommend the Alo Moves app over Adriene. I still visit her videos once in a while but they are slow and beginner-level and don’t quite hit the spot. If you try Alo, I love Carling Harps as a moderate level instructor.
posted by thirdletter at 3:44 PM on July 9, 2020
posted by thirdletter at 3:44 PM on July 9, 2020
Response by poster: Thanks everyone for the stellar recommendations! I'm working through these and favouriting the ones that I think I'll use again. I've signed up for Peloton but unfortunately I've struggled to view the videos on my crappy phone internet - hopefully that'll change once we have wifi hooked up. Thanks again!
posted by Paper rabies at 6:12 PM on July 14, 2020
posted by Paper rabies at 6:12 PM on July 14, 2020
This thread is closed to new comments.
Every month, Adriene makes a free calendar (found here) with an overall theme and a yoga video for every day - so it can feel a little like taking a class because someone else has done the planning for you, while you're actually doing individual videos.
I don't know if that hits the mark for you.
She has an online community as well as a paid option to access extra material and new videos early, I think.
posted by rawrberry at 11:08 PM on July 8, 2020 [7 favorites]