UPDATED! Gym closed? Here are some of the best home workout options

Avoid the #quarantine15 with this guide.

There are really only two ways I'm coming out of this self-quarantine: super-ripped or in dire need of a diet. As the coronavirus outbreak leaves millions of people hunkered down at home and state-wide lock-down orders close all nonessential businesses, many of us are left without access to our usual gyms, workout studios and even parks.

Switching to a home workout routine isn't easy -- it takes some space and a lot of intrinsic motivation -- but in light of the COVID-19 outbreak, many fitness experts, gyms, apps and studios are doing their part to help us stay in shape. And establishing a workout routine could, most importantly, ease anxiety related to coping with the pandemic.

Staying healthy and in shape while quarantined is totally doable and this guide will show you how. Even if you have a small space, no equipment or very little time, there are many great options to help you exercise during a quarantine.

Free home workout apps and videos

The fastest way to start an at-home workout routine is through instructor-led videos. Live or prerecorded the videos are typically 25-45 minutes and often require little to no fitness equipment, making it easy to jump right in. 

These videos often require a subscription or membership, but many providers are offering them for free -- or as an extended trial -- while the outbreak leaves us stuck at home. 


Here's a list of some of my favorite at-home workout apps with live and prerecorded videos. They include yoga, bootcamp-style classes, boxing, high intensity interval training, plyometrics, pilates and barre exercises. 

Peloton
Normally $13 a month, Peloton is offering a free, 90-day trial of its polished workout app. The app -- which doesn't require a purchase of Peloton's bike or treadmill -- includes easy-to-follow and high-quality videos, including yoga, strength, meditation, cardio and bootcamp classes. There are also audio-only classes for outdoor runs, if that's still an option for you. 

CorePower Yoga
Like many yoga studios, CorePower shut down its studios due to the outbreak and pivoted to online-only options. New classes are added weekly, including sculpt (those ones hurt!), yoga and meditation. The company is offering free yoga classes to everyone -- even nonmembers -- through March 30 and may extend its offering if their studios remain closed.

Nike Training Club
I spent an entire year exercising with Nike Training Club and got in great shape with very little equipment. The app -- which is always free -- has a wide variety of home workouts to choose from, including programs that help you set an ongoing workout schedule. The key here is that workouts can be filtered based on whether or not you have access to a gym or equipment, so you can easily find bodyweight-only exercises. 

Les Mills 

If you've ever had a membership at a gym like 24 Hour Fitness, you've probably heard of Body Pump. The class, which is managed by Les Mills, is just one of more than a dozen different types of classes, including boxing, dance and yoga. All these classes are available on demand through a 30-day free trial and many classes are equipment-free. After the trial, the monthly membership is $14.99 a month or $11.99 a month with a three-month commitment. 

Blogilates
Cassey Ho, the fitness guru behind the hugely popular Blogilates YouTube channel and website continues to offer a massive library of pilates-style toning classes. In response to the outbreak, she also created a 14-day quarantine workout plan, a great option for those looking to add structure to their at-home workout schedules. 

Barry's
As of March 15, Barry's (née Barry's Bootcamp) closed all of its studios in the US, Europe and Canada. If you're a Barry's goer -- or have heard people (like me) obsess over its high-intensity workouts -- now's a good time to get a taste of its offerings. The company is streaming two new workouts daily, one that doesn't require equipment and another that uses some basic items, like fitness bands. You can check out its daily workouts and previous streams on Instagram. 

Amazon Prime Video 
If you're an Amazon Prime member, you already have free access to a varied library of fitness videos, including Zumba and cardio programs such as 21-Day Transformation from GymRa. Just head to Prime Video and search for "fitness," then check the "Prime" box in the left sidebar to see what's available for streaming. 

HIIT workouts 

CNET's own Amanda Capritto, who's also a Crossfit instructor, put together a fantastic roundup of 20-minute HIIT workouts you can do at home.

UCSD Recreation
That's right, our neighbors at UCSD Rec have opened many of their fitness, wellness, art and activity classes to the public via Zoom. You can visit their website and see a list of their daily schedule and join instructors live or see their YouTube channel for some prerecorded content. You'll find daily mediation, zumba, barre, yoga, circuit training, stretching, strength, drawing, circus arts, ballroom dance, martial arts, and more! Plenty of options to keep everyone busy!

New Addition!!

Dance Workouts!
Who doesn't love dancing! For some of us, it doesn't come naturally, for others, its in our blood. But either way, you'll have total access to multiple different types of dance here: Check out this article on PureWOW 

Basic workout equipment under $100

Plenty of apps and YouTube channels have equipment-free workouts, but if you want to build strength or increase your efficacy, even basic equipment can make a huge difference. 

Here are some things you can use alone or with an at-home workout. At this point, you might not be ready to invest a lot in a home gym, so here are some affordable options. You don't need everything on this list -- just pick the items that work best for the types of workouts you're doing, like strength training, yoga or HIIT.

Jump rope: If you have a room with high enough ceilings or can safely step outside, a jump rope is a go-to for warming up or getting in a quick cardio workout when you're strapped for time. 


Dumbbells: Weights are pretty much a must-have for a home workout routine, which is pretty apparent due to the low inventory available as gyms close due to the outbreak. As of writing, find dumbbells available on Amazon and get them delivered in under a week.

Workout mat (or yoga mat): There are many types of mats out there and the one you choose will depend on your primary form of exercise, as well as the floor you're working with. For instance, you'll specifically want a yoga mat for yoga practice, while a higher-density workout mat works better for bodyweight exercises and carpeted floors. 

Yoga block: Yoga blocks provide extra support during practice, especially for those who are just starting to exercise their flexibility. They're essentially a must-have for practicing yoga and some come in a set of two and have a soft finish while maintaining high density for balance. 

A mirror: No, not (just) for checking yourself out, but for ensuring good form while you give new workouts a try. A wall mirror from Ikea/Target provides enough width to get a good view of your workout and won't break the bank. 

Headphones: If you're working out to your phone, tablet or laptop, headphones will give you the best experience -- while also doing a courtesy to anyone in the household who doesn't want to work out with you.


Lacrosse ball and foam roller. As you ease into a new workout routine, take care of your body by caring for its mobility with these tools. A lacrosse ball will relieve tension in your feet and back while a foam roller can be used throughout your body. 





Written by: Sharon Profis March 26, 2020 12:03 p.m. PT
https://www.cnet.com/how-to/gym-closed-here-are-some-of-the-best-home-workout-options/