Stay Active at Home: Free and Low-Cost Workout Options

With the widespread closure of gyms during the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals are seeking alternative ways to maintain their fitness routines from the comfort of their homes. Fortunately, a plethora of free and low-cost options are available online.

Numerous fitness centers and organizations have made their online classes and programs accessible to the public free of charge or at reduced costs. Here are a few popular options:

• Planet Fitness: Free live-streamed home “work-ins” on Facebook, no equipment required.
• Life Time: Public access to on-demand workout videos in categories such as strength, cardio, and yoga.
• Snap Fitness: 90-day free trial for access to its online library of workout videos.
• Gold’s Gym: Free premium access to its proprietary training app until the end of May, along with an online streaming site featuring workouts designed for anywhere.
• Crunch Gym: 45-day free trial of the Crunch Live app, offering workouts and customized fitness plans for non-members.

Yoga provides a comprehensive workout that promotes strength, flexibility, and overall well-being. Here are some resources for free yoga:

• Modo Yoga: Live-streamed classes on Instagram throughout the day, with suggested donations to support staff and instructors.
• Yoga with Adrienne: Free YouTube channel offering a wide range of yoga routines for various time frames and target areas.
• Down Dog: Free access to yoga for all skill levels, 7-minute workouts, barre, and high-intensity interval training through its apps until April 1. Healthcare professionals, students, and teachers can access the content for free until July 1.

For those seeking more challenging workouts, there are numerous bodyweight programs available:

• Chalk Online: Free two-week trial with access to three workouts a day, including CrossFit-style workouts, no-equipment workouts, and conditioning and core workouts with lighter weights.
• CrossFit SPOT: Regular workouts and exercise challenges based on body-weight movements like squats, push-ups, and core work.
• Exceed Physical Culture: YouTube channel with a library of 20-minute workouts, including full body, upper or lower body, core, and cardio, using popular Tabata-style timing.

Involving the whole family in fitness can be a challenge during quarantine. Here are some resources for all-ages activities:

• The YMCA 306 online platform: Selection of workouts including bootcamp, “Silver Circuit” videos for older adults, and youth training ideas.
• Fitness Blender: Workout designed for kids and parents with game elements to keep it fun, along with a community forum for kid-friendly fitness suggestions.
• The National Institute for Aging Go4Life program: Workouts ranging from 10 to 60 minutes for older adults, including warm-up, flexibility, strength, and balance exercises, and a cool down.

Renowned fitness brands like Peloton and Nike have made their premium content free during this time:

• Peloton: 90-day free trial of its fitness app, with instructor-led exercise routines even without its equipment. Virtual high fives and leaderboards foster a sense of community and motivation.
• Nike: Free access to its premium Training Club app content, which includes yoga, interval training, mobility work, and multi-week programs led by Nike instructors.