Adjusting to the new normal has been a bit of a rollercoaster. We’ve all read and heard about the trials and tribulations of working from home – from Zoom fatigue to the importance of setting boundaries – but now it’s time to switch gear and talk about working out from home. With lockdown-esque limitations slowly creeping back in, you’d be justified in not feeling quite ready yet to get back into a packed, sweaty gym. But exercising is a well-known way of clearing the mind and releasing some (much-needed) endorphins, so why not try a home workout instead?
Although many of us had the best intentions of running 5k or religiously joining in Joe Wicks' at-home workouts every morning, motivation soon dwindled. But in response, fitness studios across the land have been working harder than ever to put together some amazing classes that everyone can access whenever they like and all from the comfort of our homes.
Many of us will know that pang of nerves that comes when trying out a new class at a new studio. Where do we put our bags? Where do we stand? Should I have brought a towel? Well, now that panic is over and you can try a seemingly endless list of classes for the first time without the worry of not knowing anyone, not knowing what to do, or quite frankly, what on earth is going on. And besides, if you get practising now from home, you’ll be all the more prepared for when things do eventually get back to normal, and you can walk into any class more confident than ever (even if you do need to ask someone where to fill up your water bottle).
To make things a little easier, we’ve chosen a few of our favourite classes from top studios in the country, with everything you need to know about how to get involved and what they entail. Bring on the burn.
BLOK
BLOK is now offering you their epic studio experience via their online channel BLOK TV, giving you access to 60 live classes per week and more than 100 classes on-demand across all of their 10 different disciplines. Whether you want to unwind after a busy day with a calming yoga flow, tone things up with a core-tightening Pilates class, or start your day with a HIIT workout like no other, BLOK has it all.
What we love about BLOK TV is the fact that you can access these classes and series at any time, so there’s no need to roll out of bed at 6.55 for a 7am class or face the post-work rush hour to make it to the studio just in time. Instead, you can incorporate these classes into your own personal schedule at a time that works for you.
Some of our favourite home workouts from BLOK include Blokbeat (a 60-minute dance class to get the blood flowing) and the Energising Morning Flow with Jules (a great way to wake up and start your day feeling refreshed and energised). Even better, they’re offering 14-day free trials, which you can find here.
Digme
Another one of our go-to home workouts here at Innermost, Digme has put together a stellar online offering of over 70 classes a week. Their extremely comprehensive list is available for you to mix and match - it’s a great way to utilise your spin bike at home (if you have one) for one of their famous spin classes or squeeze in a gruelling HIIT workout before starting your day.
One of our favourite classes is the Virtual Run Club. Whether you’ve got a treadmill at home or just some headphones and your phone, you can go on a ‘socially distanced’ run with an instructor who leads the 45-minute class. This one’s a great way for those with cabin fever to get out and about safely, and the playlists bang too! Sign up to their 14-day free trials here so you can make the most of all they have to offer.
F45
One of the biggest presences on the fitness circuit today, F45 took matters into their own hands when lockdown hit the UK. The global gym chain are still offering their comprehensive 45-day challenge from home, just as they normally would in-studio, so there’s no escaping from this one. You can sign up and participate whenever it suits your schedule, with online workouts available around the clock. You can also keep track of your progress via their portal – we like to think of it as a mini project for you to motivate yourself through the last few months of 2020.
Heartcore
Heartcore normally offer a fantastic range of in-studio Pilates, yoga, barre, and strength and conditioning classes all set to a backdrop of funky beats across London. They’ve since moved their classes to livestreams, all of which can be found on their website here. We love these classes for when we’re needing to unwind after a busy day or want to set ourselves up for a productive day ahead.
The Strength and Conditioning class, which combines bodyweight resistance and HIIT, is one of our top recommendations for boosting endorphins and endurance, and counteracting the general sluggishness that we’ve all probably felt at some point since lockdown started. The instructors take you through each movement at a dynamic but gentle pace so you can really get in touch with your body. All you need is a mat and enough room to stretch out.
So, whether you're ready to get back into your weekly HIIT routine or feel like trying a totally new discipline, we hope that these classes will help you get back on track and ready for when you're ready to get back into the gym. Let us know in the comments below how you get on!
