Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic almost one year ago, avid exercisers have had to rethink their regular routines as gyms around the country were forced to close. Even as some gyms were able to reopen last summer, many had to change their programs and limit members as well as to require face masks and other precautions. All of these changes and the fear of contracting Covid at a gym has made many people get more creative about their fitness, and has led to an increase in people choosing at-home workouts such as Peloton, Beachbody, and many other virtual workouts.
If you’re still looking for a way to get in your workouts safely at home, here is a breakdown of the most popular at-home exercise trends right now and probably for the foreseeable future, while our country continues to fight its way out of the pandemic.
Peloton
The Peloton bike has become the most well-known home workout trend of the past couple of years. The bikes are expensive (around $1,895.) and demand is so high that there have been waiting lists to receive the equipment.
The Peloton bike workout is basically a spin class at home. In addition to the cost of the bike, you will also need to purchase a membership to access the online classes for $39 per month. The subscription gives you access to more than 4,000 pre-recorded classes with 15 high-energy instructors who are the key motivating factors for loyal Peloton users.
The bike features an attached 22-inch screen that displays instructors leading the workout. Classes range from 20 to 90 minutes and can vary in difficulty, music, and style such as easy rides, hills, or intervals. Peloton has also recently come out with a treadmill that is similar to the bike in that it uses an attached screen to stream online classes for the user to get a full-body workout.
If you’re not ready to invest in the Peloton bike or treadmill, you can join a Peloton online membership that gives you access to streamable workouts including strength, yoga, meditation, cardio, dance, and others like cycling and running. For $13 per month, you can choose any on-demand workout from Peloton’s vast library that can be accessed from any smartphone, tablet, or computer. They offer a 30-day free trial so you can try several classes before you buy. One aspect that is nice about Peloton’s digital membership is that you will never get bored; you could choose a different workout every day if you wanted to with their diversity of classes.
Beachbody On Demand
The Beachbody company has been around since 1998 offering popular fitness videos, supplements, and nutritional products such as P90X and 21 Day Fix. Beachbody On Demand is the company’s streaming platform that offers more than 700 workouts including popular programs like 21 Day Fix, Morning Meltdown 100, Barre Blend, and LIIFT4.
Online memberships to Beachbody On Demand range from a three-month commitment to a year and range in cost from $39 to $160. Once you join, you can choose online workouts based on fitness level or type of exercise to stream on your Smartphone, tablet, or computer. In addition to Beachbody’s most popular programs like 21 Day Fix and 80 Day Obsession, you will have access to other programs including yoga, dance, strength training, cardio, and more. The membership includes downloadable workout calendars and fitness trackers to track your progress.
Les Mills
Les Mills is known for its popular Body Pump classes that are offered at many gyms nationwide. These classes, as well as more than a dozen others like boxing, dance, and yoga, are now offered through their on-demand platform and do not require any special equipment. Les Mills offers a 30-day free trial membership, and after the trial period, memberships range from $11.99-$14.99 per month.
Nike Training Club and Nike Run Club
Walking, running, and hiking outdoors have seen a big increase in popularity since the pandemic began last March. It gets you out of the house, and working out with a few friends who are spread out and masked can be a safe way to socialize right now. To increase your fitness, the Nike Training Club/Nike Run Club app offers a variety of workouts from running coaches for all fitness levels, and best of all, it’s free. The app tracks your distance and pace so you can make sure you’re getting in your regular daily steps.
CorePower Yoga on Demand
CorePower Yoga studios are one of the largest chain of yoga studios across the country. CorePower Yoga had to close their studios when the pandemic first hit, but they created CorePower Yoga on Demand, a streaming service that allows participants to access more than 300 classes online.
CorePower Yoga is not your typical yoga class; it combines the basic moves and mindfulness of yoga with popular music for high-intensity classes. According to CorePower Yoga’s website, this type of yoga workout is “one of the multi-disciplinary and more vigorous types of yoga that strengthens and empowers the body, mind, and spirit.” Classes are offered for all levels from beginner to advanced in yoga, sculpt, and meditation for $19.99 per month. New classes are added monthly.