It’s hard to think about tank tops and swimsuits when there is still snow on the ground, but summer bodies are made in the winter. If you don’t feel comfortable going to a gym during a pandemic, there are still plenty of ways to get yourself feeling good.
You can now choose from many online and streaming workouts. Many of the programs don’t even require equipment. However, you might benefit from buying a jump rope, yoga mat or weights.
On-Demand Classes
If you don’t mind paying a membership, you can check out Beachbody on Demand. It has more than 1,500 programs and classes you can pull up right on your TV. It costs about $40 for three months, and it’s something you can do in your own living room and on your own schedule.
Many women took barre, yoga and Zumba classes at the gym before the pandemic. Now, in addition to subscription services like Beachbody, you can stream hundreds of free classes on YouTube and on Prime Video if you’re a member of Amazon Prime.
Workout Connections
Do you thrive off the camaraderie of being around other determined women during your workout? If working out alone and listening to a recorded instructor doesn’t motivate you, then check out Fit4Mom.
Fit4Mom offers pre- and-postnatal fitness programs in person and virtually. For example, you can join Stroller Barre, a cardio and strength interval class or Body Well, an eight-week program which includes small group fitness coaching and nutritional guidance. You can workout from home but still be with women from across Northeast Ohio.
Lyndsey Stephan is a mother of two, group fitness instructor and owner of the Cuyahoga Falls/Stow/Kent Fit4Mom branch. She says working out with other women is beneficial.
“It helps with support, accountability and creating new friendships, especially in a time where people need each other more than ever,” she says. “In a time where we feel so isolated and alone, it is nice to be able to virtually see the moms in my village,” she says.
No matter how you work out, Stephan says it’s important to change up your exercise routine.
“You don’t want to continuously work the same exact muscles every workout,” she says. “That will lead to muscle fatigue, which could eventually result in injury.”
Stephan recommends that the average adult get 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week.
“Regular exercise isn’t only good for your physical health but also has a positive impact on your mental well-being, which helps fight depression and anxiety and reduces stress levels, improves sleep and boosts your mood.”
Don’t like working out virtually? No problem. Stephan says you can get in a great workout other ways.
“It can be as easy as going for a 30 minute power walk, jog or run,” she says.
Kids Join in
Only have time to work out when your child is with you? Try a program that incorporates your child in the exercises,
such as Stroller Strides.
“Stroller Strides is a functional, total-body conditioning workout designed for moms with kids in tow,” says Sarah Andrecheck, the Fit4Mom owner and instructor in Beachwood/Shaker Heights. “No more mama guilt. This class is all about self-care in a supportive and encouraging environment.”
Have a Peloton account? Check out the virtual family classes they have available. You can find five- to 20-minute classes geared toward the entire family.
There are also a lot of free options on YouTube or Amazon. Just search for family workouts.
“You must take care of yourselves in order to take the best care of your kiddos,” Andrecheck says. “You can’t pour from an empty cup.”
Whether you want to drop a couple pounds or just want to feel healthier, remember there are plenty of options out there. Do something today that your future self will be grateful for tomorrow.
