After my gym (finally) closed last week due to COVID-19, I, like so many other type-A New Yorkers, immediately began to fret about how I was going to keep up my workouts.
At first, my mind jumped to all the issues holding me back. Running — the one fitness activity that adheres to the rules of “social distancing”—had been bothering my knees. My minimal at-home workout gear is in the way back of my closet gathering dust. I live in a studio apartment with my bed, kitchen, couch, and now, my home office in one room.
Plus, I’d been on a mission to gain strength after overcoming an injury—and lose a few pounds I’d put on over the winter months. I still had a lot of determination to keep it up, but what was I going to do about it?
Then I started getting the emails. As soon as gyms and studios started closing their doors, my inbox filled up with PR pitches from every fitness brand imaginable, touting their online offerings: “Work out at home with X app!” “Celebrity trainer shares his top tips for at-home workouts!” “Join us on Instagram for live-streamed daily workouts.”
As a health journalist, I’m used to getting PR pitches that are way off base, but these were speaking right to me and COVID-induced panic. Countless studios, brands, and trainers went right into giving mode, many offering free months and even free access to their formerly paid subscriptions.
While this may not be as heart-warming as the kids playing violin for their elderly neighbor, it was still pretty cool to see the fitness industry coming together to provide services that would provide some comfort and sanity to all of us newly isolated folks around the country.
I started jotting down a list of the specials that were being offered, and shared it with my friends and family members who asked, so I just decided to type it up for anyone to access. It’s by no means exhaustive, but it does include most of the workout programs that I’ve heard good things about from my peers and through my work.
I also want to note that many trainers and studios are individually putting out their own content on Instagram (IGTV and Live) and Facebook Live, so if you usually go to a local studio or have a trainer you love, I highly recommend supporting them too! (A few I’ve noticed in NYC: THE WELL, Yoga Vida, Rumble Boxing, and Swerve.)
If you’ve stumbled across this list, I hope it helps you find a new workout you love — and most of all, I hope it brings some semblance of normalcy to you during these crazy times.
Alo Moves
- Your on-demand yoga, fitness, and mindfulness platform for home and on-the-go
- Right now, you can access a selection of FREE full-length classes on their YouTube channel.
- Regular pricing: $17 / month
Barre3
- Barre3 is a total-body balanced workout combining cardio, strength-training, and mindfulness. You’ll be guided through sustained holds, muscle-burning micro-movements, and heart-pumping cardio bursts that will leave you feeling balanced in body and empowered from within
- Online subscription grants you unlimited access to a digital library of 10- to 60-minute streaming workouts, plus articles, tracking tools, and nutrition tips
- First 15 days FREE, $29 / month after
Centr
- Created by Chris Hemsworth and his team of fitness and nutrition experts, Centr offers customers personalized programming to meet their goals, customizing programs that include access to over 1,000 unique workouts, 500+ delicious recipes, and entry into Centr’s private Facebook community
- In light of COVID-19, Centr is offering a FREE six-week membership
- $10 / month after
Club Pilates
- Low-impact, full-body workouts with a variety of classes that challenge your mind as well as your body. Club Pilates On Demand subscription provides you instant, unlimited access to over 150 workouts for you to enjoy at your convenience on your favorite device using the Club Pilates On Demand app, or on your web browser.
- Offering FREE access to Club Pilates On Demand through May 15
- Starting at $29.99 / month after
CorePower Yoga on Demand
- CorePower Yoga offers a range of online classes to fit any experience level. You’ll find C1, C2, C3 & Sculpt class formats in full and short formats as well as meditations, pose breakdowns, lessons, talks and more to deepen your practice.
- First week FREE; $19.99/month after
- Selection of FREE videos available here
DanceBody LIVE
- Dance-inspired fitness set to upbeat music. “You don’t have to be a dancer to look like one.”
- Right now, all new users can get 50% off their first month of with the code: DBATHOME. Users can also test it out first with a 1-Week FREE trial.
- $35 / month after
JetSweat Fitness
- Exclusive access to stream unlimited workout videos from leading boutique studios, wherever, whenever. Pretty impressive list of participating studios.
- Offering 1 month FREE with code SWEATATHOME or 50% off annual with code 50ATHOME.
The Ness
- This NYC-based workout method offers two types of classes: bounce, a beat based trampoline class that will challenge you both mentally and physically and sculpt, the perfect complement to bounce that will leave you strong, lean, balanced and focused. You do need a trampoline (mini or regular works!) to do these workouts.
- FREE 7-day trial
- $39.99/month after
Nike Training Club
- NTC provides free workouts for everything from bodyweight-only sessions, invigorating yoga classes, targeted training programs, and full-equipment home workouts for all fitness levels.
- Runners can also check out Nike Run Club, which has guided runs of all lengths and levels.
- FREE
obé fitness
- We live stream classes every day, 7 days a week. A library of on-demand classes of all kinds is always available.
- FREE 7 day free trial
- $27 / month after
The Sculpt Society
- The Sculpt Society is a digital streaming fitness app designed for all levels, combining both simplified dance cardio and light body sculpting methods to build a lean, strong body.
- Two-week FREE trial
- $19.99/month after or $9.99/month with full-year subscription
SWEAT
- “Work out with the best female personal trainers in the world.” Founded by Aussie trainer Kayla Itsines (also created the BBG guides).
- Includes: 28-minute workouts using minimal equipment; easy-to-follow exercises in resistance, challenge, cool down, rehabilitation and cardio; gym-based workouts, including weight-training programs
- 7-day FREE trial
- $19.99/month after
The Class by Taryn Toomey
- a transformative workout of the body and mind, The Class recently launched their Digital Studio in January. Features include: live streaming full length workout classes, sweat-free meditation and other exclusive content.
- 14-day FREE trail
- $40/month after
Tone It Up
- Popular workout program geared toward women; workouts of all kinds and levels; includes recipes and meal plans
- Tone It Up App is currently FREE for all new members until 4/13.
- $13/month after
- FREE workouts also available online
YMCA 360
- This new online community includes group exercise classes like Boot Camp, Barre, Yoga and low impact programs for seniors. The Y plans to release more exercise classes for adults as well as youth activities and classes throughout March and April.
- FREE for everyone – regardless of Y membership.
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Variis
- This streaming service hasn’t launched yet, but it looks like it’s going to be bringing some HEAT when it does. According to the site, you can “unlock unlimited, on-demand access to classes from breakthrough brands, including Equinox, SoulCycle, Precision Run, and more — all in one app.” Seems to be included in an Equinox membership.