Staying active can feel difficult as a college student stuck inside social distancing, since the new coronavirus pandemic prevents you from safely visiting the gym. Luckily, in the age of fitness influencers and content creators, you can get your fitness fix from the comfort of your home with workout videos. I love to follow along to workout videos because I enjoy the structure, and there are so many different types of videos for me to choose from. For a workout class experience without the studio and crowds, check out these free, at-home workout options.
- If you love MixxedFit, dance with The Fitness Marshall
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If you enjoy dance-inspired fitness or jamming to popular songs, Caleb Marshall (The Fitness Marshall) leads dance routines that aren’t hard to follow but will definitely get you sweating. Becca, a sophomore at Simmons University loves his videos for “Latina” and “Bury a Friend” in particular, and will do 45 minutes worth of dancing to his videos. She recommends doing the same songs over and over again to create and memorize a custom routine!
- If you’re the Pilates type, try Blogilates
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Perhaps the OG fitness YouTuber, Cassey’s (Blogilates) workouts are full of unique, deceptively effective moves. She has a wide variety of workouts on her channel such as stretching, 30-day challenges targeting specific muscle groups, cardio and pilates. She’s talkative and energetic, so no matter how tired you feel, her energy will keep you from pausing that workout.
- If you prefer HIIT, dancing, or bodyweight exercises, check out MadFit
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Maddie creates my favorite fitness content; she’s so inspirational yet down-to-earth. Her videos are super easy to follow; she explains each move and demonstrates it slowly, so you don’t feel lost, and audio cues count down until the end of an exercise. She creates 10- to 20-minute workouts, either full-body or targeted to a specific muscle group. Her workouts generally involve little to no equipment, and in the description bar of her videos, she’ll suggest workouts to pair with each other. On top of that, she also creates challenges and dance videos to the tune of your favorite songs, and mashups (I personally enjoy working my abs out to Harry Styles). Her dance videos can get so fun that it doesn’t even feel like you’re working out.
- If you like cardio, Zumba or barre, try PopSugar Fitness
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PopSugar Fitness puts out some great fitness content, primarily cardio, strength, or Zumba and barre-inspired workouts. Their videos are usually a bit longer, around 20 to 30 minutes, and are structured more like a traditional workout class. There are usually a couple of people leading the workout, who are each doing it at a different intensity, so these workouts can work for anyone at any level.
- If you’re a yogi, you might love Yoga with Adriene
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For a cool down, to improve flexibility, or to clear your mind, try doing Yoga with Adriene. Her calming yoga workout routines generally take about 20 minutes. She does primarily vinyasa yoga (aka what probably comes to mind when you think of yoga). Her routines are chill, slow, and relaxing. A beginner could definitely follow along to her yoga flows, but there’s something for any level as well. She has great energy, and if you’re looking for an easy way to work out specific muscle groups, she has plenty of videos targeting different areas.
- If you’re busy, set aside 10 minutes for Pamela Reif
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Pamela Reif posts quick and effective high-intensity bodyweight workouts — normally no longer than 10 minutes. Her workouts generally involve no equipment, which makes them super convenient for at-home workouts. There’s no narration in her videos either, which more seasoned gym rats might prefer if you only like to listen to music. She offers full-body HIIT workouts, as well as workouts that target specific muscle groups, or workouts to popular songs.
- If you like to mix things up every day, check out Lilly Sabri
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Lilly creates cardio, strength, and bodyweight workouts, posting new videos every day. Much of her content consists of week-long or month-long challenges, which is perfect for accountability or continuous motivation. Her workout videos range between three to 10 minutes and generally focus on targeting a specific muscle group at a time, usually abs or booty.
While workout classes may be helpful for learning and following along to complicated workouts, or for keeping you motivated and accountable, they are not always accessible right now. You don’t need to go to the gym, pay for expensive workout classes, or buy fancy equipment in order to have an effective workout and keep yourself energized.