A recent report showed that nearly 60 percent of Americans say they don’t plan on renewing their gym membership once the COVID-19 pandemic passes, proving that the at-home workout craze is more like the new standard than a fleeting fad. We’ve seen the digital and home-based fitness market explode right before our eyes in the past several months, with more options and alternatives than ever before. That’s great, of course, but for many of us, all the choices can also feel a bit overwhelming.
Miss Fitness Classes? Us, Too
On top of that, if you’re one of the many millions of Americans who find working out as part of a group to be the most enjoyable and motivating, you may feel quite uninspired with just your jump rope and laptop in the living room. Others feel that classes are the easiest way to stay fit because they come with the guided, hands-on help of a professional. Luckily, with the advent of some awesome new fitness games and the following great ideas, you can reignite the same incredible feeling you get from going to your favorite fitness class right from the comfort of home.
Here are a few things to do if you want to start your own at-home class:
- Create a Class Schedule — One of the reasons why classes tend to be so motivating is because they fall on specific days at specific times. There’s no flexibility or temptation to switch things around. This eliminates the stress of planning and decision making and also helps you make a workout a priority rather than something you just squeeze in where you can. Make your schedule and stick to it, but give yourself the freedom to reschedule if needed on occasion. After all, you’re the boss of your own home gym!
- Invite Friends or Family Members — One of the best parts of a gym class is the social component. Working out in a group is proven to be more motivating and research shows that working out in a group lowers stress and improves quality of life more than working out alone. While now’s not the time to pack into a germ-riddled fitness studio, that doesn’t mean you can’t invite over a few close friends, family members or neighbors to join your class. Just remember to:
- Keep it small, no more than five or six participants.
- Stay outside and make sure everyone stays at least six feet apart.
- Ask friends to wear a mask when socializing after class or if they need to go into your home to use the bathroom or get a drink.
- Keep the group within your small social circle (no friends of friends).
- Ask friends to bring their own water, yoga mat and equipment.
- Choose One or Two Fitness Platforms — Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed by the sheer volume of digital workout platforms on the market today. Give yourself time to research and try a few different options before settling on one or two that suit your needs. Having too many memberships — both free and paid — can be distracting and can cause you to waste time deciding how to spend your workout time when you could be using that time to actually be working out!
- Develop a Class Format — Whether you want to develop a DIY bootcamp from scratch or simply create a communal yoga space in your backyard, you want to create a consistent format that helps keep things organized. For example, consider the following formats for standard 60-minute at-home classes:
- Classic Bootcamp: 10-minute warmup; 20 minutes of cardio; 20 minutes of bodyweight training or weight lifting; 10-minute cooldown.
- Restorative Yoga: 10-minute warmup; 30-minute restorative yoga class on your preferred video platform; 10 minutes of savasana; 10 minutes of meditation.
- HIIT Training: 10-minute warmup; 45 minutes of various HIIT exercises at two rounds of 50 seconds each; 5-minute cooldown.
- Mix and Match: 10-minute warmup; 20 minutes of a fitness dance video; 20 minutes of a strength-training video; 10-minute cooldown.
- Cardio Yoga and Strength: 10-minute warmup; 20-minute vinyasa yoga class; 20-minute yoga for strength class; 10 minutes of savasana.
- All-Out Cardio: 10-minute warmup; 20-minute jog; 20 minutes of mixed cardio, such as jump-roping or hip-hop dancing; 10-minute cooldown.
- Mix Things Up — While all of the above are simple formats anyone can create with virtually no special equipment besides maybe some free weights and a jump rope, they may get a tad stale over time. To prevent things from getting boring, be sure to incorporate fun, unexpected exercise elements into your classes. For example, we love CROSSNET, a four square and volleyball hybrid that’s perfect for your homegrown pandemic class because it can be set up in the yard or on the beach and can be played by four-plus players at a time. You may also want to consider switching up your location from time to time just to get a fresh change of scenery.
- Consider Investing in Gym Equipment — If you intend to keep your gym class solo, you may want to look at the various new at-home gym options on the market. Whether it be a treadmill, a punching bag, a stationary bike or a mirror with built-in workouts, today’s new-fangled equipment is all digitally connected, which means you can simply hop on and jump into preset classes with other virtual participants.
- Sign Up for Digital Workout Classes — You don’t need fancy equipment to sign up for most fitness classes, either. If you’re more of a minimalist, check out the many amazing new digital platforms that provide access to online classes with simple gear like a laptop and yoga mat. These classes require virtually no thinking on your behalf, so they’re perfect for those who just want to dive in without a ton of effort.
Working out at home doesn’t have to be basic or boring. On the contrary! With the right approach and the right attitude, you can turn your living room or backyard into a full-fledged studio that rivals the very best fitness hotspots.
In partnership with Mile High Mamas.
Author: Mile High Mamas
