Since last March, the UK has been in and out of lockdown and we've all been asked to follow various coronavirus-related restrictions. Once again, as we enter our third lockdown, gyms and fitness studios have shut their doors in the interest of public safety, as well as restaurants and other venues, such as beauty salons.
While this has undoubtedly been tough for many, we're going to try and focus on the silver linings – one of which is that many of our favourite fitness brands have upped their digital offerings. Boutique London studios are now accessible for all, with their virtual classes (one of which, Digme, is even offering members the chance to rent an affordable spin bike at home) and follow-at-home classes have soared in popularity. Having a tonne of extra time on our hands has also meant we've been getting more experimental in terms of the workouts we try.
Here, we've rounded up fifteen of the best online offerings to keep you busy (and sweaty) over the next few weeks of Lockdown 3 – many of which offer free trials too. We've also pulled together a selection of great tips from fitness experts about what they're doing differently as the pandemic continues. Leggings at the ready...
1) Low impact with FLY LDN Online
After a successful trial of Instagram workouts during Lockdown 1, the London studio – which offers an array of high intensity low impact options, from Friday night hip hop yoga to early morning barre sessions and Pilates – have now built an incredible online platform for their die-hard fans. Their IGTV and YouTube channel have free full-length classes to try out first, if you want to dip a toe before parting with any cash. Chiara, FLY LDN's Head of Pilates and Barre, is so much fun you'll (almost) forget about your burning thighs and the sweat rolling into your eyes.
Join for £9.99 a month or £99.99 a year, visit FLY LDN for more information.
2) Bodyweight workouts from Gymshark
Famed for its fitness gear and regimes, Gymshark is offering free workouts on its Gymshark Conditioning app – many of which need minimal equipment, or use household objects, such as a chair. Whether you're wanting to tone your abs or get a full body session done, these muscle workers are a surefire bet.
The Gymshark app is free with add on purchases available from £4.99 p/m.
3) Full body workouts from Barry's Bootcamp
Barry's classes are legendary – usually they're a 60 minute split of treadmill work and floor work (involving weights). Given that all the studios in the UK are once again temporarily closed to adhere with government rules, Barry's have created a 4-week lockdown survival programme. They're offering two daily 30-minute recorded workout videos, guided by some of their top UK instructors, every day until 2nd December.
Join the Barry's UK Survival programme for £35 in total.
4) Strength classes with Core Collective
The luxury fitness studio has rolled out six types of digital classes, ranging from Strength to Sweat to Pilates, lasting from 5 to 45 minutes. Lead by its regular well-known and loved instructors, they're available on-demand and vary in intensity too (meaning even if you're a beginner, you'll find one on your level). If you're looking for a one-off fling, you can purchase a single Zoom class for £9.
Try CCTV's 5 day free trial (after which prices begin at £10 p/m), or sample a live drop-in classes for £9 a turn.
5) Free online workouts from Orangetheory Fitness
This intense circuits-based fitness method claims it can help you burn up to 1000 calories per class, so definitely isn't one for the faint-hearted. They've only just started rolling out studios across the UK, so if you haven't made it to an in-person class yet, now could be the perfect opportunity to check out what they're like. The Orangetheory Fitness crew are posting a different daily workout, free of charge on their website (and also have an app filled with extra content, challenges and tips).
Check out Orangetheory Fitness's free online workouts every day.
6) Boxing-based workouts with KOBOX
If boxing is usually your bag, it's time you became acquainted with the specialists, KOBOX – their fabulous trainers will keep you sweating and in top shape, and feeling good too. KOBOX is all about the community aspect of fitness, so expect plenty of welcome words of encouragement along the way.
Classes run daily and cost £7.50, book in via the KOBOX website.
7) Party-style moving from FRAME
The fun, high-energy classes that usually happen within a FRAME studio are now available via their online platform, which is on the cheaper end of the scale (j'adore). As well as live and on-demand classes, FRAME have also shared free mini workouts on their IGTV, including an retro-themed aerobic session and 5 quick barre moves to master.
Try FRAME digital workouts from £6 p/m.
8) Dance routines with School of SOS
If, like the rest of the world, you found yourself obsessed with the Pussycat Doll's React video last year, featuring a trés steamy dance routine, now's the time to learn one yourself. Empowering dance studio, School of SOS, teaches slick choreography to the latest bops – meaning that once lockdown life is over and you're back on the dancefloor, you'll be fiercer than ever.
Try your first SOS digital class for free, monthly subscriptions start from £4.99.
9) Les Mills classes on Demand
The creators of globally iconic classes such as BODYCOMBAT, BODYPUMP and BODYBALANCE have now made them available to try out at home, via their on-demand platform. It now boasts over a thousand different workouts, which the Les Mills team say are infused with scientific research to help each attendee get the most out of their session. Classes range from 15 minute bursts to hourlong sessions.
£11.95 per month (free trial for 14 days), visit LES MILLS on Demand for more information.
10) Barre x house music with Disco Barre Studio
Usually this hot spot has a waiting list (well, with Game of Thrones cast members counted as clients that's hardly surprising, right?) but for the duration of Lockdown 2.0, they'll be taking their upbeat, low impact high energy classes online for the first time. Expect big tunes and an instructor with an even bigger personality to keep you motivated.
Memberships from £25 a month (four classes per week) and drop-in classes are £9.99, visit Disco Barre Studio for more information.
11) Workouts and nutrition with Davina: Own Your Goals
The OG of fitness (and recent Women's Health UK cover star), Davina McCall now has her own holistic platform, Own Your Goals – which has nutrition tips as well as inspiring workouts and community support in the form of a Facebook group. Exercise sessions on offer include boxing, cardio, yoga and HIIT.
New users can try a free two week trial of the platform (NHS staffers are entitled to 30 days). Own Your Goals membership prices then begin at £9.99 p/m.
12) Sweat and stretch sessions with F45
If you've ever grunted your way through an F45 class before, then you'll know they're pretty full on and use an array of different equipment (see how one Cosmopolitan staffer lost 7% of her body fat in 8 weeks by giving them a go). Luckily, the leading fitness brand have now adapted a tonne of their workouts to be body weighted for an at-home audience too, (while keeping some that require weights etc., should that be your preference). They also offer recovery and stretching sessions, plus a meal delivery service too.
Download the F45 Challenge app or visit the F45 Challenge website. N.B. To join you'll need to be an F45 studio member, the app and site can connect you with your local one. Prices are from £20 a week but vary depending on the studio.
13) Personal training and running coaches via Eastnine
So here's a cool concept: Eastnine is an app starring Olympic athletes, military trainers and pro PTs, who can guide you through everything from running your first ever 5K to a one-on-one tailored workout over Zoom. Think everything from a boxing session focussed on your core with GB boxer, Lewis Richardson, to guides on how to smash a marathon. User-friendly and slick in design, we're obsessed.
The Eastnine app is currently offering a free trial for new users, an annual subscription is £79.99 (or you can pay £13.99 p/m).
14) Free fitness on the PureGym app
Previously reserved only for members, the country's largest gym chain is opening up its app for everyone. It features over 400 different workouts of various levels, classes and advice on-demand to help anyone maintain both physical and mental health during the next tricky few weeks. PureGym will also be running daily live workouts on their social media channels.
For more information or to download the app, please the PureGym website.
15) The Zoom Room with Nicki Petitt
A seasoned athlete and fitness coach who has worked with the likes of Red Bull, F45 and Amazon, Nicki's offering is simple but oh-so effective: she devises different bodyweight sessions (lasting roughly 40 minutes) three times a week, for all fitness abilities. She has me sweating buckets every Friday morning before work. See you there?
Classes start from just £4, contact Nicki for more information and to book in.
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