Written by Maxine Francisco
Cover Photo taken from Shannon Nadj
COVID-19 has left us gym-less, and with classes being online we probably aren’t walking as much as we used to. If we want to stay active, we now have to do so from the comfort of our homes. This transition has been a drastic change for many and it can be difficult to make working out from home enjoyable; not to mention it can be tough to stay motivated. However, keep in mind that you shouldn't feel any pressure to be excessively productive, creative or active at a time like this. Don’t be afraid to give yourself a break. Everyone has a different interpretation of health and wellness, so while staying active is an important part of life, how you choose to do so is up to you.
I usually have a hard time working out on my own because I like the instruction and guidance that comes with class-format workouts. Luckily I’ve found an abundance of resources that have made working out in my own room easier, and they’re all accessible through just a phone or computer. Here are some of the coaches and trainers whose workouts I’ve been following on Instagram:
Kirsty Godso is a Nike Master Trainer and most of her workouts are accessible through the Nike Training Club app (Nike has announced that the upgrade, NTC Premium, is free for everyone in the U.S. until further notice). Her six-week “Burn” program on the NTC app is amazing for some high-impact interval training (HIIT), and it’s a great way to get your heart rate up quickly. She has also been posting at-home workout circuits on Instagram that you can do with minimal or no equipment! I love Kirsty and her workouts because she takes the time to emphasize good form and gives tips on how to properly fuel your body.
Tasha Franken is a pilates instructor and health coach who frequently posts pilates workouts on her IGTV and YouTube channel. Pilates is a great low-impact workout that focuses on mobility, strengthening and toning, and Tasha makes her workouts easy to follow. They’re all around 30 minutes long and target areas like the inner thighs, abs and arms. She also incorporates different movements into every workout so while there is consistency, they don’t feel repetitive. I appreciate this because workouts can become boring if you’re doing the same move or routine over and over again.
Shannon Nadj is the founder of Hot Pilates, a pilates studio in California popular with many celebrities. She frequently goes live on her Instagram to do 20-30 minute pilates-based workouts. I enjoy live workouts because I’ve found that when I schedule them into my calendar, I’m more likely to get up and do them! But in case you can’t hop on the livestream, she saves them for 24 hours and also uploads them to her YouTube channel. I love Shannon’s workouts because they incorporate rhythmic movement, and she always has a good playlist going in the background. Sometimes she even goes live more than once a day!
Adriene Mishler is a yoga teacher well-known for her YouTube channel, Yoga with Adriene; it’s basically a free, online yoga studio. She posts a few practices a month, and occasionally posts daily when she leads month-long challenges or themes. On her channel you’ll find many different types of yoga practices such as her “Yoga for Weight Loss” series which focuses on fat-burning, as well as some lower-impact practices that focus more on meditation and stress control. Yoga is great because you’re bound to find a practice that works for you.
In addition to making Nike Training Club Premium free for the time being, Nike has been hosting “Community Workouts” every Saturday at 9 a.m. (PST) on their YouTube Channel. These free workouts are led by a different Nike Master Trainer each week and are suitable for all experience levels. You don’t need any equipment for these workouts, just a little bit of space. The workouts usually take around 45 minutes and are uploaded to the channel afterwards so you can watch (or rewatch) if you miss the livestream.