Can’t Make The Gym? Try Online Fitness Classes
The effects of COVID ran deeper than just the world shutting down. Each of us had to learn how to deal with and adapt to the changes that COVID thrust upon us. To some it meant effectively balancing work while learning how to homeschool your children. Those of us in the service industry were forced to shut their doors until we started to see the number of people affected by COVID significantly drop. And yet others struggled with isolation as we were mandated to stay home and limit who and how we socialized.
Across the country, many gyms closed or operated at reduced capacity. The gym I belonged to shut their doors. So, I was faced with the dilemma of finding a gym, building a gym in my home, or finding an alternative way to keep up with my physical health and well-being. Many people in my neighborhood turned to walking, running, or cycling. Of course, while being cognizant of social distancing. I did the run/walk thing for a while but started to feel like my muscles were not getting the workout they needed to stay healthy. I also started to wonder how long were we going to be in lockdown?
Initially, I turned to my collection of DVD workouts and used my TRX. I then started to entertain / Google online workouts as my DVDs and TRX weren’t giving me the results I wanted. But because the gyms were still closed, I decided to buy a few weights and move forward with the online classes. How about you? What did you do when we were in lockdown? Were you successful in making the change? And if you have not returned to the gym, do you find yourself still struggling with making the switch to online fitness classes? If so, here are some things to consider.
There are some advantages that result from doing online workouts such as saying goodbye to commuting across town or waiting in line to shower. The extra privacy may be nice, too, especially if you feel self-conscious about working out in a crowded room. Most importantly, you can get an effective workout at home. When you are a regular at a gym, it’s amazing how many people like to talk to you 😊 which starts to cut into your workout time.
Below are some approaches / tips to taking online fitness classes.
What to do before your online fitness class:
1. Explore your options. You can sample classes from anywhere in the world in a single day. I know I get bored if I do the same workout week after week. So, rotate among a variety of instructors and formats and this should help to make your workouts more interesting, which should also translate into “less likely to skip a day”.
2. Create a space. I know this may seem like an obvious tip. But try to do your workouts in the same room. In other words, set up a dedicated area for working out. Ensure that you have enough room to move around safely without injuring yourself or breaking anything. Remember the space you need may change based on the workout you’re doing that day.
3. Position your screen. Most activities will be easier if you place your screen at your eye level standing up. Have you ever tried working out using your phone? I know when I was doing my TRX workouts, I used the app on my phone which it made it a challenge to see what the instructor was doing. No doubt, larger sizes help too, so use your TV instead of your phone if possible.
4. Check your flooring. Another intuitive tip. Make sure you protect your joints if you’re doing high impact movements. You may not realize this, but high impact movements can have adverse effects on your joints. So be mindful of what’s under you! Use mats or consider doing any jumping outside on the grass.
5. Arrange a playlist. A good playlist helps me get in the right mindset and can often help me push through a workout. However, many teachers arrange music for their sessions. You can always opt to keep your music playing in the background and adjust the volume when class starts so that you can hear the instructions.
6. Buy gear. Check ahead to see if you need any special equipment, like stability balls or hand weights. Wear appropriate clothing, especially footwear designed for what you’ll be doing. Resist the urge to workout barefooted! Unless, of course, it’s a yoga class or some other workout that does not require shoes.
7. Set goals. Knowing your purpose increases your motivation and makes your workouts more effective. Think about what you want to accomplish in each class. Specific objectives also make it easier to evaluate your progress. For example, I want to do 10 pushups by the end of the fourth week or I want to increase the weight I use to do a chest press by 10 pounds by “x” date.
What to Do During and After Your Online Fitness Class:
Avoid distractions. Ha! I’m guilty of this one! Resist the urge to multitask. Save the laundry for later and pay attention to your teacher. I know I would run around at designated rest periods to wash the dishes or get dinner ready. 😊
Pace yourself. Without an instructor in the room, you’ll need to monitor yourself. Slow down or take a break if you’re having trouble breathing or the class is too intense. Work your way up gradually to reduce the risk of injuries. If you have any concerns, it’s always a good idea to talk with your doctor before starting a new workout routine.
Stop and look. Protect your neck and other vulnerable areas if you’re in a position where it’s awkward to see the screen. Don’t worry about missing time to perform the exercise. I know I’ve had to stand or sit up for a moment to see what the teacher was demonstrating. Once I understood how to perform the exercise, I got right back into it.
Cross train. Maybe you love a specific kind of class, but it doesn’t provide a full workout. Not a problem! Plan other activities for the rest of the week to balance things out. You might take 2 days of Zumba classes with 3 days of strength training in between. Don’t forget to give your muscles time to recover. Rest is just as important!
Seek interaction. What if you still miss the excitement and camaraderie of live classes? Look for other ways to engage. Maybe you can find a teacher who gives students time to chat and ask questions after class.
If you’re not completely sold on the idea of online workouts, maybe you haven’t found the right instructor. Or maybe you truly like the atmosphere that live workouts provide. In any case, don’t be so quick to dismiss the idea. Online courses are a great alternative to when you can’t get to the gym or you’re feeling a little lazy and don’t want to make the drive. With a little planning and effort, you can make online fitness classes more productive and enjoyable.
