Online fitness programs are a game-changer. If the weather is bad or you're stuck indoors, you can use an online training program to keep fit.
You don't have to be a fitness buff to enjoy a new fitness routine. Sometimes the best way to start on the path to getting fit is by using a free training program in your home. Getting over the first fitness hurdle is often the most difficult. Doing it without people watching or having to spend any cash makes it a bit easier.
So, here are the best online fitness programs you can start today.
1. Joe Wicks' The Body Coach TV
Joe Wicks YouTube P.E. lessons have been a revelation for many during the coronavirus lockdown period. Each morning, Wicks runs a live P.E session, with the target audience of kids who are no longer at school.
But do not let that stop you joining in the session because it is a 30-minute, full-body cardio and muscular workout. You can complete all of Joe Wicks' home workout sessions from your home, and he rarely uses any additional equipment. At most, he might introduce a weight that you can substitute with a household object.
If that sounds like your ideal workout, check out these bodyweight exercise programs you can practice anywhere.
Aside from the daily P.E. lessons, the channel also runs several weekly fitness programs you can follow at your leisure.
Price: Free
2. Cole Chance Yoga
Yoga is an important part of any new fitness program. Although many people don't "get" yoga, its benefits are extensive and well-documented. A good yoga routine will help build strength, flexibility, and physical resilience. But it does more than that and can help with mental clarity, peacefulness, meditation, concentration, and much more.
Online yoga classes are everywhere. If you're just getting started, try the Cole Chance Yoga playlist. It'll guide you through over 100 different yoga sessions, from beginners to intermediates, specific yoga poses, and workouts for certain areas of your body.
Give it a try. You'll be pleasantly surprised.
Price: Free
3. FiiT
If you want something with a little more direction, you can try subscription service, FiiT.
The online fitness program is known as the "Netflix of fitness" and brings accessible fitness programs into your home. FiiT offers a range of workout options depending on your current level of fitness. If you're a complete beginner, you can build up slowly with basic routines that help build core strengths and, importantly, confidence.
But if you're already well on the path of exercise, you can delve into the FiiT classes and video workouts that suit your level.
FiiT uses a subscription model. The free option allows you to access FiiT's catalog of training routines and other workouts. Upgrading to a premium subscription grants you on-demand training videos led by "world-class trainers," and goal-based training programs that you can tailor to your requirements. Plus, you get nutritional advice, group classes, live stats and progress tracking, and much more.
Price: Free. $25 per month for Premium, or $150 per year (one-off payment)
4. Freeletics
Freeletics ramps the fitness program game up a notch. It might even ramp it up a few notches, depending on your fitness level at the start of your Freeletics program. In that, you should know that Freeletics is an excellent training program, but it isn't for the faint of heart.
Freeletics is a bundle of apps you can use to train all areas of your body, extensively. There are apps for Nutrition, the Gym, Running programs, and the most popular option, Bodyweight. The Bodyweight app focuses on building core strength, toning, weight reduction, stamina building, high-intensity training (HIT), and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts.
You enter your current physical stats and the start of your Freeletics journey, then input your goals. Freeletics then crafts a fitness program for you. The program awards stars, leveling you up along with way. Each training session takes around 30-mins to complete, and there are over 1,000 training variations.
You can also upgrade to the premium Freeletics version for a personalized fitness program, guided workouts, nutritional advice, and much more.
With all that packed into one package, it is no wonder Freeletics features in our list of the best workout apps.
Price: Free. $2.30 per week for Premium.
5. Fitness Blender
Married couple Daniel and Kelli bring you Fitness Blender, a site offering a remarkable volume of fitness videos. You work through their collection of online fitness content, creating a personal fitness program that suits your level, and most importantly, available time.
What makes Fitness Blender great is (aside from the fitness program!) the customizable search on their website. You can search through their catalog of fitness videos using difficulty level, body part focus, training type, equipment type, and even if you want a male or female solo training experience.
Fitness Blender is a fantastic option if you want to work through an in-depth fitness program from start to finish.
There is also the option to upgrade to the Fitness Blender premium tier, known as FB Plus. Signing up to FB Plus grants access to special workouts, nutritional data, recipes to help with diet, custom workouts, workout tracking, challenges, and much more.
Price: Free. $9 per month auto-renew for FB Plus, or $80 per year.
6. One Hundred Pushups
The One Hundred Pushups online fitness program has been around for a long time. The reason for its success lies in simplicity. Anyone can take up the One Hundred Pushup fitness challenge. It is free, requires no equipment, and needs very little space.
The One Hundred Pushups challenges is as it sounds. Can you complete 100 pushups in one day with proper form?
When you begin the fitness program, you won't get near 100 pushups. As the website says, most people "won't even be able to manage 20 pushups." But, by the end of the course, you'll smash through 100 pushups in one day. It's also okay if you miss the target.
Better still, you can mix it up with other exercises to tone different areas of your body. The One Hundred Pushups site has examples of sit-ups, squats, lunges, pullups, and more.
The one thing to remember is that your body needs time to recover to maximize your gains. If you're aching or your body is saying no, take a rest day. It'll be better in the long run if you do these exercises with the proper technique. Your body will thank you.
Price: Free
What Is the Best Online Fitness Training Program?
Choosing between these six options is difficult. The best thing is that you can try each option and find out what works for you.
If you're just starting your online fitness program journey, why not try each option for one week and see what suits you?
Otherwise, start learning some basic physical exercises. There are YouTube videos that will teach you how to do a press-up, sit-up, and burpees properly. Most high-intensity fitness training programs will incorporate a burpee session or three because it conditions numerous parts of the body at once.
Once you're feeling confident, check out these online fitness challenges and see if you can make it to the end.