The 14 Best Home Workout and Wellbeing Channels and Apps to Try
Keep your body and mind feeling healthy from home with these workout and wellbeing channels and apps to try today!
We have included third party products to help you navigate and enjoy life’s biggest moments. Purchases made through links on this page may earn us a commission.
Exercising can be difficult at the best of times, and right now, during these unsettling days, it can seem like a near-impossible task to get up and get moving. But during the ongoing Coronavirus crisis, it’s more important than ever to take care of your physical and mental wellbeing.
Most of us will now find ourselves working from home, and carrying out most of our lives behind closed doors while we ride this period out. This can be extremely stressful and detrimental to our mental health as well as our physical health, so carving out time to exercise our minds and our bodies is important.
The good news is there are quite literally thousands of outlets to exercise and to practise meditation and mindfulness from the comfort of our own homes. We’ve whittled it down to the top 14 at-home workout and wellbeing apps, tutorials and channels to follow while you’re stuck indoors.
We hope that in this worrying time, they can become a place of solace for you, even if it’s just for 20 minutes a day.
Yoga
1. Cat Meffan Yoga
View this post on InstagramA post shared by YOGA TEACHER (@catmeffan) on
Beloved fitness blogger and yoga instructor Cat Meffan responded to the news that most yoga studios would be closing down due to Coronavirus by re-opening her Soul Sanctuary online membership. This houses at-home yoga guidance and classes in a community of like-minded yoga lovers. If you don’t want this much of a commitment, you can also check out some of her shorter videos, which are free via her Instagram.
2. Yoga with Adrienne
One of the best known yoga gurus on YouTube, Adrienne Mishler has been around since online fitness tutorials became a ‘thing’. As one of the original experts, she’s a great figure to turn to if you want to workout from the comfort of your own home. What’s more, she offers videos for all levels, including absolute beginners. There are also more niche options, such as yoga for particular joints and aches and pains. Adrienne has a notably calming presence, and one which encourages you to ‘find what feels good’ for you.
3. SarahBethYoga
SarahBethYoga is a great option for beginners, thanks to her easy-to-follow tutorials with simple steps which speak to absolute newbies as well as those more advanced. Sarah Beth breaks down every move slowly, meaning you can catch on even if you have zero yoga knowledge. Most tutorials are short and sweet, meaning they fit nicely into your day. This 20 minute Full Body Yoga Stretch is ideal for aching muscles, which may have found their way into your life recently during working from home protocols.
4. Yoga by Candace
Another well-known internet Yogi, Candace has some great accessible content for those looking to start yoga from their living room. One of her most recent videos is this ‘Kid-friendly partner yoga,’ which showcases moves you can do with someone else you’re staying inside with, be it your housemate, partner, or even your little ones.
Cardio & Strength
5. Peloton
You may recognise Peloton from its TV adverts, where it promotes its at-home spinning classes, in which you use a purchased Peloton bike. However, you may be surprised to know that Peloton not only offers indoor cycling-related sessions, but also classes for running, yoga, and strength. Download their app for a 90-day free trial.
6. Psycle
London-based spin institution Psycle are determined not to let their loyal community down since the Coronavirus spread forced their doors to close. Unable to offer their infamous Ride classes remotely, the team have instead turned to some of their best-known instructors to run strength, barre, and yoga-inspired classes via IGTV. There is currently an ongoing daily schedule, which is released the day prior, and you don’t need any equipment to follow along.
7. Nike Training Club
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Nike Training Club (@niketraining) on
A renowned name in the world of fitness, this is one you can really trust. As part of the Nike Training Club, you will have access to four 4–6 week training plans, which vary in terms of your preference and equipment. Examples of these are strength training, cardio and HIIT, and Start Up: the programme to kick off with if you want something to ease you into at-home working out.
8. Barrecore
One of the most well-known barre companies in the UK, Barrecore uses ballet methods, with interval training with functional stretches to sculpt and tone. They now offer live classes to stream from the comfort of your own home, and also have an online class library you can access. Sign up now for two weeks free, before paying a monthly membership. This is a tough workout, but one that is a great alternative to hardcore cardio.
9. 7 Days of Sweat With Joe Wicks
Joe Wicks is the PT cheeky chappy who’s gone on to write cookbooks and get the nation fit with his energetic approach to working out. His ‘7 days of sweat’ videos on YouTube are really great workouts which start slow and build up over the course of the week. Each session is only 20 minutes long, requires no equipment, and always includes different exercises to keep things exciting. Wicks is determined to beat that motivation slump with these videos, which is why they’re so appropriate for the current situation.
Breathing, Mindfulness & Meditation
10. Stress & Anxiety Companion App
Designed to keep you healthy mentally, this is the perfect find during this unsettling time. It is NHS-recommended, and was actually created by a patient and their psychologist. This app uses CBT methods to help you manage feelings of anxiety and stress at home, as well as visual exercises and relaxation recordings. Many of us who attend regular therapy may find this effected during the coronavirus crisis, so downloading an app like this can really help.
11. 20-Minute Mindfulness Tutorial
Confused about how mindfulness actually works, and unsure how to start yourself, at home? This easy to follow guided mindfulness tutorial on YouTube makes it all super simple. Simply pick a comfortable spot, close your eyes, and let the sounds and words take you away.
12. Insight Timer App
Insight Timer has a real sense of community; the app tracks how many people around the world are checking in to meditate and use the programmes, and with its endless option of sessions, it’s a true treasure trove for a healthy mindset. Browse everything from sessions designed to help with mindfulness, sleep, and breathing, as well as spirituality and consciousness. The ‘Mindfulness for releasing anxiety’ audios may be particularly helpful right now.
13. Calm App
The Calm app is one of the most popular options for meditation and mindfulness. They offer free tutorials to listen to under the following umbrellas: Sleep, Meditate, and Music. All have plenty to offer in terms of keeping you calm and anxiety-free during this super stressful time, with the ‘7 days of calming anxiety’ programme particularly handy right now. Oh, and you can’t miss the 30-minute long bedtime story read by none other than Matthew McConaughey. Nothing’s more soothing…
14. Breathe App
Breathe is another free app that allows you to check in daily to track your mindset and emotional wellbeing. The app is perfect for very beginners, as it has sessions which will teach you how to meditate, and to start very slow; there are even sessions as short as a few minutes long. They currently have a ‘Calm coronavirus anxiety’ programme running, which is a great targeted option.
