Online Workouts: Getting the Most from Working Out Online
We are now several weeks since the start of lockdown in the UK and there has been a huge rise in the number of people offering and taking part in online workouts.
Online workouts are a great way to be able to stay fit and healthy from the comfort of your own home. This makes them ideal during the current lockdown, as well as being a good option at any time for those who would otherwise find it difficult to get to a gym or studio.
There are various different types of online workouts out there, delivered in different ways, so how do you chose the best option for you and make sure you are getting the most out of the time you are putting in? I am going to discuss a few of the options available, including some of their benefits and considerations.
Pre-recorded Videos
These may be available as free to view, pay per recording or via membership sites.
Pre-recorded videos are great for those who have an unpredictable schedule and find it hard to commit to classes at set times. You can fit them in whenever you have the time to spare. You don’t need to worry about interruptions as you can simply pause and restart the video as needed.
Free videos are often found on sites such as YouTube. Many instructors may post tasters or tutorials here as a way to introduce their work and drive business for paid for services such as classes, videos or membership sites.
Paid for videos are usually purchased from an instructor or company’s website, either on a single class basis, or in packages or courses. Some sites also offer membership options in which you get access to a library of videos for an ongoing monthly fee.
As with most things in life, you do get what you pay for when it comes to pre-recorded videos. There are some good free videos on You Tube but there are also some pretty questionable ones too! It is also worth noting that these videos tend to be aimed for large viewing audiences, which means that some of the technical guidance given throughout the session can be very general and in some cases quite minimal! Pay per recording and membership based sessions do, in my experience, tend to be more targeted towards specific audiences or exercise needs, so can often provide a better level of guidance throughout the session. Some paid packages may also offer some form of instructor support, with the ability to contact the instructor and ask for further guidance if you have any questions.
It is important to remember in a pre-recorded video that you do not have an instructor to observe your form and ensure you are executing the exercises correctly. Therefore I generally do not recommend using prerecorded videos for an exercise form that you are not familiar with. The same applies if you have an injury or medical condition that might be aggravated by certain movements, or if you are pregnant or newly postnatal.
Summary: A great option for those with limited budget or unable to