From HIIT to yoga, dance and Pilates, these are the home workouts you’ll keep clicking on time and time again
The world of home workouts has undergone a major transformation over the last year. With Covid-19 and lockdowns, gym visits have become more difficult and people have increasingly turned to tech to get their fitness fix. As a result of this rise in demand, the choice now available is greater and better than ever.
As well as a huge range of YouTube workouts to choose from, some of the country’s most in-demand fitness studios have released a wide range of online classes to help keep motivation levels up. From HIIT to yoga, Pilates, dance, cardio and boxing, there’s a home workout for every level of ability and bank balance.
Whether you’re looking to lose weight, combat everyday stress or build strength, here’s what you need to know about working out at home, plus 15 top online classes for keeping goals on track. Extra bonus – regular exercise can brighten dull and tired skin, too.
Is it effective to workout at home?
Absolutely. While gyms provide specialised equipment and invaluable IRL advice on form and technique, home workouts can provide greater choice and class variety. They also give a welcome degree of privacy for those who find exercising in front of others a little intimidating.
Home workouts can address a common fitness stumbling block – time. We’re increasingly short of it and, with the NHS recommending that adults do at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise, or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity a week, they provide some much-needed flexibility for those struggling with the most tightly packed of schedules.
Structure is key though for sticking to your home workout plan. We’ve found that just clearing a dedicated exercising space, setting aside a regular, non-negotiable time in your calendar and laying out your workout gear the night before are the small yet effective things that can help.
What are the best exercises to do at home?
A weekly workout plan that includes strength training (this could be done using dumbbells and/or bodyweight), cardio and stretching can help maintain all-round fitness.
Regularity is the secret to long-term success, as is keeping expectations realistic and adapting your routine to your fitness level to keep risk of injury low.
Do I need equipment for a home workout?
Not necessarily. There are plenty of home workouts without equipment to choose from. That being said, in our experience, it’s worthwhile to have a good quality workout mat close to hand for yoga and abs work, especially if you have hardwood floors.
The best home workouts and free home workouts
Popsugar Fitness
Best for: home workouts for beginners, workouts with dumbbells and abs workouts
Types of workouts: all
Cost: free
With classes covering everything from HIIT to hip hop, Zumba to Pilates and everything in between, there’s something for everyone on this YouTube channel. Led by some of the industry’s top celebrity and gym trainers and with modifications expertly explained, the classes are easy to follow and make it simple to track your progress, too.
Find out more about Popsugar Fitness.
Peloton
Best for: spin home workouts and full-body home workouts
Types of home workouts: cycling, strength, yoga, stretching, running, meditation
Cost: Peloton Bike from £1,750. Digital Membership costs £12.99 per month and there is also a 30-day free trial available.
While most well-known for their spin classes, Peloton also boasts an impressive range of bike-free classes through the app. From running to yoga, meditation and strength, there’s a variety of in-app features and motivating instructors to keep you on track with your goals.
Find out more about Peloton.
Barrecore
Best for: barre at-home workouts
Types of home workouts: barre full-body workouts and a range of upper-body, lower-body and core workouts
Cost: £25 per month (first month is free)
Now you can feel the signature Barrecore burn at home thanks to the studio’s video on-demand service. Designed to tone and strengthen core muscles using small, repetitive movements, classes aim to leave you tighter, more toned and flexible.
Find out more about Barrecore.
Kayla Itsines’ Sweat App
Best for: fast home workouts and full-body home workouts
Types of home workouts: high/low-intensity cardio, strength, barre, yoga, post-pregnancy
Cost: Free to download. £7.49 per month, with a yearly subscription. £14.99 per month, with a monthly subscription (after a free 7-day trial)
Celebrity PT Kayla Itsines’ Sweat App offers a wide variety of time-efficient workouts at your fingertips. Programs include: High Intensity, High Intensity Zero Equipment, High Intensity Strength and Post-Pregnancy to provide options for a range of different fitness levels. They’ll have you breaking into a sweat in no time.
Find out more about Kayla Itsines' Sweat App.
ClassPass
Best for: cardio and full-body home workouts
Types of home workouts: strength training, cardio, ab workouts, yoga, barre
Cost: £25 per month (first month is free)
Better known for connecting users with stellar classes at top-rated studios, ClassPass also offers members unlimited access to over 4,000 on-demand sessions. HIIT, strength training and ab workouts are just a few of the options available, with classes providing a taste of the IRL version from the comfort of your own living room.
Find out more about ClassPass.
The Body Coach
Best for: HIIT at-home workouts
Types of home workouts: high-intensity interval training, ab workouts, workouts with dumbbells
Cost: free
Time-short? Joe Wicks has a workout for you. Whether you’re a beginner or regular gym goer, adult or child (thanks to PE with Joe), you’ll find ample fitness inspiration here. He’s also teamed up with deaf online fitness coach India Morse to provide online classes for the deaf community.
Find out more about The Body Coach.
And8 fitness
Best for: dance home workouts
Types of home workouts: dance-cardio
Cost: free
If you’re looking to inject some fun into your fitness plans, look no further than these high-energy dance-cardio workouts taught by twin sisters Danielle and Dominique Gillyard. Set to music by the likes of Christina Aguilera, Meghan Thee Stallion, Ariana Grande and Beyoncé, their videos are great for an endorphin and mood boost.
Find out more about And8 fitness.
Yoga with Adriene
Best for: yoga home workouts
Types of home workouts: yoga
Cost: free
As much of a workout for the body as it is for the mind, Adriene’s workouts appeal to both yoga novices and pros alike. Classes are categorised by intention (examples include trust, rejuvenation and courage) and 30-day programs are available, to help viewers develop a practice of their own.
Find out more about Yoga with Adriene.
Les Mills
Best for: gym classes at home
Types of home workouts: Body Combat, Body Pump, Body Balance and more
Cost: memberships from £12.95 per month (14-day free trial available)
For those whose gym visits largely consist of attending Les Mills’s popular classes, this one’s for you. With over 1,000 workouts and 13 programs across strength, cardio, HIIT, dance, flexibility and more, it covers a huge number of bases.
Find out more about Les Mills.
Move Your Frame
Best for: aerobics and dance home workouts
Types of home workouts: cardio, yoga, Pilates, barre, aerobics, dance-cardio
Cost: £10.99 a month
For workouts that don’t take themselves too seriously but offer serious results, Move Your Frame could be your fitness match. As well as a wide selection of exercise types to choose from, the playlists for 80s aerobics and 90’s dance-cardio are certain to put a smile on your face long after the class is over.
Find out more about Move Your Frame.
Psycle At Home
Best for: cycling and strengthening full-body home workouts
Types of home workouts: Ride, Barre, Strength and Yoga
Cost: £35 per month (a 14-day free trial is available)
With over 100 on-demand classes spanning their signature Ride, barre, strength and yoga workouts, Psycle’s online platform allows viewers to sample the music-driven and fast-paced atmosphere that has made their studios such a firm favourite among Londoners. They’re seriously sweaty, but seriously fun, too.
Find out more about Psycle At Home.
Shona Vertue
Best for: yoga and full-body home workouts
Types of home workouts: yoga, meditation, strength training
Cost: free
Is it possible to be sweaty and serene? That’s the USP of this YouTube channel created by yoga teacher, personal trainer and ex-gymnast, Shona Vertue – and one it lives up to. With workouts designed to improve mobility, posture and stress levels, you’ll leave feeling leaner and fitter.
Find out more about Shona Vertue.
FLY LDN
Best for: low-impact home workouts
Types of home workouts: Pilates, barre and yoga
Cost: from £9.99 a month (a 7-day trial is available)
Whether you’re looking for your FLY LDN flow at home or on-the-go, you’ll find it here. Ideal for those who prefer low-impact workouts that are challenging yet easy to slot into the work day, videos across each discipline are added regularly and membership also grants access to LIVE classes every week, too.
Find out more about FLY LDN.
Triyoga
Best for: yoga home workouts
Types of home workouts: Pilates, barre, meditation and yoga
Cost: two classes for £9
Triyoga’s online offering serves up classes, live-streams and workshops to help align body and mind come morning or night. From vinyasa to restorative, yin and ashtanga yoga, there’s a broad range of styles to choose from, led by some of the studio’s best-loved and most-experienced teachers.
Find out more about Triyoga.
BLOK TV
Best for: Mobility and calisthenics home workouts
Types of home workouts: high intensity, restorative, Pilates, strength, barre, ballet, boxing and more
Cost: £10-£20 a month (14-day free trial available)
Their diverse range of classes is what sets this online home workout portal apart. From high intensity to low impact, the different programs will appeal to those wanting to increase strength, build muscle and improve endurance.
Find out more about BLOK TV.
