You should see me before a workout class: I’m worse than your most stubborn toddler who won’t— WON’T— eat a bite of broccoli.
I just reeeeally don’t wanna go.
Just getting to a Soul Cycle or (my new obsession) L7 yoga class is honestly the hardest part of my workout. Yet, an hour or so later, I’m experiencing an endorphin-fueled, post-workout euphoria and swearing up and down that I’ll start exercising regularly.
And then I don’t, and it’s broccoli city all over again. It’s not because I’m lazy (OK maybe a little), but more about all of the time-devouring inconveniences of the commute there and back, traffic, parking, etc. It’s enough to make me stay in my pyjamas. So recently, I’ve begun experimenting with today’s best crop of steaming workouts, that promise to be a big upgrade from their counterparts of old. For one thing, the high quality production and mind-boggling variety means that you’ll find something you love, and it will be a pleasure to watch. Plus, many of today’s streaming workouts were filmed during actual classes, so the experience is a lot like being front row center at the studio (even though you might never dare in real life!). Best perk: it’s all on-demand, so you can workout whenever you like, no waiting for class times required. I’m sold, and some of the options below have become part of my weekly routine. Here are a few of the best streaming workouts available now.
YOGA
YogaGlo
I’ve had the pleasure of attending class at YogaGlo’s Venice, California, location, where classes are free. Frankly, I prefer the videos, which I can roll out of bed and do before 7AM. They offer excellent sound and close-up detail, and range in time duration and goals (body, heart and mind) so you can pick whatever flow you need in the moment. Teachers include yoga-lebrities such as Elena Brower, Kathryn Budig, Seane Corn and Annie Carpenter.
- Price: $18/month
- App: iOS and Android, for viewing paid subscriptions offline
- Number of videos: 3,000+
- Free trial: 15 days
Yogis Anonymous
Like YogaGlo, Yogis Anonymous is a real studio (located in Santa Monica, California), and its videos are filmed during actual classes. Yogis Anonymous’ star teachers include Ashley Turner, Brock and Krista Cahill, Duncan Wong and Derek Beres among others.
- Price: $15/month
- App: iOS & Android
- Number of videos: 2,000+
- Free trial: 15 days
Gaia
For the serious yogi or beginning spiritual seeker, Gaia—formerly known as GaiamTV—is a nucleus for all things yoga-related. It now offers not only streaming yoga videos, but also Pilates, dance, t’ai chi, plus videos about Eastern philosophy. And there’s the famous Gaiam store, where you can buy every yoga-cessory you’ve ever dreamed of.
- Price: $9.95/month
- App: No
- Number of videos: 7,000+
- Free trial: No, but .99 for the first month
SPINNING
Peloton
Peloton is an upscale exercise bike manufacturer that offers live spinning classes at its New York City studio. As with the yoga centers above, Peloton films its classes in HD and makes them available online, but Peloton’s rides are available both on-demand as well as live. The pricing setup is a bit weird: you can download the iOS app and pay $12.99/month for access, or buy a Peloton bike for $2,000 and be committed to $39/month for a full one-year streaming subscription that works with the bike’s integrated touch screen. The app subscription won’t track or record your ride metrics, but if you’re not in a position to buy the bike, the app is a price-effective way to tune into their killer classes.
- Price: $39/month for full streaming. $12.99/month or $5.99/week for the app
- App: iOS only
- Number of videos: 3,000+ and live classes
- Free trial: App only, 14 days
CARDIO/MIXED
Tracy Anderson
If you’re a fan of Gwyneth Paltrow’s rockin’ bod, you might want to go straight to the source: Tracy Anderson has been training Hollywood’s hottest for years, and her exclusive (and cost-prohibitive) classes are impossible to get into. She has recently begun to offer a streaming version, which brings you virtually right into her classroom. Warning: even the streaming classes don’t come cheap, and there are no free trials, but hey— can you put a price on Jennifer Aniston’s butt or Madonna’s arms?
- Price: $90/month, minimum 3 months
- App: no
- Number of videos: live class every wednesday
- Free trial: no
DailyBurn
If you were a Biggest Loser fan, you’ll remember trainer Bob Harper, who’s currently the biggest star among DailyBurn’s celeb trainers. The site focuses on weight loss (hence, “burn”) and aims to give you a personal trainer-like experience. The site sets up programs such as three weeks of Pilates or three months of kettlebells, so you don’t have to decide which workout to choose next, though you can. The site also offers live daily 30-minute workouts at 9AM EST. Additionally, there’s a nutrition plan with recipes (see a sampling here).
- Price: $12.95/month
- App: iOS & Android
- Number of videos: 190 plus live daily workouts
- Free trial: 30 days
Barre3
Sadie Lincoln’s Barre3, a mash-up of ballet bar, Pilates and yoga will tone you, strengthen you, and give you heart rate a boost. And her warm teaching style is infectious. I have done a bunch of her classes and they’re some of my favorites, and they’re great for beginners and advanced athletes alike— all the moves are low-impact, and each can be modified to increase difficulty.
- Price: $15.00/month
- App: iOS
- Number of videos: 200+ videos
- Free Trial: No, but you can preview any video
FitFusion
If you’re a fan of workout celebrities (such as Jillian Michaels, Billy Blanks, Tara Stiles and trainer-to-the-stars Mike Donavanik), FitFusion is another spot where you can exercise with an assortment of fitness bigwigs. The subscription model is unique: you can do monthly all-access, rent videos individually, or purchase videos outright. Possible minus: you could surely borrow similar videos at your local library, but convenience factor could mean the difference between working out and sleeping in, right?
- Price: $9.99/month
- App: iOS & Android
- Number of videos: 180+ hours of content
- Free trial: Two weeks
CosmoBody
Once a subscription program, CosmoBody from Cosmopolitan Magazine now offers its signature workouts for free on YouTube. The production is slick and the workouts have a definite “chick” feel, so you’ll immediately know if they are or aren’t your thing. Right now, there are 100-some-odd videos available, and the channel promises a new one every Wednesday. There are even guest celebrities such as Tara Stiles and chef Candice Kumai.
- Price: Free
- App: YouTube
- Number of videos: 100+
Booya Fitness
If you can think of a type of workout, chances are it’s available at Booya Fitness. Burlesque dancing? Sure. Kickboxing? Absolutely. Chair exercises? Yep. For extra motivation, workouts feature pop music you’d hear on the radio (not the aimless synth that’s popular in a lot of workout videos). After subscribing, you can add a few bucks a month for a themed workout plan such as “Working Moms Rock!” or “Fit Foodies.”
- Price: $9.99/month
- App: No
- Number of videos: 60+
- Free trial: 30 days
MoveMeFit
Its website isn’t the easiest to navigate (think: bare bones design with a hit-or-miss search function), but MoveMeFit‘s videos are free and well filmed, and there’s a fun, quick questionnaire that will generate recommended workouts. Some of those may feature star trainers such as Tara Stiles, Bob Harper and Amy Dixon. The app is more comprehensive, offering customized workout plans, and has a premium option for $8.99/month. NOTE: Remember that the price of the “free” version is your personal information. Read my thoughts on free apps here.
- Price: Free
- App: iOS only
- Number of videos: Thousands
DANCE
Ballet Beautiful
Created by Mary Helen Bowers, the dancer who trained Natalie Portman for Black Swan, Ballet Beautiful is, as you’d guess, a ballet-inspired workout. What really sets it apart is its technology: you can remotely attend live classes where the instructors can see and speak to you. Alternatively (and much less expensively), you can get the Custom Workout Monthly Subscription, which includes unlimited access to about 30 streaming workouts, and a schedule created exclusively for you. Lastly, the site offers individual streaming videos starting at $9.99 apiece.
- Price: $280/month for live classes, $39.99/month for prerecorded classes, or $9.99 to $14.99 for individual streaming workouts
- App: No
- Number of videos: About 30 prerecorded, plus two new videos per month
- Free trial: No
Did I miss one of your favorites? Please tell me in the comments!
