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With many gyms and studios closing up shop to adhere to social distancing measures during the COVID-19 pandemic, trainers and studios around the world are now taking to social media to livestream their workouts (meaning you can access them for up to 24 hours; some gyms are also saving the streams for later viewing)—for free.
While your regular gym may have been forced to shut down (some are even offering virtual classes in the hopes of staying afloat), free streaming allows those who, say, don’t have the means of investing in their health via boutique fitness and overpriced apps a sense of mental and physical relief. “It’s important for people to have something free like this to take their mind and body away from what’s going on in the world,” says Barry’s Bootcamp Canada instructor Kevin Yeboah.
Live streaming also provides a sense of community, something we most definitely need now. There’s nothing quite like following along with your favourite coaches in real time and giving out virtual high-fives.
Here are some of the Canadian gyms and fitness trainers that are offering free live streaming.
MISFITSTUDIO
Fans of MISFITSTUDIO’s unique exercise method—which combines elements of dance, yoga and Pilates—need not worry during these trying times! The studio will be offering free live classes on its Instagram account, so you can ensure you get ample face time with your favourite instructors from the comfort of your home. There are a whopping 10 classes on deck, which range from heart-pumping (for when you feel like you’re about to pull a Britney circa 2007) to totally chill (for when you’re craving a much needed break from the noise of the world).
Where to watch: @misfitstudio
When: Rotating schedule two to three times a day
Duration: 45 minutes to one hour
Equipment needed: A mat or towel. Squish balls and weighted balls are optional.
Common Ground 416
Sopearin Yos, owner of Toronto’s Common Ground 416, will be live streaming at-home workouts on his Instagram several times a week. If you follow Yos—and the army of models he trains—you’ll know that core, oblique and cardio-style exercises are his bread and butter. Expect tons of body-weight moves, like kick-sits and bear crawl taps, for an intense next-day burn.
Where to watch: @sopearin
When: Check his Instagram for an updated class schedule
Duration: 45 minutes to one hour
Equipment needed: A light set of weights is optional. If you don’t have any, Yos suggests household items like canned goods. (Don’t forget to wipe those down if you’ve picked them up from a grocery store recently!) Books can also be used as a makeshift step.
Barre Body Studio
Just because you don’t have an at-home barre doesn’t mean you can’t partake in a barre workout. Countertops, chairs and walls will do just fine! Until March 22, Calgary-based Barre Body Studio will be streaming a barre or mat-based workout every day for free on its Facebook page. (After March 22, Barre Body Studio will continue offering streamed workouts, albeit for $30/month via a private Facebook group.) Classes are suitable for all fitness levels and you don’t need prior barre experience to join in.
Where to watch: Barre Body Studio’s Facebook page
When: Wednesday and Thursday at 9 p.m. EST (7 p.m. MST) and Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 12 p.m. EST (10 a.m. MST)
Duration: 30 to 50 minutes
Equipment needed: You’ll need a mat and a set of light weights is optional.
Lift Corktown
This beloved CrossFit gym may be closed during the outbreak, but its instructors are doing everything they can to ensure you smash those gains. Tune in every morning on Lift’s Instagram page for dumbbell and kettlebell (think deadlifts and rows) workouts led by its roster of talented coaches, including Nike Master Trainer Josh Adamson, who counts Shawn Mendes as a client.
Where to watch: @liftcorktown
When: Every day at 10 a.m. EST
Duration: 30 to 45 minutes
Equipment needed: Dumbbells and kettlebells.
6IX Cycle
If you’re looking for a burn that targets all the muscle groups that a gruelling spin class would, check out this Toronto studio’s Instagram. Owner Julie Harrish will be going live every day to host a floor-inspired version of her class 6IX Strong, which trades in heavy climbs and quick sprints on a bike for intense bursts of rhythm-based cardio and mini-band work. Trust, you probably won’t be able to get up or down stairs after a single session.
Where to watch: @6ix_cycle
When: Every day at 5:45 p.m. EST
Duration: 35 to 40 minutes
Equipment needed: A mini band for some added resistance, although Harrish says most of the workout can be done without one.
Formation Studio
If your cardio of choice entails dancing alone in your room to Lizzo then tune in to Formation Studio’s Instagram livestreams. This Vancouver studio will be streaming a variety of its dance-based classes for free, from freestyle classes (read: you can choose your own intensity) to sessions that incorporate resistance training to build endurance and strength. Instructors will also be teaching short choreographed routines.
Where to watch: @formationstudio_
When: Check the studio’s Instagram page for an updated class schedule.
Duration: From three (dance and stretch breaks) to 50 minutes (a full class).
Equipment needed: None! Although owner Saschie MacLean-Magbanua says viewers will be given an option to add in a pair of free weights for an added challenge. And yes, a wine bottle will do.
Kevin Yeboah and Hayley Steinberg
Ever wonder what really goes on at Barry’s Bootcamp? Canadian trainers Kevin Yeboah and Hayley Steinberg are offering viewers a glimpse into Red Room workouts, via a joint Instagram livestream. They’ll be following the studio’s class schedule, focusing on specific muscle groups and body parts each day of the week, with Sundays dedicated to rest.
Where to watch: @theyeboah or @haylesbeth
When: Every day at 10:45 a.m. EST, except Sunday.
Duration: 30 to 45 minutes
Equipment needed: Household items like steps and chairs, a set of dumbbells and a resistance band.
Fit Factory Fitness
Top trainers at this Toronto gym will be going live everyday (twice a day on weekdays; once a day on weekends) on their Instagram account to deliver full-body workouts that are sure to break you out in a sweat. These exercises require no equipment and are suitable for all fitness levels.
Where to watch: @fitfactoryto
When: 12 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. EST on weekdays; 12 p.m. EST on weekends.
Duration: 30 minutes
Equipment needed: None.
Fit Squad
They may have had to close down their beautiful new space due to the outbreak, but that’s definitely not stopping the coaches at Fit Squad. Tune in every weekday at noon for a bodyweight workout. Hot tip: You don’t want to miss Nike Master Trainer Jennifer Lau’s sessions. Trust us.
Where to watch: @fitsquad_training
When: Weekdays at 12 p.m. EST.
Duration: 45 to 60 minutes
Equipment needed: None.