Three of the Best: Exercise options for those who want to continue virtual fitness

The UK government has given gyms and fitness studios the go-ahead to start reopening. However, with the huge variety of on-demand and virtual workouts now available on the market, there is more opportunity than ever before for people to tailor their own versions of exercise into their new normal.

For many, during the course of lockdown they have become fond of daily walks or jogs outside, some have discovered a new appreciation for doing a workout virtually from the comfort of the home, whilst many have found that having a variety of workout options available is the key to spicing up their fitness routine.

At a time when health is everyone’s top priority, fitness facilities have a vital role to play in society’s recovery from COVID-19. Exercise has been found to be an important factor in helping people to survive COVID-19. With gym members typically 14 times more active than non-members, fitness facilities play an invaluable part in helping society to stay healthy.

Which is why many brands are now offering virtual fitness and on-demand workouts alongside in-studio memberships so that customers can continue to exercise in this new, modern ‘fitness-blend’. Here we round up three of the best virtual fitness offerings available on the market:

For those who don’t know where to start: Everyone On Demand, FREE to members or £9.99 per month for non-members (worth over £25)

UK leisure centre operator Everyone Active has revealed that all returning or new members will be offered access to a suite of market-leading fitness apps, including audio-led immersive-fitness app, WithU, brand-focused FLEX by Fitness On Demand, which has workouts from stars like Jillian Michaels, or NHS-approved fitness-prescription app EXI, tailored for those with up to 21 chronic health conditions. For a limited time, Les Mills’ popular Les Mills On Demand will also be available via the Everyone On Demand platform. “We don’t want anyone to have to make the choice between the gym and their favourite on-demand session, so we’ve launched Everyone On Demand. We know that not all exercise takes place within the four walls of our leisure centres and we want to support our members to train, in the way they want to, on any given day.” Said Duncan Jefford, Director of Everyone Active.

For those who love group exercise classes: LES MILLS on Demand, £11.95 per month (free trial for 14 days)

Global group-exercise brand, Les Mills has been one of the fitness industry’s leading players for over 50 years. With its famous BODYCOMBAT, BODYPUMP and BODYBALANCE classes all available via the on-demand platform, Les Mills’ world-class Master Trainers take users through a journey via the service, which has seen a 900% increase in downloads during lockdown. With over 1000+ workouts that are backed by scientific research to get the most out of each session, the classes range from 15-minute to full hour sessions. Users also get access to the kids-workout programme BORN TO MOVE, which has exercise and education videos for kids of all ages. Excellent for making you feel part of a global fitness community wherever you go.

For those who like attention to detail: Ten Health & Fitness, LIVE sessions starting from 2 for £10
London’s award-winning boutique Pilates brand and the only premium collective to bridge the gap between the fitness and medical sector, Ten has launched Zoom-based fitness training schedule for those who prefer the real-time fitness simulation direct to their mobile location. Ten’s offering won’t be the standard lockdown-related LIVE that many are used to. Ten’s trainers use broadcast standard high-quality equipment and TV screens to host the LIVE sessions direct from Ten’s gorgeous London-based studios. Because individual coaching, targeted corrections and form analysis is so important to Ten’s exercise ethos, each LIVE session is capped to 20 attendees, meaning each participant gets live corrections from the instructor taking the class. This means even those who are living in remote places of the country can have access to the Capital’s best trainers for a competitive price.

Because so much of the population has now discovered that health really does equal wealth, the importance of a regular and tailored exercise regime could not be more important. Having access to highly skilled trainers and sessions at gyms and studios as well as via virtual training apps like these, will revolutionise the way we stay fit and active as a nation.