For most of us, it’s been a few weeks since our daily lives have been uprooted without warning. Thanks to this pandemic, most of us are now working from home, spending days alone and just trying to survive without going crazy. Fortunately, we have something that can relieve your cabin fever and burn off your quarantine snacks so you can look like a snack when you’re finally free to go back to a normal life.
We’ve put together a list of black trainers and black-owned fitness studios who are offering virtual training options and classes to help you stay fit and healthy from the comfort and safety of your home. Many trainers are offering free workouts on Instagram Live, as well as paid video subscriptions and virtual classes. We hope you can do what you can to support these businesses and entrepreneurs so they can stay afloat during the nationwide shutdown. Here are a few for your consideration:
Group Fitness Studios Going Virtual
Owner, “Coach G” has quickly turned his popular group fitness classes into virtual sweat sessions that clients and newbies can access from the comfort of their homes. You can preview some of the high energy classes like Total Body Sculpt and Vinyasa Flow on IG Live, but hopefully you’ll opt for the full length classes and the entire “Sweat Anywhere” library by visiting the studio’s site.
Boombox Boxing Club was founded by a New Yorker and a Washingtonian whose Tinder date sparked their love of fitness and an idea to open a one-of-a-kind fitness studio in Washington D.C. Not long after their first date, they worked together (as friends) to co-found this music-centric boxing studio which has since become one of the most popular studios in the DC area. Now, even if you’re at home and far from the Washington, DC metro area, you can join their daily “Boombox at Home” workouts on IG Live.
Spiked Spin made headlines in the last few years for being the first black-owned spin studio. The studio touts a commitment to inclusion in its New York studio space, and even during the Coronavirus pandemic, that commitment still stands. You can follow the spin studio on Instagram for fitness challenges and equipment-free workouts to break up the monotony of video conference calls and depressing news cycles. Then, when things return to normal, join them in the studio for a spin class that will hype you up for a great sweat.
The Fitness Snob Studio was doing virtual classes even before we were quarantined. They offer a beautiful studio space to house a variety of trainers and coaches who specialize in strength, dance, yoga and much more. Side note, one of their most popular coaches was President Obama’s personal trainer, so you’re in good hands here. You can follow them on Instagram to learn about their virtual class offerings so you can sweat it out without breaking any social-distancing rules.
Online Coaches With At-Home Programs
GoodWrk is the brand of New York-based certified strength and performance coach, Purcell Dugger. He’s not only offering free workouts on IG Live during these quarantined times, but he also created the WRK from Home digital program to help people stick to a fitness routine while they’re stuck at home.
UnderAmour athlete and weight loss coach, Ariel, has always been about the home workouts, hence her Instagram handle. When news of company closures and other restrictions broke, she quickly created a free downloadable guide to help people adjust to work-from-home life while sticking to a fitness and healthy eating routine. On top of her digital guide with workouts and recipes, she’s leading virtual boot camps each week. Follow her on Instagram to sign up before the next one fills up.
The founder of the fitness brand, Get Fit Like That, is running daily fitness challenges during quarantines and lockdowns to remind people to take breaks from sitting at their computers to break a sweat. In addition, she hosts a virtual fitness program, Sweat Season that offers a library of high intensity interval training and strength workouts anyone can follow from home with minimal equipment.
Yoga & Barre Classes
This inclusive yoga tribe that is committed to “creating more spaces for diverse wellness experiences” is doing just that by leading several yoga classes via the IG Live platform. Follow them and get your flow on.
This certified barre and “spirit guider-instructor” is bringing some of her booty-burning, you-didn’t-know-that-muscle-existed, barre-based workouts to Instagram Live for all to enjoy. And if you’re in the DC metro area after the world comes back to life, check out her classes in person!
The BK Yoga Club was founded as a “body positive yoga studio” to invite people of all shapes and sizes to enjoy the benefits of yoga practice without judgement. While recent safety concerns caused them to close their physical doors, they are now open for business online and offering up a full schedule of yoga classes to stream to your home. Visit them on Instagram or sign up for an upcoming virtual class on their site.
Online Dance Classes
Coach Cass is a certified fitness and wellness coach and self-proclaimed Ghana princess. In addition, she and her mother are a dynamic duo who lead fitness, dance and cultural excursions throughout the motherland through their brand, Africa With Us. While everyone is on lockdown, however, Coach Cass is bringing her afrobeat, soca, dancehall and 90’s dance workouts to Instagram live. Classes start at 10a.m.
The Soka Tribe Carnival Community has been bringing that Carnival energy to Washington, DC and the islands for years. While you’re stuck in the house dreaming about your next island adventure, Soka Tribe’s virtual dance classes will give you all the island vibes without risking any cancelled flights. Visit them on Instagram or head directly to their site to sign up for at-home classes.