If you were to take a snapshot of a day in my life during the global pandemic, it would most likely be me sitting at my makeshift work-from-home desk setup, donning athleisure, tapping my foot with nervous energy. What would have normally been exerted on my commute or in an after-work fitness class is now relegated to whatever movement I can self-inspire toward at the end of a Zoom-fatigue tunnel. I know I’m not alone in this new normal, and I know it’s not much to complain about. It’s just what is.

The Blue Sky Mind Friendship Series aims to capture simply that: the reality of “what is” in this moment, described through the eyes of myself and my most mindful friends. I wanted to start off slow, with the everyday scenes that capture a majority of our waking thoughts and actions, primarily neutral but not insignificant.

So in part one of this series, I turned to my friends to learn how their mindful movement journeys have changed in the year of 2020, and tried to pull some inspiration from their favorites. 

Why do a home workout program? 

I also took this opportunity to refresh my own understanding of why I should be working out from home. I constantly wrestle between two modes: either “why am I working out when all I wear are sweatpants” or “I must control my weight because it is the only thing currently in my power.” Neither of these are beneficent ways of thinking about exercise or my body, so I looked to my friends for a healthier set of motivations to consider:

Grounding. Life has been hectic and strange in completely foreign ways this year, requiring us to invest even more in a regular grounding and centering practice. My friend Caroline - founder of Kif Water Kefir - has been making regular appointments with her yoga mat to reap this essential workout benefit. 

Liberating. We’re so grateful to our homes in 2020, but it doesn’t make us immune to a little burnout when we’re there sun up to sun down. One of my mindful friends pointed out that your exercise routine can be used specifically to get you out and about; long walks after work, hikes in nature, or even bringing your yoga mat to the park are all ways to find relief from home overload.

Fiscally Responsible. Both my friend Cecelia - a talented London-based writer & poet at @byceceliacallas - as well my friend Margaret - a passionate mental health & sustainability advocate - have found themselves loving at-home workouts because of how accessible they are and the low cost of online programs. 

“Working out from home has been one of my favourite things about the pandemic -- as well as realising that I don't need to spend hundreds of pounds (or dollars) on working out. I've never felt healthier and more fit, and I did it all for free. It's been extremely eye-opening that I no longer have to buy into the promise that the boutique fitness world sells in order to feel good about myself!” - Cecelia

Energizing. With traditional sources of energy and excitement, like travel plans and social gatherings, on indefinite pause, we need to find creative ways to experience joy in the course of our week, month, year. Many friends shared that working out from home can actually offer that dose of fun, so long as you can find the right practice.  

“I've really grown to love practicing in my home. It's cheaper, easier to access, and fun.” - Margaret

I love thinking of my fitness routine as a way to provide energy, grounding, and a sense of liberation from what has been an objectively chaotic and oppressive year. And saving money in an uncertain financial time is never a bad idea.

Best home workout programs for 2020 

Without further ado, below are the top “workout from home” programs that the friends decree!

Best home workouts for calm and grounding 

Category winner: 

• CorePower Yoga On Demand: At the onset of the pandemic, Corepower offered an awesome weekly rotation of free online classes; I was so hooked I ended up buying the monthly subscription. Margaret feels the same way, noting she switches off between the traditional yoga classes (called “C2”) and the yoga + body weight workout classes (called “Sculpt”).

Runner ups: 

• Long walks and hikes: Walking and hiking can be an incredibly restorative and effective option for staying healthy and sane. I notice that a one hour walk per day helps me stay fit without inducing the pre-workout scaries, and at least two other friends have moved their entire workout regime to long walks outside during the pandemic. 

• Alo Moves Yoga: One friend opted for this monthly membership, sharing that they have programs like a 21-day challenge, which can help encourage you to follow along on days where self-motivation is lagging. 

• Melissa Wood Health Pilates: My best friend Jackie - a dedicated philanthropist pursuing her Masters in design, business, and tech - has leaned on this app while working a full time job, upleveling her education, and moving to NYC - all in 2020. I found it to be a great subscription for those who want to combine quick pilates workouts with a mindfulness practice. 

• YouTube yoga: This is one of my personal favorite options, because it’s 100% free. I have always loved Yoga with Adrienne, but can also usually search for exactly what I want in that moment (like “45m vinyasa flow intermediate”) and find something that I like flowing to. 

Best home workout for heart pumping energy 

Category winner: 

• Kayla Itsines SWEAT app: Friends and myself alike turn to the legendary Kayla Itsines’ well-built app to provide some structured, goal-driven HIIT training to their home workout routine. Caroline noted that it’s “perfect for when you want to challenge yourself.” That might only be once a month these days, and that is a-OK!

Runner ups: 

• Dance Church: What started as a kind of cult-following in LA expanded to the entire world once the pandemic hit, now that Dance Church live streams their weekly dance hall-meets-jazzercise workouts. I love the instructors’ positive energy, their soundtrack is a blast, you’ll torch a ton of calories, and it’s donation-based. Myself and at least two other friends love.

• The F45 Challenge app: Cecilia recommends this app, along with a mat, some weights, and resistance bands. “I oscillate between doing these HIIT workouts when I feel like it, and really, really long walks around London,” she says. It’s all about balance folks, now more than ever. 

• Barry’s At Home: I’m conflicted sharing this option, because truthfully I haven’t loved it. For those who counted on a weekly Barry’s Bootcamp class as an injection of fun into their fitness routine, the “at home” version will not necessarily provide that. But it will change up your routine and give you a dose of live content, which can be really motivating for some. 

Best home workout for those who crave variety 

Category winner: 

• Peloton: While Peloton bikes have become the must-have piece of fitness equipment in 2020, few are aware that you can get a membership sans bike and still reap the rewards of their online fitness empire. Two friends - Casey, a badass lawyer & prolific feminist and Jenny, the incredible artist who’s visually supporting this series - love this platform for their home workouts. On it, you can find bootcamps, meditation, run clubs, yoga and - of course - cycling. 

Runner ups: 

• Obe Fitness: My friend Becca - an expat in Amsterdam working in sustainable tourism (and living my dream) - recommends this app. Just peep this excerpt from their website, and you’ll understand why: “Just show up and do your best, no perfection needed! You’ll see (and feel) results in no time. HIIT, Dance, Sculpt, Yoga, Pilates, Cardio Boxing, Barre, and more—you’ll never get bored. We’ll make sure of it.” This is probably the #1 reco that I’m most excited to check out.

• Recess: In addition to Peloton classes, Jenny also looks forward to carving out 45 minutes every day for these live Zoom workout classes. The website describes Recess as an easy-to-use tech platform for live and on-demand fitness classes, ranging from HIIT to pilates, with 100% of proceeds going to the instructors on the platform. 

• YouTube! Ever heard of it? My friend Will - an ex-athlete studying to get his nutrition certification - is a big fan of a channel called Movement Parallels Life. “It might look strange to some,” he says, “but it's really hard and really practical.” Nowhere else is going to give you the variety and accessibility that Youtube can. 

• Beachbody On Demand: After arriving in Hawaii, Tyler heard a radio ad for two free weeks of Beachbody’s app, which contains an archive of early 2000’s classics, like Insanity and P90X. If you want some straightforward cardio that isn’t running (and don't mind outdated tech interfaces), check out this app.

• Classpass Go: Little known fact: if you were a Classpass user prior to the pandemic, you can access their Go app for free. It offers on-demand cardio, HIIT, strength and yoga workouts, and I like it for the ability to customize your level of intensity, length of workout, and the genre of music you want playing in the background. 

Tips to stick to a home workout program 

• Try real-time classes as an accountability and community lever. One of the things that Jenny likes about her live Zoom classes is that she still gets to see and hear the instructor and other people taking the class. “It was live,” she said, “so I couldn't bail on myself at the last minute. Brady even started joining me [her husband]. We do about 2-3 classes together a week now.”

• Invest in a high quality fitness mat. Whether for yoga or a more general variety. It will make your home workouts more comfortable and you can take them to the park for an outdoor workout if weather permits. 

• Try more than one program. I’ve bounced between Corepower, SWEAT app, Beachbody, and Dance Church throughout the whole of 2020, listening to myself on any given day about what my body needs most in that moment, and it’s worked out well: with all this time to workout, I feel more fit than I have in years. 

How has the way you move changed during the pandemic? Let the friends and I know in the comments. They’re your friends too now <3

A note on the art in this post:

Jenny Haught is an artist drawn to the unexpected beauty found in everyday moments. The Friendship Series inspired her to start work on a new series of paintings that exploresthe experiences and emotions faced during Quarantine 2020. She will be releasing a new painting to coincide with each of the Blue Sky Mind Friendship Series blog posts.

“All Bodies Rise” was inspired by her last in-person studio yoga class of 2020: “I wanted to capture the palpable energy and heat rising from our bodies as we moved together. A moment of connection I took for granted, an emotion I crave to feel again.”

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