Stream your way slim
| 3 min read

The old way of working out at home: Hop on a high-priced cardio machine like a treadmill or elliptical, cobble together a routine from the few basic moves you already know or pop in the same old workout DVD you’ve done 1,000 times.

The new way: Follow along to live streaming videos from gyms and trainers around the country. You may not realize it, but you can access classes and workouts from fancy gyms, boutique studios and A-list trainers by using your smartphone, tablet, laptop or smart TV. The best part is that you’ll get the variety you crave without splurging on dozens of workout DVDs. Don’t like a class? Try another one! Most require a subscription, but the fee is way less than you’d pay at the gym down the street. And most have free trials or a pay-by-class option.
It sounds complicated, but it’s really as easy as turning on a movie. Here are some of the best options out there to transform your living room into your own personal gym:
Crunch Live: This fun gym chain has yet to open a location in Michigan, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try out the classes thanks to their brand new virtual gym. For $10/month, you get full access to unique classes like Fat Burning Pilates, Barre Assets and Gospel House Aerobics. Try it out for a week for free to see if it’s a good fit.
StreamFit: Are you already in good shape and want to challenge yourself? These tough workouts, which combine cardio and resistance training, might be for you. Pick your goal, target area and what equipment you have and you’ll be shown a list of challenging workouts that fit your needs. You can access a handful of workouts for free or pay the $20/month fee for unlimited videos.
Physique 57: This studio caters to celebrities and features workouts that combine interval training and stretches to give you a long, lean look. Access the whole group of classes with a monthly subscription ($57/month) or pay per class (between $5 and $10).
GaiamTV: Looking for a mental release as well as a physical one? GaiamTV has a huge catalog of restorative workouts like Vinyasa and Yoga for Stress Relief as well as videos on calorie-blasting workouts, Tai Chi and nutrition. You can check it out for free for 10 days and the subscription is $10/month.
Check out these blogs if you enjoyed this one:
Photo credit: inspiredhomefitness