Don’t want to go back to the gym? If you prefer online training at home then we’ve rounded up 12 of the best-known virtual training services. Words: Sarah Sellens.
While virtual gyms provided a necessary alternative to the real thing during the lockdown, they continue to be a nifty way to keep fit around family, work and other commitments. ‘Virtual fitness memberships give people even more options,’ explains Luke Bullen, CEO at leading wellness platform Gympass. ‘It’s not just about exercise sessions and classes – mental health support, including meditation and relaxation solutions, and holistic wellness programmes are also proving popular.’ With so many options available, it’s hard to make a choice. Here are 20 of the best virtual services to consider.
Fiit TV
Dubbed ‘the Netflix of fitness’, Fiit provides class-style workouts from world-renowned instructors, including celeb PT Matt Roberts and yogi Cat Meffan. As a member, you’ll need a Fiit-compatible chest strap, which monitors your metrics and puts you on the leaderboard. From £10 monthly; fiit.tv
Peloton
Pioneers of on-demand cycling, Peloton boasts an app that provides thousands of classes, including running, walking, strength training, yoga, meditation and the newly-added barre workouts. Although it’s free to existing members, you don’t need to be a Peloton Bike owner to enjoy the app. £12.99 per month; onepeloton.co.uk
Zwift
Chances are, you’ve already heard of Zwift – it’s a virtual training app that enables you to race against real-life competitors and is hugely popular with cyclists. The running option is incredibly affordable – for £37.99, you can buy the Zwift Run Pod and sync it with the free app to join the running community. Zwift.com
Movement for Modern Life
If you’re after on-demand yoga classes, look no further. Those at Movement for Modern Life have tracked down the very best teachers, whether you’re looking for ashtanga, yin, vinyasa, post-natal flow, or more. Because you’re not restricted by location, you can source the style, mood, intensity and length of yoga that’s right for you. From £10.99 per month; movementformodernlife.com
GetMeFit
GetMeFit is a fitness instructors’ platform and community that offers support to trainers and PTs, helping them to manage bookings and build their client base. As a subscriber, you’ll get access to workouts you can attend via Zoom or in person. Expect some of your favourite gym classes such as BodyCombat, Pilates and HIIT. 50p per credit, with most 45-minute classes costing nine credits (£4.50); getmefit.co
Strava Premium
If you’re an outdoor exerciser, you might already be familiar with Strava – the world’s largest sports participation platform that maps runs, walks and rides. Signing up to the premium version unlocks even bigger motivation-boosting benefits than the free app, including a route planning tool and goal setting features. £47.99 annual subscription; strava.com
Les Mills on Demand
Enjoy your favourite gym classes with the virtual branch of global group-exercise brand, Les Mills. BodyCombat, BodyPump, BodyBalance – you’ll find them all available on-demand with this app. Great for families, users also get access to the kids’ workout programme, Born to Move, which is suitable for all ages. £11.95 monthly; lesmills.com
Beachbody on Demand
Boasting over 2.4 million global users, Beachbody on Demand gives users access to over 1700 popular workout and nutrition programmes, including the globally renowned P90X®, Insanity®, and PiYo® programmes. It’s very results-led, so expect to see visible changes if you stick with the plan. From £39; beachbodyondemand.com
F45 Challenge
Need a morning fitness fix? Global functional training franchise, F45, releases a bodyweight workout to its Challenge app every single day. You’ll need to sign up to the gym as a member to access its signature 45-minute HIIT sessions, but non-members can access the in-app nutrition advice and articles for free. F45challenge.com
BarreLIVE
Barrecore’s live streaming platform gives you instant access to a London-based method loved by Rita Ora, Pippa Middleton and Poppy Delevingne. There are several live classes each day for you to book into, or you can access on-demand content via the separate On-Demand Online Workout Platform. First-class free, then £6 per class; barrecore.com
FLY LDN Online
Renowned in the city for its low-impact workouts, Fly Ldn launched an online platform as a result of lockdown last year – and it’s a great success! Expect stripped-back yoga, full-body conditioning, balancing barre classes, and dynamic Pilates. £9.99 monthly; flyldn-online.co.uk
Everyone On Demand
Created by leisure centre company Everyone Active, this collection of fitness apps contains over 2500 workouts, making it the largest on-demand platform of any fitness operator. It includes content from audio-led fitness app WithU, FLEX by Fitness On Demand, and Les Mills On Demand. £9.99 monthly; everyoneactive.com
