There are many different types of online fitness programs, and they are more popular now than ever. With COVID restrictions loosening, many people are in a position to choose whether to go back to a restrictive gym or to take advantage of the flexibility of online fitness programs.
There are many online fitness programs that offer different types of classes that vary based on skill level, required equipment, instruction style, and other factors. Given the numerous online fitness programs available, it is easy to find programs designed to meet a broad variety of fitness goals.
From martial arts to yoga to personal training, there are online options for everybody. However, variables such as your skill level, learning style, location, budget, and equipment should all play roles in determining what works best for you as new options arise. Read on to learn more about how to determine which online fitness programs would fit best into your lifestyle.
Article Contents
Are Online Fitness Programs Worth It?
To many people, online fitness programs are worth it. But what is the “it”? There is no doubt that you are giving up something if you choose to turn your living room into a studio instead of driving to morning classes at the local studio.
Gyms tend to have expensive equipment, skilled trainers, motivational group workouts, and added social pressure to help you form and adhere to a routine. To some degree, these are all things you may give up if you join an online program.
However, there are several important gains to consider:
- Schedule flexibility
- More options for trainers and programs
- Avoiding a judgmental or intimidating atmosphere
If you have a busy schedule and struggle to accommodate drives to the gym at set times to work out, an online option is probably a great fit! You can find a workout option in the middle of the night without leaving your home and then choose a different option in the middle of the afternoon. Typical gyms have a set schedule of open hours and classes, but online gym times are completely flexible!
Everyone thrives in a different environment, and it can be hard to find an instructor that fits your needs. For example, rural communities are less likely to have trauma informed classes. If you know what type of instructor you want but have not been able to find a good fit, there are probably many more options for you to choose from with an online fitness program.
Many people, especially women and beginners, feel uncomfortable and vulnerable when going to the gym. Frequently, this creates a feeling of anxiety and deters them from going as often as they would like. It is normal to feel anxious when starting something new, but if you think the environment of being around many other people while working out is less than ideal, an online fitness program is a good option.
How Much Do Online Fitness Programs Typically Cost?
It may not be surprising to you that online fitness programs are often more affordable than in-person programs. Of course, the range of pricing is extremely variable regardless of this. If you are interested in finding an online fitness program that fits your price range, you should consider factors such as:
- If there are free and premium versions
- What kind of equipment is required
- How experienced you would like your instructor to be
- If you would be willing to commit to a subscription
Many popular programs are entirely free, or there are Premium models that users have the option to purchase. However, like with in-person classes, prestigious gyms and trainers are likely to charge far more than lesser known or less experienced one.
In addition to class fees, if you choose to stick with an online fitness program, you will also be responsible for equipment. If you are taking a class such as yoga, it is possible this will easily be met by purchasing a $40 mat. However, equipment such as dumbbells and cycling bikes can quickly get much more expensive. Even a small beginners’ dumbbell set will likely cost over $100.
Although you will always have the option to find free YouTube videos of whatever style of workout interests you, if you are interested in joining an online fitness program and get past the free trial, there will likely be a cost of some kind. Usually, companies offer some form of subscription discount. You will likely be paying about $20/month or $100/year. The average cost of an in-person gym in America is around $50.
There is also a level of community that comes with subscription options. Even if you do the workouts on your personal schedule without any live streaming or laptop cameras on, there is usually some form of chat or social network that you can connect to. This is a group of people you can share questions with and discuss motivations and results.
(For some of the best online fitness classes, check out that link!)
What Does an Online Fitness Program Look Like?
Every online fitness program looks a little different, but there are certain themes most of them share:
- Having a focal theme
- Integrating an online community
- Themed workouts
- Customized options
For starters, almost every program has a niche. Peloton is one of the most popular cycling programs, but I definitely would not recommend it for PiYo. Gaia’s program is highly rated for yoga, but it does not have any HIIT training available.
Even if you have thoroughly researched the program that you are interested in, it is always safer to use the trial before committing to a subscription. Sometimes, even the most accurate descriptions fail to do justice to the nuances of a program.
Once you have selected a program to try, you will likely be asked to download an app or create an account for a website in order to access the company’s content. From this point, there will be variables depending on the program.
Likely, you will be able to search content or access a community board of some kind from a home page or screen. Content may be searchable by a theme (e.g. core workout, weight training) or available in a schedule format.
Many online fitness programs will ask you to submit data about what you are looking for such as what type of workouts you want to participate in, how frequently you plan on exercising, height and weight, and if you have personal fitness goals. The more information you share, the more likely it is that you will get the results you are looking for.
Two Highly Rated Online Fitness Programs
There are many to choose from, but Daily Burn and Nike Training Club are two especially highly rated online fitness programs. They are consistently ranked among the best in articles and app competitions, and they both offer more services than many of the super-specialized options. Their ratings are based on the options available, the functionality of the platforms, and the effectiveness of the workouts themselves.
1. Nike Training Club
Nike Training Club is a popular online fitness program. It can be helpful to consider it based on key factors:
- Cost
- Content
- Reviews
Nike Training Club has a free and a Premium version for $14.99/month so can test it without committing. When you go to the home screen, you will notice that it offers workouts and also nutrition tips, recipes, and expert advice on holistic wellness .Nike Training Club prizes a healthy lifestyle, and while the focus is definitely on the many available workouts, you are not left hanging if you want to also change your diet.
Sessions with Nike Training Club are anywhere from 5 to 60 minutes. They are led by professionals, and you can find an option to fit into your schedule through an array of filters. When you search classes, you will be able to see the type of workout, length, level of experience it is geared towards, equipment needed, and if it is formatted as a class or a time-based workout.
Overall, Nike Training Club also has extremely positive reviews. Many users say it is the best app they have ever used, and it is frequently compared to more expensive apps that users say are less effective.
2. Daily Burn
Like Nike Training Club, Daily Burn is frequently talked about when online fitness programs are being discussed. Although it definitely has different strengths, it is easiest to think of it in relation to similar metrics:
- Ranking
- Content
- Target User
Daily Burn is consistently ranked as one of the overall best online workout programs, and that is because it has many strengths. It has an impressive amount of general fitness workouts available, but it also has a comprehensive database that includes more niche programs such as yoga and kickboxing. Overall, they boast of 1,000s of videos.
A fun aspect of Daily Burn is that there is a new live video posted every morning. If you want to get up and join the Daily Burn community, you are welcome to stream it at 9am ET every day, but it is also available all day long. Premium members have total access to the database, no matter the day.
If you are looking for online fitness classes live, then head over to that article to find out which ones are the best!
Daily Burn’s workouts are geared for beginners and people who are restarting their fitness routine. It can be intimidating and isolating to watch a group of experts do workouts that you have never seen before so this is a much more inclusive program for people who already have some misgivings or anxieties about starting from the bottom.
Daily Burn usually offers a free trial between 30 and 60 days. From that point, there is a monthly fee of $14.95, and it goes up to $19.95 for Premium members. That fits right at the average for this type of service but with more options available.
Conclusion
Overall, if you are able to exercise in your home, an online fitness program is probably worth considering. They are more convenient than traditional gyms, easier to access, and frequently as affordable if not moreso. the best online workout programs are able to provide far more options than in-person gyms.
The main barriers to using an online fitness program would be if you did not already have the space or equipment. In-person gyms can be expensive. The one-time fee of equipment to work out at home may pay for itself in a couple of months, but this is less likely if you use specialized equipment. Fitness programs are a personal choice, but if you are willing to try an online program, there is probably one that is a perfect fit.
