The new year is in full swing, and hopefully so are your resolutions. Most gyms report record breaking registrations and attendance for the first two months of the year, but by March the crowds thin out considerably.
A common complaint for those who wish to improve their health & get in better shape is that the gym is incredibly expensive, or that their hours aren’t flexible with the fitness options in the area. Others say they need a regiment to keep them motivated, or have something new to look forward to every week. Others just want their workout routine to be fun and not feel like work.
If you need help getting your resolutions under way, you’re afraid of falling off the fitness wagon or you need something you can do on your own time and in your own space, we have the answer right here.
There are an overwhelming amount of fitness and workout videos on YouTube, so we’ve put together a list of our favourites. We’ve researched each channel owner to make sure they are certified trainers who will give you safe and accurate workouts so you don’t have to (but feel free to dig around, of course!).
We’ve created categories of workout channels, so whether you’re into hardcore HIIT’s, yoga, Zumba® or good old fashioned calisthenics, you’ll find exactly what you want right here.
Have fun!
HIIT/Tabata/CrossFit
If high intensity circuit training is your thing, with or without extra equipment.
BodyRock.TV®
We have to start right out of the gate with fellow Canadians at BodyRock.TV®. Boasting almost 1 million YouTube subscribers, the crew at BodyRock.TV® create new HIIT (high intensity interval training) workouts every single day. They have their own site you can visit as well, where they share lifestyle advice and nutritional help. They feature hundreds of videos to date, ranging from short to really, really long. If you’re a beginner to interval training, no worries – they have great “entry level” videos to get you started. One of our favourite things about this channel is their uplifting community. Fitness is hard & you’re more likely to succeed with a supportive team behind you, cheering you at any stage of your journey.
They also have a sub-site called “The Daily HIIT®” where you can get each new workout emailed directly to you if you sign up for their free newsletter.
Be prepared to sweat hard!
Fitness Blender®
If simple, no nonsense, no fluff workouts are what you’re looking for, Fitness Blender is the channel for you. With almost 2 million subscribers, you’ll find a range of beginner, intermediate and advanced bodyweight-based and equipment-based workouts. Target one area or work your entire body with hundreds of videos to choose from. They also have some yoga, Pilates and stretching workouts available, too!
ZuzkaLight®
A smaller channel, but one that is as fierce as BodyRock.TV®…and there’s a reason for that. Channel-founder Zuzana Light co-founded Bodyrock.TV® and has since moved onto her own endeavors in California. She has slightly less videos, but they are equally as challenging and often don’t include any extra materials at all (so you can do your workouts quite literally from anywhere).
Yoga & Pilates
If having a dancers body & strength is more your objective.
Yoga with Adriene
Based in Austin, TX, Adriene Mishler manages an enormous channel filled with yoga sessions, individual pose instruction and challenges. This yogi also includes other yoga poses to help you increase your performance in other sports!
Tara Stiles
Founder of Strala, a “movement based” type of yoga, Tara Stiles offers over 500 different yoga and health-based videos on her channel, ranging from weight loss yoga, yoga while traveling and diet tips.
Blogilates®
Blog-turned YouTube Pilates guru Cassey Ho has almost 300 Pilates videos to date, ranging from very beginner to advanced. If you enjoy super fun upbeat music during your workouts, then you’ll love Cassey’s channel. Most of her workouts are done on a mat, so Pilates reformer users might need to find another channel. However, Cassey does have a handful of resistance-band workouts that might fit your taste. She also has nutritional videos and time-challenges for Pilates performers of all skill levels.
Dance & Other
Not much else is more fun than dancing your way to better health.
CLUB FITz
If you love hip-hop Zumba routines, we haven’t found a channel better suited than CLUB FITz. With a modest 200k subscribers, the lovely ladies at CLUB FITz release new routines that pump it out to current chart-topping hits. Have your choice of upper body and lower body workouts as well. The channel is for more intermediate to advanced Zumba-goers.
BeFiT®
Want access to popular workout systems from Jillian Michaels, Billy Blanks & others? Subscribe to the BeFiT channel that boasts hundreds and hundreds of full workout videos in every exercise category imaginable.
Whether you want high intensity cardio, sports-specific training, fat-loss focused or strength training instruction, you’ll find everything you could possibly want at this channel. And like all the others, everything here is absolutely free.
Did we miss your favourite channel? Let us know below! What makes it your favourite?
