Life these days already looks a lot different.
The early morning, sunrise runs have been relegated to short jaunts around my neighborhood, long run Saturdays have become CycleBar spins, and I have a new-found appreciate for strength training.
Each week looks different as I set a plan depending on how I’m feeling, but thanks to the internet, the options are plentiful. So, I thought I’d share a list of my favorite workouts that are easy on the wallet, easy to modify, and great workouts even for those who are not expecting.
And yes, I’m anxious to get back into training mode, which is evident by the fact that I entered the lottery for the London Marathon. But until then, we’re sticking with these finds. Any others that you’d add to the list?
Strength
- NourishMoveLove: NML knows what’s up. While there are plenty of fitness trainers/bloggers who post 30 minute workouts and pin them like crazy, I always find that they’re lacking any smart formatting and wasting my time by not integrating more compound movements. Until I found NourishMoveLove. Her workouts are smart and efficient, and her blog posts include multiple ways for you to understand the execution. Need text descriptions? No problem. Video tutorials? She has those too. Or how about a handy, pinnable printout? Consider it done.
- FitnessBlender: I first heard about this YouTube treasure trove from the Wall Street Journal and damn, they weren’t kidding. They have over 500 videos of all types, ranging from 10 minutes to over an hour. And the best thing? They are all FREE. Now that’s some smart marketing: creating unparalleled value for your audience.
Yoga & Barre
- SarahBethYoga: I’ve wasted more time than I care to admit trying to find quality, free yoga videos online. The lighting and filming must be decent, their voice needs to be bearable, they need to offer modifications, and they must be easy on the “crunch” factor. Thankfully, SarahBethYoga has an entire prenatal program and playlist. But if you’re like me and don’t want to fork over the cash, she offers great morning and evening prenatal videos. And if you don’t want to do prenatal, her library is plentiful for yogis of all types.
- Barre3: I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, Barre3 is deceptively amazing. Don’t let those small, low-impact moves fool you. Plus, their online class offerings are worth every penny.
Cardio
- Spinning: Whether at CycleBar or on the trainer in my garage, it’s a sure-fire way to jack up the heart-rate while managing your perceived exertion. If your handlebars are in arrow and your pregnant belly is preventing you from safely reaching them, here’s a great tip my friend Abby gave me: put a foam roller on the aero bars (I use this one) and you can still balance perfectly. Problem solved.
- Running: My favorite, but only as your body sees fit. My routes are pretty boring these days, but it’s a consistent loop with the essentials strategically mapped out: bathrooms and water. I also stop every so often to ensure I’m feeling ok and maintain a conversational pace. Slow and steady. Slow and steady.
Happy Running!
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