If the past few weeks has seen you engaging in some intense circuit training (between your bed, laptop and kitchen), then this one’s for you. Knowing how many (free!) resources there are to substitute the gym really helped get me moving more this quarantine period. Here are some ways to get those endorphins going:

Join a challenge

This one is for all of us with commitment issues: challenges take the 'work' out of working out by providing you with a complete training schedule.

While pretty much every fitness influencer/former athlete has some at-home workout guide you can purchase, there are several fantastic free challenges out there. I've just completed the 14-day challenge by Shreddy, which I highly recommend (scroll through their Insta for the challenge and workouts). Having a number of reps or time that I had to hit prevented me from just checking out as soon as I felt a little tired. You can also find challenges more tailored to your goals. For killer abs, check out Max Whitlock's 7 day ab challenge, for arms a simple push-up challenge, or mix it up and create your own!

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On demand/live workouts

Something that I really miss are group classes (shoutout FitChicago HIIT), but fortunately a lot of my favourite studios have been moving their classes online. You can choose between on-demand workouts to complete whenever you wish, or live-streams where you get to workout with others and the instructor cheering you on. Another benefit is knowing exactly how long your workout is going to take you, making them easier to slot in, especially since the quarter has started. Check out CorePower Yoga and Title Boxing for on-demand workouts, and Physique 57 and Digme Fitness for live-streams.

YouTube

YouTube is your saviour when it comes to finding workouts. Low-impact, high-intensity, full-body workout? Thirty-minute barre workout? Search and you shall find. This is perfect if you know what you're looking for, but if you're not sure where to begin, I recommend any workouts by FitnessBlender and MadFit, which both have a lot of equipment-free options. For some killer cardio the Jump Rope Dudes and PopSugar Fitness are my go-to.

Invest in some equipment

Most of the workouts above don't require any equipment at all, but some relatively inexpensive equipment that can take your workout just that bit farther include:

Resistance bands :Take you butt workouts from meh tier to god tier. I use a set I got off Amazon for less than $10.

Jump rope : If I could pick only one thing to be quarantined with it would maybe be my jump rope. I think that says a lot about me. Get a jump rope.

Hand weights: Pretty self-explanatory. There are lots of workouts on YouTube for weights, or just add a set to whatever workout if you are feeling extra. Substitute for canned food or pick up your SOSC books for the first time.

Good music : I like to say that it's grit and determination that gets me through leg day, but it's really just a good Spotify playlist. Time moves faster with Kanye blasting through your ears.

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If you think that virtual reality (VR) is only for gamers, think again. The world of VR may affect you sooner than you think and in ways you never imagined. Believe it or not, the next time you break a sweat may be from behind a set of virtual reality goggles. Virtual reality and similar technologies are being introduced to a number of gyms and training facilities.

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Black Box, a boutique gym with locations in San Francisco and Boise, started out with the aim of recreating the world of fitness. With the help of VR, they literally place you inside a video game. The idea of the game is simple: the stronger you lift, the more powerful your character attacks. According to their site, one workout session prompts you to make it through as many rounds as many possible in 30 minutes. Black Box takes traditional exercises like chest presses and squats and rebrands them with names like “meteor” and “tsunami.” Black Box also puts their money where their mouth is by providing dozens of scientific, academically reviewed papers that support their workouts.

In addition to the growing VR presence in gyms, advanced technology is being used in other ways to help you track your sweat. “Smart performance wear” may be replacing your next pair of Lulu leggings. Fitness technology company Asensei has revolutionized workout gear by placing a “constellation” of sensors in their clothings. For only $349 for a top and bottom pair, you too can track every movement your body makes and every ounce of sweat dripped.

So whether you’re looking to take your gaming to the next level or give your fitness wardrobe an upgrade, technology is changing the way we workout. Say goodbye to the boring days of running on the treadmill and say hello to fighting off the villains of an electronic underworld.

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