Live and local online exercise classes offer a group workout while you’re home alone
“Stay Home, Stay Healthy.” That’s the way Gov. Jay Inslee describes the strategy to slow the spread of COVID-19.
But while you’re staying home, what are you doing about staying fit? Outdoor exercise — walking, cycling, running — is permitted so long as you keep a social distance, but you can’t go to the gym or the yoga studio.
Enter live-streamed fitness classes, generally offered through a platform called Zoom. At the moment, these live online classes are the closest you can get to a group workout experience — and they’re filling a need for many in South Sound.
“It’s nice to have camaraderie,” said Lauri Vigue of Olympia, a member of The Valley Athletic Club who has turned to online yoga and frequent long walks since gyms and other recreational facilities closed.
“I could do yoga by myself at home, but I wouldn’t do a full hour,” she told The Olympian. “The class gives you structure. When you’re with a group of people, it’s built into your routine.”
Because classes are online, it’s possible to work with teachers from anywhere in the world, but Vigue wanted to seek out Olympia business. “I like to support local teachers who wouldn’t be getting an income without these classes,” she said.
People attending classes online seem to appreciate connecting with others as much as the actual workout, said yoga teacher Jessica Ryan of Olympia.
“Sometimes my favorite part of the class is at the end when we have time to talk to other people,” Ryan told The Olympian.
“You don’t even have to keep a 6-foot distance,” she added, laughing. “You can get right up to the computer. It’s very intimate.”
Among the local and live options for staying home, staying fit and staying connected:
5Rhythms conscious dance with Ronny Temple and Shawn Swanson: 9-10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.-noon Sundays. By donation. http://olywaves.com/classes, ronny@olywaves.com
Gyrokinesis, a stretching and strengthening core-focused workout, with Rachel Friedman: 9-10 a.m. Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. By donation; $12 suggested. rachel@motioninbalance.biz
Nia, a blend of dance, martial arts and healing arts, with Andrea Mikita: 9:30 a.m. Saturdays. By donation on a sliding scale from free to $12. http://olympiania.com, niawithandrea@hotmail.com
Open Floor conscious dance with Duncan Green: 6:30-8 p.m. Thursdays. By donation. duncanherondancer@gmail.com, on Facebook at Dances With Duncan.
Workouts for mothers with Fit4Mom Olympia: Classes offered Monday-Saturday. $15 for one class, with weekly and monthly passes available. Virtual playgroups, meetups and a recorded sample class are available free. http://olympia.fit4mom.com, olympia@fit4mom.com
Family Yoga and Centering with Jessica Ryan: 10-11 a.m. Wednesdays from April 8-May 20. $100-$120 sliding scale for the series. Ryan also offers kundalini yoga series classes; email for details. http://oly-wa.us/JessicaRyan, jessicamoon75@yahoo.com
Yoga at the Yoga Loft: Classes for a variety of fitness levels offered several times each day. By donation. http://yogaloft.biz/upcoming-events.html
Video classes from the YMCA
The YMCA’s new YMCA 360 offers more than 60 free on-demand video classes, including barre, boot camp, boxing, weightlifting and tai chi. The site also has yoga classes, including one designed for children, and workouts for older adults.
Several YMCAS, including the YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties, have been working together on the site, which was to be launched later this year as a new benefit for Y members.
“When the impact of the coronavirus became clear, we decided to launch early and make online programs available for everyone,” Jonny Eberle of the Pierce and Kitsap YMCA told The News Tribune.