A YouTube Channel is nothing more than a homepage for YouTube users' content - a place to store, organize, and share videos. There are an astounding number of channels on all sorts of content, and the fitness area is particularly saturated. There are fitness channels for any type of workout that you could want or imagine, and while some of them only offer a few free videos and require you to purchase the best content, there are many out there with hundreds of high-quality, free workouts. These are great resources, and I'm using them and loving them!
I sampled a ton and landed on my five favorites. My criteria for selecting this group were: (1) a wide variety of workouts, (2) an option of both individual workouts and workout plans, (3) coaches or trainers weren't over the top, (4) workouts were engaging, (5) workouts were effective and efficient, and (6) the bulk of the content was free (bonus points if the videos were professional quality and the channel was well organized). Here are my top 5, in no particular order:
I sampled a ton and landed on my five favorites. My criteria for selecting this group were: (1) a wide variety of workouts, (2) an option of both individual workouts and workout plans, (3) coaches or trainers weren't over the top, (4) workouts were engaging, (5) workouts were effective and efficient, and (6) the bulk of the content was free (bonus points if the videos were professional quality and the channel was well organized). Here are my top 5, in no particular order:
Fitness Blender
Fitness Blender is run by a husband and wife team that started the company nine years ago on the belief that quality fitness should be available, for free, for everyone. Almost a decade later, they have over 350 free videos available on their channel. Their videos are high quality - including previews of the next exercise, timers, modifications, etc. - and engaging. Daniel and Kelli both do the videos, one offering a lower intensity option and one offering a higher. I like the pace, the options, and the intensity. Here's a snapshot:
- 5.2 million subscribers; over 350 free videos
- Cardio and strength focused
- High Intensity
- Start with: 5 Day Workout Challenge for Busy People (all are 30 minutes or less)
BeFiT
BeFiT is somewhat overwhelming based on the shear number of videos and types of workouts. However, the workouts and workout plans are high quality and effective, so it's worth braving it! The style of BeFit reminds me of BeachBody videos - there is a trainer in each video with a couple of participants modeling the exercises. The videos are professionally done, detailed, and challenging. Emphasis on challenging. They are great for a day of heavy cardio when you want to get your heart rate up! The quick overview of BeFiT:
- 2.8 million subscribers; hundreds and hundreds of free videos
- Strength and cardio, yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, dance
- High Intensity
- Start with: 25 min HIIT Total Body Burn Beginners Workout or BeFit in 30 Extreme Workouts (plan with 16 videos)
Jessica Valant Pilates
Jessica Valant Pilates is a smaller channel, but offers over 100 free Pilates video. I like it because of the amount of teaching that she does in the videos. She focuses on the importance of doing exercises correctly so that you maximize the benefit of each exercise. Her beginner Pilates playlist starts very slowly and deliberately (a little bit hard for those of us just used to going out and running as hard as we can to maximize workout time), but it teaches the skills to really be able to effectively do Pilates. If you haven't done Pilates before, start with her beginner's playlist and be patient. If you have done Pilates, there is an advanced playlist with 12 videos! Here's an overview of this channel:
- 84 thousand subscribers; just over 100 free videos
- Pilates
- Lower Intensity (yet effective), more deliberate style
- Start With: Pilates for Beginner Playlist (10 videos)
Yoga with Adriene
Yoga With Adrienne is a delight! It's a very simple production, just Adrienne (and sometimes her dog) doing yoga (seemingly at her house), but the classes are really well done and her style is both encouraging and calming. I'm particularly drawn to this channel because of the number of options she gives you in her playlist section - you can select yoga for weightloss, for stress, for moms, for anxiety, before bedtime, for flexibility, by video length, etc., etc., etc. She also has a 30-Day Yoga Challenge, meant for 30 consecutive days, that could be huge if you want to really dive into it (caveat, I was scared off by this plan after I noted that 16 million people did day 1 and only 700k made it to day 30. I think this speaks more to human nature than the videos, but nevertheless, I didn't want to be another "incomplete" on the list.) Here's what you need to know to get started:
- 3.9 million subscribers; hundreds and hundreds of videos
- Yoga
- Lower intensity, body and mind
- Start with Yoga Camp Day 1 (not with the goal of doing 30 days, but just to have a good playlist to start with; around 30 -40 minutes each)
HASfit
HASfit, "Heart and Soul" Fitness, is similar to Fitness Blender, but with more of a focus on strength training and a little extra variety. Led by trainers Claudia and Coach Kozak, HASfit has a number of gym workouts and workouts that require weights and equipment. I like the variety it brings, with options for kickboxing, MMA, muscle Building, and kettlebell workouts. There is also a good list of "body-part specific" workouts and a number of long-term plans that are all free. The production quality is good, and the coaches strike a good balance of providing instruction while staying on a fast pace (there are also tutorial options that appear periodically, where you can click to get additional information.) Here's an overview:
- 873 thousand subscribers; hundreds and hundreds of free videos
- Strength and cardio, kickboxing, MMA, muscle building
- High Intensity
- Start with Cardio Kickboxing Workout to Torch Fat or the Cardio Workouts at Home playlist (63 videos)
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