Exercising for Self-Care: Free Workouts at Your Fingertips

Cardio – Walking – Yoga – Pilates – Crossfit – Aerobics – Organized Sports – Weightlifting – Running

There are so many ways to get physical and exercise as a form of self-care. And, while many people seem to think that to get “fit” or exercise regularly they have to invest in gym memberships or pricey athletic equipment, you can, actually, exercise at home for free, as long as you have a wi-fi connection and a connected device!

The internet offers nearly unlimited possibilities! With so many options, narrowing down the opportunities that might be best for you is hard. We get it.

So, to try to make things a little easier, we consulted with experts online and found a pretty comprehensive list of good, no-cost options from the New York Times.

  • The Body Coach TV: With more than 250 workouts on this YouTube channel formulated by host Joe Wicks, you’ll find a variety of 15- to 20-minute workouts and a “7 Days of Sweat” challenge. He also has several short, charming videos for kids that will get them moving! He’s relaxed enough, he allowed his toddler daughter to ham it up a little during one live session.
  • Fitness Blender: This channel has roughly 600 workouts to choose from and includes no-frills, gimmick-free workouts. Some workouts feature simple equipment, such as resistance bands, while others have no equipment requirements and feature high-intensity interval training (HIIT).
  • HASfit: HASfit features free, full-length workout videos for all fitness levels. From HIIT to strength-training options, it’s been named a Top 10 YouTube Channel for four years straight.
  • Heather Robertson: This channel offers a large selection of low-impact, jump-free workouts, plus a sizable library of other options, including a 12-week workout plan. These workouts do not include warm-ups, cooldowns, or voiceover explanations – just music and a label calling out each new exercise given in a sequence.
  • Nike Training Club: The app features wide and varied content for fitness seekers of all levels. Along with workouts, you can access blog posts featuring expert tips.
  • Popsugar Fitness: The YouTube channel offers various workouts for beginners and fitness pros. These feel-good workouts are good for at home or on the go and include full-body routines and options focused on arms, glutes, or core. Workouts include beginner options, full-body boot camps, equipment-free cardio, dance, Tabata, Pilates, and barre.
  • Yoga with Adriene: This free YouTube channel is led by yoga instructor Adriene Mishler and presents relaxed and approachable yoga options for all levels, all bodies, all genders, and all souls.
  • EmKFit: Upbeat dance moves to current and favorite hits will get you moving on this YouTube channel featuring over 300 workouts.
  • Cosmic Kids Yoga: Providing pint-sized yoga practice with engaging themed adventures inspired by characters and stories (for example, The Three Little Pigs), Cosmic Kids Yoga offers yoga and guided meditation to deliver some self-care to even the youngest of your workout partners.
  • Go Noodle: Go Noodle is all about getting kids to move and learn. They offer videos with silly tunes and wacky exercises that will be fun for the entire family.

Of course, in addition to these options, you can always hit up your favorite subscription streaming service (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, or others, for example) for other opportunities.