Exercising in COVID: The World Wide Gym
By no means am I a fitness guru. This is me wearing one of my favorite T-Shirts which pretty much sums up my attitude towards exercising. Before Covid, I liked trying different workout classes at various gyms and studios: Taebo, Aerial Yoga, Zumba, Barre—if there was a groupon or class pass for it, I would give it a try. One time, our local high end Wellness Center had an open house that offered tons of free classes. That morning, I told my family I was going to check it out. By the afternoon, my family got worried that something had happened to me, but I was just taking every single class I could!
After COVID, I didn’t feel safe going to any gym or class, and I switched to remote work. With all the sitting and all the snacking, I could see myself heading towards COVID 15 AKA the 15 lbs you gain during COVID. So my girlfriends and I made a pact to exercise together virtually. For a few times a week, half an hour a night, we Zoom in the World Wide Gym and take turns picking out workout videos and exercising together. Not only do we hold each other accountable, but we also get to “see” each other and stay connected. Oh, and did I mention that most of the classes at World Wide gym are free?
One year and 300 plus Zoom workout sessions later, we probably still haven’t tried a fraction of what the World Wide gym has to offer. I can, however, share with you some of our favorite workout videos, blogs, and instructors that we have discovered so far—one category at a time.
One of my favorite workouts is dance. Come on, what’s not to like? There’s music, there’s booty shaking, there’s dancing like nobody's watching (except for the occasional stares from your family or your pets). Here are my top picks:
1. BollyX
There are so many reasons why I love BollyX. Each video is a 3-4 minute dance routine to a catchy and fun Bollywood song. The instructor and crews are engaging and clear in guiding your every move. Just follow along and there are plenty of chances to repeat and improve the moves. Soon enough, you’ll find yourself skidding left to right, shrugging your shoulders, and changing light bulbs (classic moves) while having fun. Bonus point? You’ll pick up a few super cool moves and be ready to impress at parties! I love it so much that I decided to splurge on a lifetime subscription. The paid version allows you to select the workout duration and difficulties so that you can enjoy a nonstop dance fest.
Chammak Challo | Ra One | Bollywood Warm Up Choreography - YouTube
2. Tanju Koc - Zumba
When you work out with Tanju, you are joining his super fun dance party. I swear, his smile is so warm and big that you can’t help but grin for the entire workout. His videos are typically 20-30 minutes with a warm up, some cardio, and a cool down segment. He pieces together a good combination of aerobic moves to the rhythm of pop, techno, and latin inspired music. He doesn’t talk in the videos but gives great hand signals to show you every move. Some of his signature ones? Salsa dance moves and a lot of swagger!
Dance Workout Zumba by Tanju Koc - Cardio - Sweat Garanteed - YouTube
HOME WORKOUT // 30 MIN. DANCE WORKOUT // Tanju - Bing video
3. Eva Fitness - Zumba for weight loss
Now, while Tanju is about having fun, Eva is about getting the business done! Each video is 20-40 minutes. Every move is designed to help you slim down your waist, arms, and thighs. The moves are super low impact and apartment friendly. Don’t get me wrong, you’ll still sweat and feel your muscles the next day because the moves are that focused and effective. Sometimes I just turn on her video with the sound off and go auto pilot while watching TV or listening to a work call. Multi-tasking right?
FAT KILLER WORKOUT - Aerobic Exercise Burning 500 Calories in 37 Mins | Eva Fitness - YouTube
4. Leilah Issac – Bellyfit
What’s not to love about Belly Dancing! You get to strengthen your core while feeling sexy and exotic. Leilah demystifies Belly dancing by breaking down each move into bite size pieces. You can even spice it up by wearing a hip scarf, and shake it like Shakira!
30-Minute Belly Dancing Workout For a Toned Core - Bing video
30-Minute Belly Dancing Workout For a Toned Core - YouTube
Shakira ‘Chantaje’ | Bellydance Fat Burn Workout - YouTube
5. Hamilton Workout - Kyra Pro
What’s better than singing along with all your favorite Hamilton tunes? Try dancing to them! Kyra Pro choreographs her workout videos with hit Broadway and movie music like Hamilton, Mama Mia and the Greatest Showman. Each video is like a 20-30 minute trailer of a show with a little bit of aerobics, a little bit of dancing, and a whole lot of drama.
MAMMA MIA DANCE WORKOUT (Part 1) | Full Body Cardio Workout - YouTube
GREATEST SHOWMAN DANCE WORKOUT | Full Body Cardio Workout - YouTube
6. FigureRobics - Jung Dayeon
Exercise really is a universal language. When you work out with Korean Fitness guru Jung Dayeon, you’ll hear her occasional instructions in Korean, but don’t worry, it’s still easy to follow. All her moves are low impact but boy are they effective in targeting your waist, thighs, arms, and legs! By the way, how old do you think she is? I dare you to make a guess before googling the answer.
Johanna is a mother of two teenage daughters, A1 and A2 and one rescued dog A3. Wife of an ABC (American Born Chinese). She came here from Hong Kong as an exchange student and decided to stay and plant her roots here. Outside her work at Girl Scouts of Central Maryland, she likes to cook, travel, swing dance and connect with friends (old and new).