Going to the gym is a high hurdle for many. For some, it’s dealing with the crowds, paying for the gym membership, or not knowing how to use the machines. For millions of others, getting out of the house is hard enough.
With the rise of YouTube, many have found their answer. The video platform has attracted hundreds of fitness vloggers. Each has their own focus and their own skills. Today, we’re picking out the ones that fit the needs of our readers best.
FitnessBlender
Subscribers: 6.24 million
Example: Low Impact Workout for Beginners
Run by a husband and wife team and boasting a back catalogue of nearly 900 videos, FitnessBlender has become one of the top fitness channels on YouTube. They post fairly frequently, usually one or two new videos a week.
One of the strengths of Fitness Blender is how varied their videos are. They range from low-impact workouts to healthy, homemade mushroom mozzarella pizza. For the especially fit, they also have high-intensity workouts!
FitnessBlender videos are clean, and easy to follow, and Daniel and Kelli are great instructors.
BeFit
Subscribers: 3.02 million
Examples: Jane Fonda: Walking Cardio Workout: Level 1
Want to see free workouts with some of top fitness gurus like Jillian Michaels or Billy Blanks? How about something from the godmother of workout fitness videos, Jane Fonda? That’s exactly what you’ll get with BeFit.
Offering more than 1,000 videos, BeFit covers all levels of workouts. As an added bonus, BeFit has a series of videos called Health Hacks which focus on topics like nutrition, weight loss tips, and even a bit of biology!
The biggest strength of BeFit is its production quality. BeFit has top quality professionals working on it at all levels, in front of the camera and behind it. And it shows.
POPSUGAR Fitness
Subscribers: 4.67 million
Example: Low-Impact Cardio and Toning Workout That’s Perfect For Beginners, Too
POPSUGAR Fitness is the fitness arm of the well-known pop culture website POPSUGAR. They offer energetic, well-produced workouts for everyone.
Whether you’re a workout-warrior or getting fit for the first time, there’s a POPSUGAR Fitness video for you. With over 1,200 videos and three new ones each week, if there isn’t a workout for you, it may get added soon. Do you want an intense cardio workout? Here you go! How about a dance workout with a country twang? They’ve got that too.
POPSUGAR Fitness videos are light and laughter among the exercisers is not uncommon.
HASfit
Subscribers: 1.37 million
Example: 30 Minute Standing & Seated Exercise for Seniors, Obese, Plus Size, & Limited Mobility Workout - Chair
HASfit is a smaller, but dedicated channel, with nealy 1.4 million subscribers, but over 1,500 workout videos. In a decade of making videos, the HASfit team has racked up over 187 million views.
The workout list geared toward helping seniors and those with limited mobility is great. There’s no shame in limited mobility, as age affects us each differently. In these cases, a workout focusing on getting your fitness journey started are great.
HASfit offers this in a 14-part video series that was updated as recently as June 2017 (as of publication). If you’re a bit farther ahead, HASfit can still help you. Each weekday, they add a new video for viewers to try out.
LiveExercise
Subscribers: 76.5k
Examples: Seated Exercise for Obesity and Limited Mobility – Stage 1 Ep. 1
Much like HASfit, LiveExercise is an underrated channel for the quality of work they’ve put in. LiveExercise has high production values, talented instructors, and a variety of videos. They even have a series with former NFL star Terrell Owens.
The channel’s fantastic Launchpad series is where LiveExercise shines. It’s a series of videos for the elderly, obese, and mobility-impaired. Launchpad is lighthearted, and the instructors are a joy to follow.
Another benefit of the series is that it requires very little equipment. Most videos only require your chair, light dumbbells, and a couch pillow. Once you’ve completed the playlist linked above, you’re ready for the full Launchpad Project playlist. This playlist focuses less on seated exercises and more traditional strength and cardio.
Numbers up-to-date as of 5/20/2020
Further Reading
The Shop & Enroll Blog — Top 5 Healthy Cooking Channels on YouTube