A seemingly never ending global pandemic pushed us into the world of virtual workouts and nearly 2 years later, we’re loving it! Our members love it also - they are showing up to our live classes week in and week out, with more consistency than ever, as we’ve tweaked our schedule and classes to fit well with an online format. There was a learning curve for our business, that’s for sure! We needed to figure out the best format for our classes, which times and days were the best to set our members up for success and what technology would give everyone the best experience. Now that we’ve sorted all of it out, we feel that it’s only right to share with you some of our favourite tools that make our online workout experience the best it can be!

Just in time for the holidays, most of these are budget friendly items that will pack a big “punch” for not many of your dollars.

1. WIRELESS HEADPHONES

Sue and I both use Apple AirPods and they’ve seriously changed our online teaching and workout experience! When we’re teaching, we no longer have to shout so our computer mic picks up our voice. And, our families are SUPER happy that they don’t have to hear us yelling when we’re teaching our classes! When we’re working out, we can tune out lots of the little things that are going on right around us. For instance, with my AirPods in, when my family is having dinner in the kitchen, they are far less distracting as the earphones cancel out a some of the noise (and I have the least expensive non-noise cancelling ones!).

I bought my Apple AirPods for a slightly lower price, at Costco. Some of our members use over the ear noise cancelling wireless headphones, which can be found somewhere like Best Buy. It’s all about personal preference and budget.

This is the most expensive item on our list, but Sue and I agree 100% that they’ve made the most significant difference for us!

2. A STAND/TRIPOD FOR YOUR PHONE OR TABLET

If you’re using a tablet or phone when doing a live, online workout, you might want to consider investing in a tripod/stand that allows you to tilt your device more easily and provides flexibility in where you’re able to place it. An independent stand gives you more options for where you’re able to set up your workout area. The bonus is that your instructor isn’t looking at your ceiling and can help more easily with slight adjustments to form:)

3. A STABILITY BALL

Sue LOVES to offer stability ball classes. In fact, she tries to teach a ball class every month or so. They are just so great for our core! Using a stability ball challenges us just a little more than we might be used to.

You can buy them in many places: Canadian Tire, Walmart and Winners all sell fitness equipment, or you can often pick one up from your local physiotherapist. They can also be found at the Fitness Depot.

The size of stability ball is based on height, so be sure you’ve selected the right sized ball.

4. A SET OF LOOP BANDS

My jam is to teach a kick butt (no pun intended!) loop band workout. I know not everyone has a set of loop bands but I am trying to change that! I include them in lots of Live classes to give members the option to increase the challenge or intensity. There are also some great loop band workouts in our content library (all of our unlimited passes provide free access to our content library of pre-recorded, on-demand workouts!). We promise you’ll love the burn you feel when doing them!

Well.ca sells these Loop Bands or you can find some at the Fitness Depot. If you’re looking for a set of good non-slip loop bands, try these ones from CIK Strength.

Loop bands are probably the least expensive workout tool you can own. As a bonus, they are light and GREAT for travelling. You can easily combine your loop bands and an on-demand workout while you’re on holidays!

5. A FOAM ROLLER

Foam rolling helps your body recover after your workouts and eases tension of the tight muscles we all experience due to repetitive movement (sitting, carrying/holding babies, sleep positions etc). Foam rolling addresses soft tissue by targeting trigger points and other areas of tension in your body. It’s a form of self-massage and is known to help reduce pain, improve range of motion and increase personal comfort. Over the past year, we’ve been sure to include mobility training and foam rolling classes on our schedule to help our members recover and care for their bodies.

Foam rollers come in various lengths and firmness. However, we think a longer one is most versatile. You can buy the same one that I use at home, at the Fitness Depot.

So there you have it. Five of our favourite items to add to your workout toolkit! Are there any that we’ve missed? Leave a comment and let us know!

Don’t forget to #startwithus this winter! Find out why thousands of women and families have loved Fitmama Strong classes over the years:) If you’re new to Fitmama Strong Durham, try out our 3 Class Pass, valid for our online classes only.