Whilst being forced to go out less and stay in more may sound appealing when you’ve got a mountain of books and Netflix to catch up on, there’s no denying that it could get troublesome for your waistline.
Before you resign yourself to a fortnight of being sedentary, we’d like to highlight the importance of staying physically fit during these trying times.
One of the best ways to (quite literally) keep calm and fend off the panic over the COVID-19 virus is by practising yoga at home. Because it doesn’t require plenty of space nor expensive bulky equipment, the restorative exercise can be easily accomplished without having to leave the house. Besides, it’s been known to lower stress hormones that can compromise the immune system, so you’re really just fortifying your body’s defences in the long run.
If you require a little guidance, these are some of the best yoga apps to practice at home with. Now all you have to do is take a deep breath and enjoy your little oasis of calm.
This article first appeared on Lifestyle Asia Singapore.
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1 /5
If you’ve been wanting to break out of your Vinyasa rut, but have always been intimidated by trying out other classes, this app promises to hold your hand and lead you to greatness. Glo prides itself on variety, so there are over 3,500 classes within the app ranging from five minutes to a whole two hours. It also has just about every style of yoga you can muster from memory, including Kundalini and Iyengar, and Yin.
If you have no idea where to start, the app has a “discover” option that actually gives intelligent suggestions according to very specific needs instead of randomly pointing to classes. Instructors are known to give detailed directions with every position, and offer modifications with or without props, depending on your proficiency.
2 /5
Alo counts Victoria’s Secret models and yogis as loyal customers so you can trust they know a thing or two about a good stretch. While you might not be able to flaunt their Instagram-worthy pieces at your local studio now, their very own yoga platform, Alo Moves, makes it possible to still look and feel good at home.
While not an entirely free app — you’ll get a 14-day trial — the app gives you access to thousands of classes from some of the most well-known yogis in the world, such as Briohny Smyth and Dylan Werner, all packaged within a fuss-free and aptly, quite calming interface. You’ll get the usuals such as Vinyasa, Ashtanga, and Hatha tutorials, but if you’re looking for a more holistic approach, hit up the meditation and Barre classes within too.
3 /5
We’re not saying that yoga isn’t already an intense activity in itself (because it is), but those who’re seeking a good sweat along with a good stretch will enjoy Asana Rebel.
The classes here are way more high-energy as compared to traditional yoga classes, and focus on burning fat and building strength. The tunes that accompany the videos are suitably more upbeat, and so makes holding your most dreaded pose that much easier. You’ll be able to choose classes based on body part and duration — the five-minute ones are perfect for that early morning push.
4 /5
If your current practice is so stale you could do it in your sleep, then Down Dog is just the app you need to reinvigorate your passion for yoga with. More than 60,000 configurations are available in the app, which means that you can look forward to a fresh workout each time.
If you’re a beginner, the sleek app features a three-day introduction that gives you a crash course into the practice. The Boost feature within might be an in-app purchase, but is extremely useful if you’re looking to access more areas of practice and extensive back-stretching work. Six yoga teachers are available here, and your favourite sessions can be downloaded for offline use.
5 /5
Cheesy name aside, this app — helmed by Texan actress, yogi and Youtube phenomenon Adriene Mishler — is an easy way to get access to over a hundred hours of her yoga videos and entire library of classes in one easy-to-use platform.
Designed to cater to all levels, the yoga and meditation series here are creatively structured so you get the most out of every session. The Revolution Series, for example, is a 31-day bootcamp that aims to nurture mindfulness and discipline, and should make your self-imposed social distancing much easier to achieve.
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