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I’m so excited to finally share with you my favorite streaming workout classes! This post has taken me months to write. Every time I thought I had found my new favorite online fitness program, I kept coming across more amazing instructors.
Just before COVID, around February 2020, I was very loyal to my Classpass membership that allowed me to work out in some of the best studios in LA: Hot Pilates, Rise Nation and Body by Simone were my all-time favorites. I was also a regular at Hot 8 Yoga in Beverly Hills for their amazing Barre class. Needless to say, I thought nothing in this world would replace my in-person classes.
Days before the mandatory lockdown took place, everything felt very ominous and there were fewer and fewer people in the studios until Classpass finally canceled all the workout classes.
Actress Shay Mitchell posted this photo in April 2020, which went viral.
When fitness studios closed, I remember freaking out. “Would I ever work out again?” I thought. I always despised the idea of working out at home, thinking there was no way I would ever be able to achieve the same results as I would in an in-person class. But this could not be further from the truth!
After lockdown, the first time I went back to a studio was Hot 8 Yoga in June 2021. After working out at home for over a year, I noticed my increased strength and how easy it was for me to follow along with the class. Today, while I still continue working out at home, I mix it up with a few in-person classes.
I personally like to rotate online platforms every month because I like the variety.
It doesn’t seem like it, but there’s so much work that goes into crafting a workout class and program, which is why I’m more than happy to pay in order to get access to exclusive workout programs from qualified instructors. Not to mention the variety of videos to choose from. On Youtube, you have to dig deep in order to find a workout that you really like and that caters to all of your needs.
My favorite workout is a low-impact sculpting class mixed with pilates. I love doing isometric movements that target all areas of your body, as well as arm workouts. So far, I’ve seen great results from doing these workouts. You don’t need to run yourself into the ground with straining HIIT workouts to yield results.
All of the instructors below incorporate some form of strength training, but some of them like Maria Leguizamon (Colombian Mafia Fit) or Sami Clarke really hone in on it with bench workouts and heavier dumbbells.
During quarantine, the fitness streaming market blew up. At first, studios began offering free live workout sessions. Remember when we all thought COVID was only going to last for a few weeks? A few months later, studios and fitness influencers began creating their own paid platforms that go beyond workout classes. From meditations to nutrition recipes, staying healthy goes beyond working out to be skinny. It’s all about nourishing your body with movement and developing that mind-body connection.
If you love a certain instructor and you happen to live in LA, remember that you can always schedule private sessions with them. Or you can also stay tuned on their Instagram profiles for pop-up classes.
As much fun as I love working out at home, many people see it as chore. The key is finding an instructor and something that you enjoy! Whenever I get home from work, I always look forward to moving my body and having fun. Even before the pandemic, I always looked forward to my afternoon workout classes, especially after sitting at a desk for 8 hours. This would be very different if I had to step into a gym to do mindless cardio and strength training on my own, which I did and bored me to death. Everyone is different!
To avoid making this intro super long, at the end of this post I included my essential workout equipment and other props that will elevate your workout practice.
Note: While I was diving into the vast sea of Instagram fitness, I came across a few instructors that didn’t have any certifications. All the instructors below are certified!!
The Pilates Class by Jacqui Kingswell and Tash Oakley
I can’t believe I didn’t know about The Pilates Class until this year! Aussie fitness instructor Jacqui Kingswell is the co-founder of The Pilates Class. Before being a pilates instructor, Jacqui was a professional dancer in Sydney, and worked for the likes of Beyonce, One Direction and Kyle Minogue. Her workout of choice during her dancer years was always pilates. Before the pandemic, Jacqui had big plans to open her own studio, but there was something bigger for her that would allow her to connect with thousands of people from all over the world: The Pilates Class.
Jacqui shared with Marie Claire Australia: “In March 2020, I got a call from all the studio owners where I taught, saying that they were shutting down. I was crying in the car thinking, ‘I don’t how I’m going to pay my mortgage.’”
Remember in 2020 when fitness studios would do free live sessions on their Instagram accounts? After Jacqui’s wildly successful Instagram live classes, her now business partner Natasha Oakley, suggested creating a private IG account charging people to access the workouts. In May 2020, The Pilates Class was born. Three years later, the platform has turned into a beautiful and uplifting community with members from 110 countries. In May 2023, Jacqui embarked on a worldwide tour in 7 cities — all of which were completely sold out.
When I first tried the platform, I was so surprised as to how a pilates flow class could give you so much burn. I love her method!
Jacqui approaches fitness from a holistic perspective and always reminds you of the mind-body connection. The workout library ranges from super intense workouts to short meditations. My personal favorites are the Full Body and Flow, which are the perfect balance between calm and intense. I like doing the Intense workouts once a week. If you’re not sure on where to start, The Pilates Class has a weekly schedule that will suggest what workout to do every day.
If this isn’t enough, the platform offers different workout programs like their Summer Pilates Body challenge, or their 4-Week Beginner program. I’m currently doing the former, and it’s so much fun! From merchandise to a nutrition book, Jacqui and Tash have created a fitness empire.
Last year, Jacqui hired two other amazing instructors: Dominic and Jackie.
The library is so well organized. Regardless of what your fitness level is, you’ll find a workout suited for you! Beginner, prenatal, injury-friendly, barre and HIIT.
If you live in LA, you can now check out The Pilates Studio in West Hollywood! I wrote a very lengthy article about the studio here. They did such an amazing job conveying the essence of the online classes into the studio.
Start your 7-day free trial here.
Instagram @thepilatesclass
True Form by Tasha Franken
Hailing from the beautiful coastal town of Marbella, Spain, LA-based model and pilates instructor Tasha Franken began uploading her pilates workouts on Youtube during the pandemic. Although Tasha is from Spain, she’s half Dutch and half Norwegian.
Tasha got her pilates certification right before lockdown. I found her through an Instagram live workout she did with the activewear brand Year of Ours in 2020. Tasha has said many times that she tried every single workout under the sun, but that she always kept coming back to pilates.
After uploading workouts on Youtube twice a week, she launched her own platform at the end of 2020: T-F Studio. Her workouts on Youtube really got me through the pandemic. Every day, I always looked forward to her workouts and how good I felt afterwards. I love how she incorporates meditation and breathwork into her classes.
As someone who loved her Youtube workouts, I had to support her. I was subscribed to her app for over a year! I love her cues, her emphasis on proper form and how detailed she is when explaining the sequences. There was nothing on Youtube that came close to her workouts.
When I attended my first in-person class in 2021, I noticed how easy it was for me to follow along: the planks, the donkey kicks… It came so naturally to me because of her videos. I love her longer workouts, but even her 30 minute workouts will give you a burn in all the right places! I fractured my humerus in 2022, and even then, I did her standing workout series and felt so good afterwards!
When Tasha launched her platform, she deleted most of her workout videos on Youtube. You can still find some of her shorter workouts, but I highly recommend trying her app. Some of her classes include a 30 min-workout followed by meditation and journaling.
In February 2023, Tasha Franken rebranded her subscription app. It’s now called True Form Studio.
Reivew from Alex O’Donnell:
“This app was LIFE CHANGING! I used to do HIIT workouts, and after listening to a podcast between her and Kenzie Burke, I decided to try. I have done about 20-40 minutes of her workouts every day for a few months, and the results are crazy!!! It’s a workout I actually look forward to.”
Below are two different testimonials Tasha shared on her IG highlights.
Start your 7-day free trial here.
Instagram @trueform.studio
Tasha’s IG @tashafranken
Melissa Wood Health
In 2015, Melissa Wood-Tepperberg founded her online platform, Melissa Wood Health. She shared on one Instagram post: “In 2015, it was just me, my tripod, my mat and the willingness to share the real s— behind it all”. Today, Melissa has created a successful wellness and lifestyle brand, featuring a podcast with multiple brand partnerships. The core of Melissa’s brand is mindfulness and self-care.
The workouts, which range between 15 and 40 minutes, incorporate a mix of pilates, yoga and strength training. Melissa’s energy is very calming, while also encouraging you to do your best. Throughout the class, she continuously reminds you to slow down and the importance of tuning in with yourself as you do each move.
I love her 30-minute workouts, which are very effective! The platform features a variety of instructors to choose from, but my all-time favorite is Nwando Bartley. Her workouts are more fast-paced than Melissa’s, and I love how detailed she is in her cues! Nwando joined the Melissa Wood team last September and boy, what an amazing instructor she is!
Last year, actress Ashley Benson took Instagram to post a full-body picture a few months after she welcomed her first baby. People began speculating about her rapid weight loss due to Ozempic, a drug that has skyrocketed in popularity. However, Ashley quickly shut down the rumors by sharing her health and fitness journey. She wrote: “And again, couldn’t do this without my @melissawoodtepperberg app.”
Note: Melissa Wood Health is based in NYC, and she occasionally does pop-up classes there.
Start your 7-day trial here
Instagram: @melissawoodhealth
Body Pulse Pilates by Lisa Nicolaisen
If I ever go to Australia, one of the things I’ll do is take a pilates class. They really have amazing instructors there! I found pilates instructor Lisa Nicolaisen through Instagram and… wow. To say that I love her fitness platform Body Pulse Pilates is a huge understatement.
Even Lisa’s “gentle” workouts are a burner. After I did her classes, I was drenched in sweat from head to toe. My triceps felt it so much the next day! Her workout classes are very well thought-out. Lisa’s classes are pilates-based workouts but amped up to work every muscle of your body.
If you see Lisa wearing sneakers in any of her thumbnails, you know the workout is going to be a burner! And I’m not saying this lightly! Make sure you have a good pair of sneakers on.
I seriously don’t know how Lisa is able to talk graciously throughout the entire class without taking breaks.
After her classes, I feel so much stronger, looking forward to the next one to continuously challenge myself in new ways. Some of her videos have the beautiful backdrop of Esperance, an idyllic Australian beach town — and in one of them, the kangaroos make a special cameo! Lisa also offers pilates retreats in this town, and all the reviews I’ve come across have raved about the way Lisa has inspired them to workout. She really is an amazing instructor!
I highly recommend you subscribe to her newsletter, so that you’re notified when a new video goes live on the platform!
There’s not an app for Body Pulse Pilates, only online.
Start your 14-day free trial here.
Instagram: @bodypulsepilates
Lisa’s IG: @lisanicolaisen
Align by Bailey Brown
I found Bailey Brown on an Instagram reel — and I couldn’t be happier!
I tried one of her low-impact cardio classes on her platform Align, and I was very surprised. I was able to follow most of the moves, and after the class I felt completely energized.
There are days where I want to get a gentle workout in, but I also want a good burn. Bailey offers a happy medium of challenging without straining your body, especially when you’re in that time of the month, where she has a whole workout series based on your menstrual phase.
Throughout her classes, Bailey is constantly reminding you of proper form and providing you with modifications. When doing some of the moves that are a bit more challenging, she encourages you to take them up a notch, but never forces you. “If you can,” she said in one of her videos, which I appreciated because I wasn’t feeling 100%.
After I did her workout on her app, I found that she started out uploading videos on Youtube – many of them have garnered over 1 million views. The Align app features low-impact cardio, strength, restorative and pilates-style reformer classes.
Bailey is American and was previously based in Australia. She’s currently based in Bali, hence the lush greenery and stunning ocean views in the background of her videos. It’s so relaxing! 🌴🌴
Bailey shared with the online magazine :
“When I was teaching in Sydney, Australia, my boyfriend came to one of my classes and couldn’t believe how passionate I was when teaching my class. He urged me to start filming these and posting them on YouTube. We went and bought all the equipment and started my YouTube channel that weekend. As it grew, people started asking for longer classes and this led me to create my app, Align.”
Bailey is very vocal about her struggles with hormone balancing and how she only stuck to high-intensity workouts for years without getting the results she wanted. Ever since she switched to pilates and started incorporating low-impact cardio, strength exercises, and a diet that worked for her, she experienced weight loss and overall amazing results.
On May 23, she shared this on her Instagram:
“It’s been one year since I created @align.app and that means one year of me exclusively doing Align app workouts! 🤍✨ Now I do Pilates 4-5 days per week I have more energy, have lost weight + toned my entire body, less bloating, my hormones are balanced and I am actually excited to workout. The workouts make me feel as good mentally and they do physically, and I continue to see results the more I lean into my Pilates and the hormone balancing principles in Align.”
Like I said before, Bailey has a wide array of workouts and programs that will help you stay in alignment with your cycle and your body in order to feel your best. You can also expect to find workouts with mindfulness meditations and recipes.
Bailey has been featured on Kourtney Kardashian’s lifestyle brand, Poosh, Good Morning America and other popular online magazines such as Bustle.com, PopSugar, New York Weekly and LA Weekly!
Below are a few reviews I came across on the App store:
Er_bear_ :
“I have struggled with anxiety and depression for years and doing these workouts the last three months has helped my brain and therefore my lifestyle so much. I can’t thank you enough, Bailey! You inspire me to show up every day for myself and for others in a way I’ve never been able to before. I’m so grateful” 💕
mefar6:
“My body has changed so much since doing these workouts and they don’t feel like a hassle to do, I actually enjoy them! I always finish feeling calm, at peace; not stressed and like I had a great workout. This app has changed my life and Bailey’s voice is so soothing and she explains the moves so easily.”
Start your 14-day free trial on Align here.
Instagram: @align.app
Bailey’s IG: @baileybrwn
MOVE by LexFish
Before fitness studios closed in 2020, I used to take in-person classes with Alexis “Lex” Fisher, at the Body by Simone location in West Hollywood. Lex also teaches occasionally at Hot Pilates, also in West Hollywood. Living in LA, I’ve had access to a great plethora of fitness classes, but I remember Lex’s as one of the most challenging (in a fun way). Her motto is: “Yes you can, yes you will”. Sometimes during her classes at Body by Simone, other people next to me would look at me like, “When is this going to end?” as they panted.
During the pandemic, Lex launched her platform, Move with Lex, which features hundreds of workouts that are carefully curated: HIIT full-body workouts, low-impact cardio classes, pilates flow, strength training, dance cardio and meditation classes. She really works hard on her content and it shows. From the layout of her website to the way she’s so engaged with her subscribers in her live workout classes, Lex has created a beautiful community with people from all over the world.
Review from Rania:
“Her workouts are challenging, intense and so effective. I burn the same amount of calories (if not more) and sweat just as intensely as I would in a HIIT class in any given Alexis Fischer class. The best part about her though isn’t how she turns a workout into a work of art, but that she makes you smile the entire time.”
Review from Lila Chase (app store)
“Can’t recommend highly enough.
WARNING: highly addictive. Side effects include: visible abs, a sculpted lean physique, increased strength, balance, flexibility & happiness!
This woman has changed my life. She is a creative genius with a profound understanding of how to sculpt the body. “
On her website and the app, you’ll see some amazing weight loss testimonials. But beyond losing weight, Lex’s priority is to motivate you to move your body, feel energized and become the best version of yourself. “We don’t workout to be skinny,” she said in one of her live workout classes. To help keep everyone motivated, her music selection is also spot-on!
Her workouts are not for the faint of heart! Even her gentle workouts will give you a burn in all the right places. Since Lex was a dancer, she also has a whole series with dance cardio workouts.
Every time I take one of her classes, I’m always drenched in sweat afterwards! If you’re looking for ways to challenge yourself, Lex will hold you accountable. On her website, it says: “When I show up, I am going to give you 100% and I expect the same from you.” When you work out with Lex, expect to get a full-body workout from head to toe.
Her classes are usually filmed from her kitchen, which just goes to show you that you don’t need a gym or fancy equipment to move: just you and your body. Since her workouts are very intense, Lex also has curated a playlist offering modifications.
If you live in LA, Lex does private sessions and in-person class pop-ups! You can also catch her at Hot Pilates.
Start your 7-day free trial on Move With Lex here.
Instagram: @LexFish
Hot Pilates
According to Classpass, Hot Pilates is my most visited studio. Since I started going there in early 2018, I’ve taken almost 400 classes! Thanks to Hot Pilates, I’ve been able to find some of the amazing instructors you’ll see in this post.
Hot Pilates was founded by Shannon Nadj in 2014. In the preceding years, Hot Pilates became the hottest studio in LA (no pun intended). Selena Gomez was the one who put Hot Pilates on my radar! If you google Hot Pilates, you will see an incredible amount of celebrities going in and out of this studio.
Despite their high-profile clientele, Hot Pilates has a very welcoming atmosphere, where you’ll see people of all shapes and sizes. I can’t rave enough about their amazing instructors!
In 2020, they launched their on-demand platform. At first, they didn’t have enough content to keep me interested, but after three years, the library has grown so much!!
Most classes on the platform are 30 minutes long. They’re so much fun and effective! Trust me, 30 minutes is long enough to target all areas of your body and give you a nice burn!
Although I don’t go to Hot Pilates as much as I used to, doing the classes in-person with the heat is way more fun and extra challenging. If you’re reading this and you live in LA, Hot Pilates is an essential LA workout that I think everyone should try! You’ll be hooked!
On the platform, new classes drop every Monday, Wednesday and Friday! Last week, I did Alexis’ Arms and Abs 30 minute class, and omg. My arms were super sore the next day! I’m also currently doing their Summer Bikini challenge program, where they’re uploading daily 30-minute workouts throughout the month of June!
Start your 14-free day trial here.
Instagram @hotpilates
Shannon’s IG: @ShannonNadj
Colombian Fit Mafia by Maria Leguizamon
I’m so thankful to Hot Pilates for introducing me to such wonderful trainers, like Maria Leguizamon.
Maria’s classes were so much fun, challenging and very memorable. We were dying but we were giggling at the same time. She’s so funny!
It’s hard to believe that Maria is 40 and has three kids! In some videos, you can get a peek of her husband Jay and her kids. In 2020, Maria launched her platform Colombian Mafia Fit’s, with a mission to empower women to show up every single day and become the best version of themselves. From busy working moms who don’t make themselves a priority to women who have developed a newfound confidence by doing her workouts, Maria has built an uplifting community called the Mafiosas.
If you can get through her workouts, you can do anything in life! Want to get a preview of what to expect from her workouts? Go to her Youtube channel here.
Even her inspirational quotes on her Instagram stories are a big motivator for me to get up and roll out my mat. Maria occasionally shares pictures on her Instagram stories from when she was pregnant with her first kid, noting how she achieved the body she has now by working out at home! Proving yet again that you don’t need fancy gyms in order to get the results you want — Just you and your willingness to show up every day!
Maria did an IG live not too long ago and every time she opens her mouth, it’s like she’s giving all of us a pep-talk in Spanglish about doing your best and not giving an f about what others think. In one of her live classes, she noticed how some people had the camera off. “Why do you have the camera off? It’s your body, be proud to show it!” she said.
If you want to see more of Maria, watch this video on Youtube, “I Trained with A Colombian Fitness Expert for 30 Days” where four women follow Maria’s home workouts and diet plans.
In addition to her on-demand workouts, Maria has different programs that are tailored to different needs that range from weight loss to building muscle.
The Dirty 30 program is for sweat and toning and the classes are 30-mins long. The WTFF and Cuerpower programs are specifically made for building muscle.
The thumbnails and the name of her programs are genius, like her booty program, called La Fiesta del Culo, where Maria hones in on strength training and building your core. In one of her Instagram lives, Maria highly recommended the Sweaty 30 program for those who are starting out.
Check out all of Maria’s programs here.
If you live in LA, you can catch Maria at one of her Saturday salsa sculpt classes in North Hollywood. She teaches in-person classes occasionally. Imagine dancing salsa for almost an hour with a resistance band on your ankles! Although she dances salsa with a resistance band in most of her live classes, I can only imagine how fun it must be to do it in person with her!
When doing her classes, expect her to be constantly reminded of the importance of breathing and proper form. One time at Hot Pilates, she stopped the class because she saw many people were not breathing properly.
With her fun workouts and quick-witted humor, Maria has gained a massive following that include celebrities like singer Becky G, Basketball Wives TV personality Evelyn Lozada, and Spanish model Ariadne Artiles.
Start your 7-day free trial here.
Maria’s IG: @ColombianMafiaFit
Join Form by Sami Clarke
I knew about Sami Clarke for a while, but what prompted me to try her app was the launch of her Pilates X Strength workout program on her digital platform Form, which I absolutely loved!
Sami’s cues are always on point and the sequences are fun to follow, yet challenging at the same time. After my first workout, I remember being eager to do the next one!
On the platform, Sami has a wide variety of content: workouts for beginners, mindfulness meditation sessions, strength training classes, workouts for when you’re in that time of the month, and low-effort healthy recipes.
Sami really appreciates each member of Form, and it shows! She’s based in LA and does occasional meetups, where all the Form members come together. For more information about the Form community, check out this link that will give you access to special perks, like their private Facebook group, and a phone number to connect directly with Sami.
Start your 7-day free trial with Sami here.
IG: @Form
Sami’s IG: @SamiClarke
After trying out so many different platforms, trainers and teaching styles, the workouts above have really stuck with me. I hope you feel inspired to try out the trainers listed above!
What will you need to get started with your at-home workouts?
Please note that if you purchase any product through the Amazon links below, I’ll earn a small commission. 🙂
Foam roller
In my opinion, this is the most important item you should buy. I always rave to my friends about the wonderful benefits of foam rollers. Ever since I started foam rolling, I’ve felt the need to get less massages. Foam rolling provides an immense amount of relief and relaxation to stiff areas — so much that I get dizzy! For me, it’s my clavicles, thighs and upper arms. Sometimes I get lazy and skip it, but it’s recommended to foam roll right after your workouts.
Bala ankle weights
These have sold out many times. We all remember traditional ankle weights from the 90s, which are heavier and bulkier. Bala’s ankle weights add a great amount of resistance without feeling like your feet are about to fall off, and they’re also super easy to travel with. You can get them in 1lb or 2lbs. At first, I was hesitant to spend so much money on ankle weights, but it’s been two years since I got them, and I couldn’t be happier with my purchase!
Dumbbells
A pair of dumbbells was the first thing I bought before the stay-at-home order took place! Depending on how much weight you want to add to your workouts, it never hurts to have a pair of dumbbells at your disposal.
Pilates ball
I’ve done some of the toughest workouts ever by using the ball! Do not underestimate its power. Not only does the ball make the workouts extra challenging, but it also does wonders on strengthening your core.
Resistance bands
I strongly suggest getting two! A looser one for your thighs, and a tighter one for your ankles and hands.
