As many people all around the globe continue to work from home, while others are going back into second (or third) lockdown due to the spread of Covid-19, the physical and mental-health benefits of exercise are needed now more than ever. Thankfully, the rise of Instagram fitness accounts and the popularity of at-home virtual workouts means keeping active—responsibly, while staying indoors—is feasible, often with minimal or no equipment necessary.
Much needed mood-lifting A-list singalongs are appearing across social media (Pink, Chris Martin and Christine and the Queens have all recently performed online mini-concerts), while Lizzo held a global meditative session to help ease coronavirus anxiety, saying on Instagram: “If you with me, join me with a high vibration and any sanitiser you got.” And an abundance of virtual workouts from the likes of yoga guru Jessamyn Stanley and professional dancer Danielle Peazer can help during this extended period of social distancing, too.
Here, Vogue lists the seven Instagram accounts to follow while staying fit and active indoors.
For pilate enthusiasts: Lottie Murphy
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The former dancer decided to train as a pilates instructor in 2012 and has since accumulated a cult following after her foray into the fitness world. Pilate devotees will find inspiration in Murphy’s videos as she uploads quick, easily digestible clips—such as this ab-crunching workout—to both Instagram and her YouTube channel, which boasts 107K subscribers.
For a full-body workout: Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill
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Emulating a former Olympic athlete’s workout may seem like a daunting task, but Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill provides one that offers a low-impact approach while making sure you feel fully invigorated. Case in point: her swiss ball-blast workout. For those who don’t have a giant inflatable ball to hand, her Jennis Fitness website and app offer tips on how to be creative with the ‘equipment’ you can find in your home.
For avid runners and a sprinkling of motivation: Adrienne Herbert
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During a period of uncertainty, following an account that can put your mind at ease with words of wisdom while keeping you active is invaluable. A TEDx speaker, FiiT master trainer and an experienced runner, Herbert provides bursts of motivational encouragement while also tackling a variety of cardio sessions on both her Instagram and the FiiT app.
For dancers: Danielle Peazer
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Danielle Peazer’s extensive portfolio is filled with notable dancing credits (Katy Perry and Justin Timberlake, to name a few) and her Instagram account is dedicated to sharing knowledge and expertise. Follow Peazer’s hashtag #trainlikeadancer to open up a wealth of at-home fitness gems, including an arm-toning workout and glute-burning steps.
For those with or expecting children: Rosie Stockley
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After giving birth to her daughter Charlotte, Rosie Stockley—a trained dancer and professional fitness instructor specialising in post and prenatal exercise—started her journey to empowering women through fitness in 2017. As well as teaching ballet, the founder and CEO of Mamawell offers daily exercises for parents currently working from home. The best part? They’re child-friendly and fuss-free, involving no equipment. From 2pm GMT every day, gear up for cardio and stretching.
For yoga fans: Jessamyn Stanley
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Teacher, author and yoga guru Jessamyn Stanley has amassed a loyal Instagram following, due to her body-positive ‘Yoga For All Bodies’ ethos and her relationship podcast, Dear Jessamyn. Since 2012, Stanley has offered her followers home-friendly yoga positions and powerful motivational mantras. Expect sessions that focus on how you feel, rather than how you look—a positive takeaway for those invested in the yoga community.
For beginners and those with injuries: Amanda Bisk
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Australian native and former pole-vaulter Amanda Bisk uploads content navigating straightforward exercises targeting newcomers and those with injuries—and one quick scroll through her feed shows a range of free activities to tackle. Meanwhile, Bisk’s YouTube channel offers up a further dosage of endorphin-releasing videos to leave you spoilt for choice.
