Governor Cooper has extended Phase 2 of his reopening plan for another 5 weeks. Although our numbers are beginning to show signs of stabilization thanks to current precautions, the Governor will continue to monitor cases to see a decline before moving forward with additional re-openings.
This is not happy news, we know. With the number of individuals experiencing anxiety and depression up significantly since the start of the pandemic, we still need to take care of ourselves, body and mind. You wouldn’t leave the house now without your mask and hand sanitizer and always practice excellent hygiene to stop the spread – and I’m proud of you – but why leave your “mental health hygiene” to chance during this time? Now more than ever, we should be practicing self-care and that includes our physical activity.
Personally, my life has become drastically more sedentary after my daily walks to work, lunch, etc. were mostly stopped due to COVID. I recently started to track my steps and try to hit a daily goal, so now I have a morning “walk to work”, a “walk to lunch”, and a “walk home” even though all of my work and most of my meals occur inside the 4 walls of my Uptown apartment. It’s not perfect and there are days where I slip, but I can feel a change for the better. Small changes like this can make a big difference. Never done a barre class due to performance anxiety but are curious about all the buzz? Do it now from the comfort of your living room!
It’s a great time to start a new routine, get back into your old one, or just try one of the innovative workouts devised by the local studios and gyms in compliance. A million gold stars for those creative and caring gym owners following CDC guidelines and the Governor’s orders.
Here are my picks for staying fit and sane within the parameters of the extended Phase 2:
Orange Theory Fitness
Some Charlotte area OTF studios are offering outdoor classes to current members as well as virtual workouts. Check out their outdoor classes at:
- Railyard South End (call or text 704.885.1300)
- Quail Corners (call or text 704.247.6137)
- The Arboretum (call or text 704.612.2102)
Flywheel Charlotte
During their temporary closure, Flywheel Charlotte and Flywheel Sports are offering a roundup of virtual classes offered by Fly instructors across the country. Check it out here!
Burn Bootcamp
Burn is offering outdoor classes as well as daily 9am live workouts for members to follow along at home. Find the location most convenient for you here and contact them for membership options.
Reebok CrossFit Charlotte
A full schedule of outdoor classes are available at this uptown CrossFit box. Check out their offerings here.
The Coach Cor
Corianne Zerbey is The Coach Cor and bringing you a live and on-demand HIIT workout that is accessible enough for someone just starting their fitness journey but also challenging enough to make her experienced CoCo members seriously sweat. Your first class is always free!
Barry’s Bootcamp
New to CLT but an consistent force in fitness worldwide for years, the celebrity followers and sparkly studios live up to the hype. Bring the Red Room to your home with streaming Barry’s At Home classes.
Camp Gladiator
Camp Gladiator has taken extraordinary measures to ensure campers and the community can stay fit at home. They have weekly PDF workouts you can download and live workouts happening every day. Everyone can tune in and join these workouts on the national Camp Gladiator Facebook! Check out the workout and info from the Hustle from Home series on their blog: Hustle from Home Blog. The Charlotte chapter will also host a 7am virtual camp on Saturdays. Get your first workout FREE here.
Vibe5 Yoga and Fitness
Vibe5 has 50+ classes available for members to keep sweating in lockdown on their new on-demand platform.
Hilliard Studio Method
There are three ways to workout with Hilliard Studio Method until they’re able to open their doors:
- In-Person Outdoor Classes
- Zoom Live at Home
- HSM Streaming ($19/month for thousands of minutes of signature Hilliard Studio Method workouts!)
Jamie Scott Fitness
Jamie Scott Fitness in SouthEnd is offering their signature classes outdoors. Check their schedule for class times/types.
Yogasculpt with Debbie
Trainer and instructor Debbie Cohen is teaching Yogsculpt classes on Zoom weekly Monday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings. Can’t make the classes? Ask Debbie for an on-demand video or jump on her personal and small group training offerings. Get more info from her at Deborahstacey121@gmail.com.
Pure Barre
Getting creative with parking deck railings and other makeshift barres, PB is going the extra mile to make you say “tuck yeah!” Find your location here to register for one of their signature barre workouts- now outdoors! They also offer on-demand classes for those that prefer at-home workouts here.
Carolina Barre & Core
More virtual classes! I personally have loved the flexibility that these online, on-your-own-time workouts give. Find more info about CBC’s offerings here.
The Barre Code
Streaming classes available until their beautiful NoDa studio reopens here!
Ebb & Flow Movement Studio
Online Pilates classes from this popular NoDA studio are avilable here.
West Kept Secret
West Kept Secret is doing their part to not only survive, but thrive amidst COVID-19. Signature WKS workouts fusing HIIT, Pilates, cardio, and strength are available on Zoom as well as their new streaming platform. Look out for their brand new studio poised to open just in time for NC’s Phase 3!
- WKS: STREAMING (First session is FREE)
- WKS: *LIVE* ZOOM CLASSES ($12 drop-in rate)
SmartCore Fitness
SmartCore Fitness is offering 3 options for Core strength training:
- Outdoor workouts with all of your own equipment inside your own personal quadrant lead by expert trainers
- Virtual training sessions via Zoom with SmartCore owner Denise Duffy
- SmartCore videos on-demand with unique core exercise circuits
Sydney Cummings, Personal Traininer
Sydney is a sweet soul with a superhero mentality (and muscles to match). Check out her free daily workouts!
SweatNet
Our own homegrown online fitness community has ballooned to a national force in recent months. Not only have they expanded to other US cities, but they gracefully pivoted to a focus on virtual offerings in the face of Coronavirus. Find their online workouts here! When we’re all able to be together again, their in-person events are always top-notch.
Ride or Die
Join them for a spin on Lost and Found’s patio in South End.
Row House – Cotswold Village
If biking isn’t your thing or you’re just looking to switch up your cardio, you can still get your heart pumping with a class from Row House. Find more info on their outdoor rower classes here.
Sweat Method
Outdoor FIIT classes are being held outside of their South End studio with COVID precautions.
Bloc.
Live and on-demand virtual classes with outdoor classes at both the Camp Northend and LKN locations. We couldn’t ask for more!
Be Yoga
Be Yoga is offering a variety of creative, COVID-19 compliant options for yogis itching for a good flow:
- Yoga on the Lake: Saturdays @10:30am, Lake Norman
- Online classes
Charlotte Yoga
Charlotte Yoga has a variety of platforms for yoga instruction during the pandemic. They are offering LIVE outdoor classes on their studio patio and all classes are live-streamed so you can follow along from home if you’re more indoorsy. They also have CYVault, a pay-per-view platform you can access anytime, anywhere. Information and pricing are available on the website or reach out to info@charlotteyoga.com.
Khali Yoga
A new studio on the CLT yoga scene, offering outdoor classes on their gorgeous patio. When things go back to normal, they have huge garage doors from the studio to the patio to bring the outside in too!
Yoga @ Freedom Park
Join fellow yogis for an outdoor group yoga practice at Freedom Park. Classes are every Sunday @9am with donations accepted.
Arrichion
Arrichion is offering their yoga and HIIT classes on Zoom plus now expanding to outdoor classes for members.
Fit Atelier
Fit Atelier is back in action with outdoor classes at their Design Center studio in South End. You can also always stream from their jam-packed virtual library here.
Corepower Yoga
Corepower Yoga has a 7-day free trial offer for virtual yoga and stretch.
Harmony Yoga
Get some zen after your Zooms with Harmony Yoga’s online classes. Learn more here.
Work for Your Beer
Check out Work for Your Beer’s on-demand options on their YouTube channel including yoga and bootcamp-style workouts where you can use growlers, cases, etc. for weights. Subscribe for weekly video updates!
Whitewater Center
The USNWC has yoga every. dang. day. Masks and distancing signs are posted throughout the facility to remind guests to stay safe.
YMCA / Y360 app
The YMCA is offering on-demand videos on their app with some locations are also open for outdoor classes/independent workouts. Check here for open locations and what to expect.
Hiking
One source of solace I’ve found from inside of my apartment during lockdown is the west-facing view of the mountains I get to enjoy. The mountains are basically calling me 24/7 and I try to go as much as possible. With some serious trails as little as 2 hours outside of the city, it’s easy to get a great hike in on a daytrip to our westerly neighbors. Check out some of my top picks here and here (bonus: the second list is waterfall-focused).
As always and especially now, if there are any opportunities to support local studios that I’ve missed please drop a comment below!
