Whether you’re looking to keep up your regular at-home exercise routine or switch it up with something new, Winnipeg’s independently owned boutique studios – currently closed due to the global pandemic -- are offering a range of ways to keep active via virtual classes. Check out free demo livestreams, sign up for a membership to unlock a library of on-demand classes, or try an online class by donation to elevate your at-home workout, while helping to ensure these local businesses weather the COVID-19 lockdown.
Yoga groove
Find your flow, savour soothing stretches and try power-boosting practices to connect the mind, body and soul.
Established Osborne Village yoga studio, Peg City Yoga is offering drop-in online classes, such as rise & shine, hip & leg openers, vinyasa flow, integrative restorative and more. Classes are $5 and more information how to join can be found here, along with a daily/weekly lineup of classes.
With three locations in Winnipeg, Modo Yoga is offering an on-demand platform with new content uploaded everyday through Modo Online. Modo Online offers daily “playlists” to mix up your at-home practice and includes workouts from your favourite local instructors, plus the chance to explore content from Modo teachers around the globe. Create a profile, choose your subscription package and enter the code WPG for a free month trial. If you have the means and want to support the studio financially, there is a subscription for a $5 per week that will go directly to your selected home studio to help them through this uncertain time. On top of that, @modoyoga.wpg is offering free IG Live workouts, such as barre, meditation, modo flow, yin + music and more, so check out its account for the latest updates.
Meanwhile, over in Charleswood, The Yoga Barre is offering live streamed classes on Instagram @tyb.live at 10 am and then a yoga class in the afternoon or evening (available live and for 24 hrs afterward on Instagram for free). To show appreciation for the studio’s work, The Yoga Barre is offering KARMA Memberships for $10 or $20 per week. Set to be active for the duration of the epidemic, KARMA members get access to an ever-growing online library of classes for on-demand workouts, including family yoga, barre, core power and spin. Plus, in collaboration with @tiberrivercoteries, The Yoga Barre runs a gentle yoga practice (30-45 minutes) at 8 pm on their live Instagram, full of gentle stretches for all levels to wind down your day. More details can be found here.
Canada’s largest yoga fitness centre Yoga Public (located downtown) has moved to daily online classes, including workouts of the day, ashtanga yoga, bootcamp, meditation and more. Sign up for daily class links, times & descriptions here. Online classes are free and donations are accepted with all proceeds going directly to instructors.
Cycle away If you’ve got an indoor bike at home, you’re in luck as there are some local offerings to jazz up your ride. Located on Kenaston Boulevard, Ignite Cycle & Strength recently launched its on-demand platform with new classes each week, featuring its metric & rhythm rides (45 mins each), full body strength circuit (30 mins), full body stretch/yoga (30 mins) and a nutrition Q&A. Drop-in classes $5 each or sign up or an unlimited monthly membership for $50 a month.
Only minutes away, Canadian indoor cycle studio Wheelhouse Cycle Club is offering its spin classes via a Wheelhouse Live subscription for $40 a month or $440 per year. It gives members access to 50+ workouts, plus 14 new ones added weekly and daily livestreams.
Choose your own adventure
Some local fitness clubs are taking a multifunctional approach, offering comprehensive packages, wellness programs, dance jams and multi-disciplinary classes.
Winnipeg company GFIT is offering a free isolation wellness program to support people through the pandemic.
“As a wellness company, we felt a responsibility to help people right now, not just physically but mentally and emotionally too. Gyms are closed, people’s routines are out of whack, we miss our family and friends and this causes a lot of fear and anxiety, and it just feels really good to help out by alleviating some of that,” said Grant Reid, CEO and Founder of GFIT Wellness on a recent Global Winnipeg TV interview.
The online program includes weekly exercise, yoga and meditation classes, plus webinars led by top mental health and wellness experts on topics like stress management, building emotional resilience, financial wellness and ideas for self-care. For more information, register here.
West End business Drop-in Dance Winnipeg -- where dance classes for all levels include ballet technique, sexy street jazz, jazz funk, hip hop, Broadway and more – has pivoted to offer virtual classes by donation (minimum donation $5.50), plus five- and ten-class passes ($27.50-$55), or an “all-in” on-demand subscription for $31.50 per month. The monthly subscription includes full classes, classes with special guest instructors, recordings from virtual classes and exclusive tutorial videos for different dance moves. Funds from donations are going to instructors, to keep the studio afloat and provide some relief for The Children’s Hospital Foundation. Proceeds from any tips go directly to instructors. More info here.
The Exchange District’s Community Gym is now offering Community Online for $46 per month. This membership includes one video every day (classes work out to $1.50 each broken down) and it includes all The Community’s signature classes: Crush (boxing), Camp (boot camp), Cycle (indoor spin) and Calm (yoga). New videos are launched each week and can be accessed at any time. Want to give the workouts a whirl first? Free classes are offered on IG live @thecommunity gym. Donations are also accepted online, plus The Community is selling stylish merchandise and offering private virtual group workouts for $150 as additional revenue streams.
There’s a virtual challenge going down at McGillivray Boulevard’s Thrive Active, where personal training programs are the norm. Use the code “strongertogether25” to get 25 per cent off. This eight-week challenge includes live Thrive Active workouts via Zoom, meal planning tailored to your goals, a community facebook group to stay connected, virtual workshops for mental health, weekly check-ins and mini-challenges for additional motivation. There are three packages to choose from to suit your budget and goal – check it out here.
Located in River Heights, The Fitual is the first studio to offer the Lagree Method (a full-body workout using strength, cardio, endurance, core, balance and flexibility) in Winnipeg and is owned by former Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet soloist Chalnessa Eames, who teaches many of the classes. For the past seven weeks during COVID-19, Eames has been providing free online classes via Instagram Stories that are available for 24 hours. On top of this, The Fitual has just announced The Fitual: Anywhere, an online subscription platform for clients launching later this week. Keep up with the latest announcements by following @thefitual.