Beginning from zero can be scary. The internet may provide infinite resources about fitness, yet there's so much contradicting information out there that you may feel defeated even before beginning your journey. Promises of instant results, outrageous weight loss claims and gorgeous influencers to lure your eyes are some of the first things you may be feed by the algorithm. Just like in many aspects of life, anything too good to be true is probably false, fitness results are not achievable overnight.
No matter your target goal (weight loss, improving endurance, building muscle), consistency and discipline is vital to every goal. For workout newbies, I recommend starting small. Adding fifteen minutes of workouts you enjoy five days a week is far more doable than doing a high impact bootcamp once a week with poor form, not only is safer for your body but also cultivates a healthy habit that you can build on to. A good first step is setting a consistency goal like moving your body at least twenty minutes a day, then you can start exploring workouts that might suit your likes.
The only workout classes I took before my journey were dance classes, so I chose with aerobic exercises to the best. Choosing something you might be familiar with can help, but if you're a complete novice I suggest walking. Don't worry if you're unable to go outside by any reason, YouTube walking workouts are accessible to all levels and are easy to follow. Some of my walking workouts favorites are made by Olivia Lawson, Kyra Pro and Grow with Jo. These workouts are not only low impact but also a safe, easy way for beginners to increase their daily step count and heart rate moderately. There are many options available on YouTube, video length can usually range from twenty minutes to about an hour. Some videos list an approximate step count in their titles but these are usually inaccurate, I recommend using your own fitness tracker to track for any specific step goal. Setting a daily step goal including walking workouts is an easy way to maintain your beginner fitness accountability, plus helps to build aerobic endurance.
Kyra Pro's approximate achieved step count is mostly accurate if you match her movements
If walking workouts are too slow and you need a little rhythm to motivate you, easy dance workouts with low impact moves are also a fun way to begin your fitness journey. Most beginner dancing workouts on YouTube are more similar to an aerobics class than to a traditional dance class, with simplified choreography to make following the instructor easier. For those like me with no sense of rhythm and poor coordination, YouTubers like Emkfit, Madfit and Up to the Beat Fit make their workouts easier to follow to non dancers. If you're up to a dance challenge and want to try something new and more dance-y, the Zumba Official channel, BellyFIT by Leilah (bellydance), Afrifitness (afrobeats inspired) and PSFit (wide variety of dance styles) are great options with beginner friendly options. Besides helping you get active, dancing workouts are also a great way to release stress and just laugh about getting the steps wrong. While practice is key, as long as you try to move your body you'll start to get used to follow choreography sooner than you think.
Dance workouts with simplified choreography are a great way to begin your fitness journey
If you're more of a novice than an absolute beginner, you may want to challenge yourself by trying traditional bodyweight strength workouts and cardio. While you can start using very light dumbbells for these exercises, I recommend trying everything without using them in order to practice your form. Learning how to perform an exercise properly with good range of motion prevents injuries, so prioritize performing each move correctly rather than endless repetitions with poor form. Fitness Blender, Joanna Soh and Nourish Move Love all have guided workouts with vocal cues to guide you through every rep, offering tons of quality routines with and without equipment. If you feel confused about how to do a specific exercise, just search the exercise's name on YouTube and you'll find videos breaking it down and even further modifications to make it easier/harder. It's important to listen to your body, if you're not too comfortable with a certain move, try to perform it slower or modify to a simpler variation.
This workout with cues features many popular bodyweight moves like lunges, curtsy lunges and planks
While yoga, barre and pilates are also popular beginner workouts, you have to be careful when choosing these workouts due to the complexity of mat work and the risk of spinal injury. There are lots of clickbait workouts made by unqualified individuals with terrible form targeting beginners, specially promoting their workout as pilates in the title. Make sure to check out the instructor's credentials in their channel's description or in their personal website, vocal cues are also important for beginners so try to choose workouts that include them. Some certified instructors with beginner routines are Yoga with Adrienne, Flow with Mira (pilates), Pilates Body Raven (pilates and barre) and TaylorToned (barre). When performed correctly, these workouts not only will help improve your endurance, but also will increase your flexibility and balance. And if you want to avoid floor work, there are also all-standing options available that provide just as good of a workout.
Standing pilates can be just as challenging as regular mat pilates
Keep in mind that consistency is the best way to achieving you fitness goals, so make sure to choose workouts that keep you challenged and motivated; don't be afraid to try new ways of exercise as long as you show up consistently. And if you feel up to the challenge, you can level up by using weights, advancing to proper strength training little by little.
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