For some, the mere thought of working out in a crowded Cairo gym or getting stuck in the front row of an aerobics class is enough to induce an anxious sweat. Luckily, a number of fitness-related podcasts make working out in the privacy of our own homes easier than ever before.
Cairo 360 has compiled a list of our favorite fitness podcasts; so you can work out in your home on your own time for absolutely free. Visit the iTunes store online to download one episode or subscribe to a whole series of the audio or video podcasts.
Motion Traxx: Fuel for Fitness
Perfect for avid runners and cyclists as well as a great accompaniment to an aerobic program, Motion Traxx is a collection of upbeat songs and motivational beats to keep you on pace for your workout. There is a wide range of sessions that vary in length from just under half an hour to an hour-long. Each session’s soundtrack is a little different: some feature only high-energy beats while others provide gentle encouragement and visualizations.
You can choose your desired beats-per-minute to set the pace of your run or spinning session, with segments such as ‘128 BPM Disco Stroll’ or ‘175 BPM High Voltage’, or you can opt for interval workouts, where a bell signals the change of the pace such as a 150-170 BPM session known as ‘The Climb.’ Deekron the Fitness DJ spins everything from pop and dance to Latin and tribal beats to keep you motivated through your individualized, high-intensity workouts. Try a different one every time to keep your workout exciting and new.
Get-Fit Guy’s Quick and Dirty Tips to Slim Down and Shape Up
Get-Fit Guy’s Quick and Dirty Tips to Slim Down and Shape Up offers some great tips to those curious about starting a new fitness routine. The short podcasts are barely eight-minutes long, so Get-Fit Guy doesn’t coach you through any workouts, but he does give you some great advice before you head out on your own. A number of nutritional and fitness topics are covered in these brief episodes, including a guide to water exercise or improving abdominal definition. Each guide gives a few tips for people struggling with injuries or obesity to help you get back on track.
Yoga Classes – Baptiste Power Vinyasa narrated by Philip Urso
One of our favorite yoga podcasts follows the yoga method of Baron Baptiste, one of the most renowned and popular yoga instructors in the USA. With 12 years’ experience in teaching yoga, Baptiste has developed a unique brand of power yoga that burns fat while building physical and mental strength. Philip Urso is a certified instructor of the Baptiste-style of yoga, and narrates 90-minute-long practice sessions. What we love most about this podcast is that the recordings are of actual classes, so it is as close to a Baptiste yoga class as you can get without actually stepping into a yoga studio.
Although Baptiste yoga is safe and beneficial for all levels of yogic ability, this podcast implies knowledge of the poses, so if you’re not familiar with yoga, you’ll want to do some research or take a few real classes first. Also, Baptiste power yoga is practiced in the heat; so make sure to start with some extra layers of clothing and you’ll work up a good sweat to burn fat.
20 Minute Yoga Sessions from Yogadownload.com
If you love yoga but are short on time or new to the game, then 20 Minute Yoga Sessions is the podcast for you. Soothing music opens these short exercises, which are easy to follow thanks to downloadable guides depicting the poses for each session. Some of the sessions even come with a video option; so you can follow along if you get a little lost.
To date, there are over 100 sessions of this podcast and a range of yoga styles from gentle hatha flow to power vinyasa. Lunar flow sessions are great for evening exercise, helping you gently distress after a long day. Classes help target specific needs for your workout, such as prenatal yoga, yoga for runners, hip-openers and chakra balance.
Turbulence Training
This weight-training podcast is all about building muscle while burning fat. Narrated by Craig Ballantyne, this weekly podcast offers tips for all fitness levels while targeting different areas of the body. Much like the Fit-Guy podcasts, an outline is given for how you should tackle your next session with your weight equipment. However, Turbulence Training is more focused in style, featuring tips on mostly non-cardio exercise and nutritional research discussions. Each episode ranges from about fifteen minutes to a half hour with topics such as ‘Abs Workout and Cheerios Diet Research Review.’ For anyone trying to lose some weight and get buff, listening to the ‘Meathead Fat Loss Workout’ is a good inspirational starting point.
This article was contributed to Daily News Egypt by Cairo 360 http://www.cairo360.com/
