How a Fiber Connection Enhances Your Online Fitness Experience

By Ree Winter

The limits of the pandemic inspired many of us to find new ways to stay fit without going to the gym. The gyms and studios came to us. Today, the trend of online fitness is booming. Whether you’re streaming a live class, working one-on-one with a trainer or playing back yoga postures in slo-mo, you’ll benefit from a high-speed fiber connection. So let’s see what to do to keep that heart rate up!

Essential tech for at-home fitness classes

Having the right tech gear can amp up your routine and help make the most of your home workouts. First, your Wi-Fi network needs to be up to speed. If your Wi-Fi is spotty in the spare room or basement where you’re working out, you can get it in shape with an easy-to-install mesh system. Make sure the devices you’re streaming to—your TV, laptop or smartphone—are in shape, too. Older devices can slow you down.

A good camera and microphone make all the difference for live classes and personal training sessions, because they let you communicate clearly with your instructor. Plus, don’t forget about wearable fitness trackers—they’re great for keeping on top of your progress and staying motivated.

Streaming workouts: what you need to know

Get pumped: workouts abound. Jump into online fitness classes you’re already good at or find a workout you’ve always been curious about. Whether you’re looking for yoga, Pilates, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), strength training, pre-natal classes, spinning or all kinds of dance workouts, you have two ways to go. First, you have live classes. You subscribe for a monthly fee and follow class schedules. A popular option is Group Fitness Live offering a wide range of scheduled classes, including strength training, cardio and yoga. Or try Pvolve, a high-end method loved by celebrities.

Your second option—with the widest range of fitness types—is pre-recorded on-demand fitness videos, which are often free. These are perfect for workouts that are accessible anytime, day or night. You can find online workout videos via your app store and download them directly to your smart TV, tablet or phone. You also have options on popular streaming services.

Many popular streaming platforms offer a range of on-demand workout classes. Search fitness content on platforms like Amazon Prime, Roku and Apple TV, which offers Apple Fitness+.

How to cast fitness classes to your TV from your phone

Casting fitness classes to your TV from your phone is a great option if your TV doesn’t have the necessary apps. All you’ll need is a streaming device like a Chromecast, Roku or Apple TV.

Just fire up your chosen fitness app on your phone, pick the workout you want and then tap the cast icon—it looks like a small TV with waves in the corner. From there, select your streaming device from the list that pops up on your phone screen. Before you know it, your workout will be playing on your TV.

Popular fitness apps to stream on your TV

There are so many apps out there that it might take some time to shop around to find one that perfectly suits what you’re looking for. Examples include 8fit, which is great for guided workouts and nutrition plans. Aaptiv is fantastic for screenless workouts with audio-based classes, allowing you to stay focused without being glued to a screen. Blogilates is your go-to for free calisthenics and Pilates workouts. And for those who love a challenge, Centr provides some seriously tough routines. Daily Burn offers literally thousands of classes at every level. The YouTube app is loaded with hugely popular fitness classes of all types, and it’s easy to search for the classes and instructors that fit your needs best.

Innovations in personal training and coaching technology

The latest advancements in personal training and coaching tech are all about personalization. Have you heard of smart mirrors? They’re like your personal gym buddy, displaying live workout classes and giving real-time feedback on your form, right in your own home.

Then there are connected bikes and rowing machines, like those from Peloton. With screens that stream live or on-demand classes, you can hop into group rides or rows any time you like.

Game your workout

Virtual reality (VR) workouts are gaining popularity by offering immersive experiences that make exercising feel like a game. We’ve come a long way since the introduction of the Wii Fit in 2007! Gamifying workouts is an excellent way to stay fit. For example, the Nintendo Switch has “Ring Fit Adventure,” which provides a workout while you move through a video game.

The future of connected fitness

We’re currently seeing new tools like artificial intelligence (AI) used to create customized workout plans and give feedback on your performance. Check out Zing Coach or Sworkit to get a sense of what’s possible and what’s coming next.

Frontier Fiber is built for the way you live today—and tomorrow

If you’re still on the lookout for the right ultrafast internet connection for streaming, gaming, working from home and running your smart home—all with enough bandwidth for everyone—find out about Frontier Fiber. Frontier Fiber is available in select areas—check here to see when it’s available at your address.