East Bay Hacks to Beat the Stress + Keep Your Body Moving
We are all cooped up. Getting outside is tricky and scary (and may not be illegal but feels like it), and the fact remains we’re on our third bag of chips and salsa. Luckily, we have a lot of local options for staying fit virtually.
Whether it's yoga, weightlifting, dance classes, or even kids yoga -- for all of you having trouble finding time with kids out of school -- there’s no shortage of fitness professionals taking their classes to the digital realm.
We reached out to our agents and got the skinny on how they’re keeping fit in this stressful, snack-filled time. Below are some of their suggestions!
Fitness Bootcamp
Inner Athlete Gym in San Leandro offers virtual classes with instructors such as Alondra Chatman. She offers three classes per day through her fitness bootcamp -- 5:30 a.m., 12 p.m., and 6 p.m. -- great for early birds, a midday move sesh or an evening de-stress.
Yoga Online
With so many yoga studios now offering virtual classes ranging from subscription options to free via Instagram Live, the hardest part will be choosing a favorite.
Gillian Leslie with Patrick Leaper
The Green Yogi in Berkeley has unlimited video classes for $15 per month. Right now, the studio is offering a pay-what-you-can “Everything is Okay” 75-minute Yin Yoga digital event with Kari Jacobsen on May 1.
Red Oak Realty agent Gillian Leslie swears by Shannon Knorr who owns Embody Pilates & Yoga Studio on Piedmont Avenue in Oakland.
“Shannon has 20-plus years of experience using both Pilates and yoga focused on rehab and general movement health,” says Gillian, “which is really good for people who work at a desk or face SIP’s lack of movement.”
Shannon also teaches various online classes and recently added a YouTube channel.
Local Gyms
Flex Gym in Oakland offers virtual classes ranging from weights to yoga and dance via Zoom with both private sessions and group classes.
Phasfit in Albany offers daily live high-intensity interval training classes and even drop off equipment like kettlebells, sandbags, and other resistance devices.
Woman-owned independent gym Truve in Oakland is also streaming classes on their private Facebook page.
CruFit, located across from Red Oak’s Montclair office, offers virtual classes in weight training, strength training, movement and more, with your first class free. Inquire about their equipment rental as well.
Do it Yourself
Chimene Pollard (I) with Shawna Jones
Red Oak Realty agent Chimene Pollard used to dance professionally and taught for 16 years in San Francisco. She is offering a free weekly movement class on Saturday mornings at 10:30 a.m. via Zoom.
The session starts with a sound healer meditation, a warm-up, and then a dance party to get your heart pumping. Duration is less than an hour!
Roxanna Ahlbach
In addition to these local suggestions, there are countless others you can find on Instagram or YouTube, like the bright and colorful Cosmic Kids Yoga that Red Oak Realty agent Roxanna Ahlbach does with her son.
The most important thing during this COVID-19 time rests in making sure you keep a daily routine. It doesn’t have to be intense -- brew a pot of coffee and get online for a 10-minute workout. You won’t regret it.
Header Image: CruFit
