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yoga in another country
Fitness
Published Friday Mar 27, 2020 by Brittany Raine

How to "Travel" the World When You Are Stuck at Home

Virtual Classes
Renewal
Fitness

Have your travel plans been kyboshed? Is your wellness routine under quarantine? I am pretty sure we just nodded our heads in unison. We’re all feeling a little (or a lot) stir crazy as we practice social distancing. If you’re someone who was working on your fitness prior to the pandemic, studios shutting their doors for safety might just be another red X on 2020. #positivevibes from here on out only, please. 

[Read our Guide to Staying Grounded During Life’s Most Stressful Moments] 

Plain and simple—we are in uncharted territory. But in times of uncertainty, we need to be grateful for the little things and adapt to our new norm. Whether you’re worried about your suitcases collecting dust, want to stay connected to your community, or just need to sweat out the stress, Mindbody now offers virtual classes from your favorite (and soon-to-be-favorite) studios to save you from self-isolation. Here’s how you can rack up those air miles while getting your workout on, no passport required.  

[How to Join the Best Virtual Classes in Your Area (and Beyond)] 


Take a class in LA today, London, tomorrow, and Bali the next day.  

If you have WIFI, you now have a world of workouts at your fingertips from the comfort of your home. From barre to HIIT to cardio blasts, choose from thousands of virtual fitness classes anywhere (literally). Maybe you’ve always wanted to check out the hottest HIIT classes in LA or namaslay your namaste in Sydney—now’s your chance to try something new while staying local (and loyal to your well-being).  

All you have to do is change your location on Mindbody.io or the Mindbody app to explore classes in different metros! There’s no jetlag, either, which is a plus, especially now that we have bags under our eyes from pandemic stress. So the only question we have left is, where do you want to go?  

 
Make it a vacation. 

Don’t like “traveling” alone?  When searching for an on-demand virtual class on Mindbody, invite your friends and family to join (because we all know most of us need a break from WFH with our S/Os). Girls trip anyone?  Choose a location that you have all been wanting to travel to, or an instructor or studio that you’ve been eyeing on Instagram—@mindbody has a few good ones. Many of the virtual classes only require a yoga mat (we will get to that later), so your friends don’t have an excuse not to join in! With easy-to-use filters, you can find a time that works for everyone’s schedule and fitness routine. Those who sweat together, stay together. Now, drumroll, please, make it a thing (we promise, it’s an extrovert social distancing dream).  

[Speaking of, Here’s How Extroverts Can Stay Connected During Social Distancing] 

Get into the wanderlust spirit with your group by not only dressing in workout gear that is inspired by the city you’re “visiting” (florescent floral for Miami, all black everything for NYC), but plan your virtual happy hour or dinner, around that city (or country). Make a cocktail (or mocktail) that emulates the region you just worked out in—or your Zodiac sign if all else fails —and cheers over Zoom with your crew. Try planning ahead and find recipes for your virtual meal with friends that is well-known to the place you just booked. Thank goodness for grocery delivery. Not only will you have something to look forward to, you’ll feel even more connected to your friends (and fitness) during isolation.  


Prefer to fly solo?  

Whether you have two left feet and want to stream Hip-Hop Cardio on-demand or you need to disconnect from video conferencing with Vinyasa, the best part about virtual Mindbody classes is that you can do them on your terms.  

Virtual workouts and classes are your chance to try something different or take your workout to the next level because, guess what, no one is watching (or judging) you—well, except for the dog.  

[See Why Right Now is the Perfect Time to Try Pilates, For Instance] 

Challenge yourself to a new workout or a class with a kick-ass fitness instructor that your friends told you made their abs sore for days. Wear your craziest yoga pants with your hair in a crazy bun. Be comfortable and confident and hold yourself accountable. And if you’re scrolling through social, post an after-class selfie and motivate your followers to do the same. Tell us where you traveled to and tag #mindbody. You might learn to love fitness (and yourself) a little more when you do it alone.  


Don’t “overpack”—your workout gear that is.  

Studios from all over the world are going virtual to keep their workout community’s positive, and are welcoming new students, near and far. If you’re worried about what to “pack” (as you travel from bedroom to the living room for class), most studios have modified their classes to work for the equipment you may or may not have at home. Perfect example: Pilates. Use to the reformer? Never wore grippy socks a day in your life?  

Studios are taking their traditional in-studio experiences to the (yoga) mat—and believe us, Mat Pilates is a killer core workout. Don’t have a ballet barre at home? We bet 99% of the population doesn’t. Barre3 is streaming virtual workouts (minus any fancy equipment). You’ll feel the muscle burn without the barre. If your “travel” calls for weights and you don’t have any at home, get creative! Use that heavy book that you were going to read on the flight to Australia. Pack your hiking backpack with some gear for added weight. Raid the pantry for a few pounds. You might just find what you need isn’t so far away.  

From your go-to studio around the block to taking your workout routine to faraway lands, virtual classes on Mindbody enable you to get your workout on, anywhere. While it won’t take the place of the vacation you’ve been planning for months, on-demand workouts can take your mind off the madness and transport you to somewhere you want to be, even if it’s Pilates on the back porch. Just remember to take a deep breath, stay grounded and have gratitude—we are getting through this together. Have a virtual class we need to know about? Share it on Instagram and tag @mindbody! We'll share the love. 

Brittany Raine MINDBODY
Written by
Brittany Raine
Consumer Content Program Manager
About the author
A free-spirited farmgirl from New York, Brittany traded her job as a journalist and newspaper editor for the San Diego sunshine. Brittany now leads the curation of all creative content. There are rumors she was Middle Earth's warrior elven queen in a past life.
surfer catching wave in ocean olympics
Fitness
Published Friday Jul 23, 2021 by Bailey Clark

Why I’m Stoked Surfing Will Debut in the Olympics

Fitness

For the first time ever, the globe will be watching surfing take center stage at the 2020 (postponed to July 2021) Olympics. People from all over the world will be appreciating the sport, many for the first time.

This symbolizes the surfing community breaking through centuries of negative stereotypes. Though conditions play a big part in the sport, the biggest hurdle the athletes will have to overcome to see success is mental. The winner will be the one who chooses their waves wisely with their understanding of the conditions and ability to intimidate and therefore overcome components. Meanwhile, they will be challenging themselves to emerge from crashing barrels, fly into the air, and land on the shifting surface gracefully. No big deal. 

You’ve probably heard the invention of a wave pool, which creates the perfect man-made wave. In 2007, Kelly Slater founded his wave company with a passion to build the perfectly rideable wave at his surf ranch. It was debated whether the Olympics should be held in the ocean or on a manufactured wave, with many differing opinions on what would be right. The decision was made, and the event will take place in the sea, at Tsurigasaki Beach in Japan, about 40 miles east of Tokyo, where the rest of the 2021 games will be hosted.

As you watch, take a moment to reflect on the century of effort for this to happen. This initiative can be traced all the way back to the 1912 summer games that took place in Stockholm. Duke Kahanamoku, known as the father of modern surfing, won three gold medals in swimming, and while accepting his medal, he expressed that it was his dream to see surfing be added. To add fuel to the fire, International Surfing Association, recognized as the surfing world's governing authority by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), began lobbying for the inclusion of surfing in the Olympics in 1955.

The magic of surfing

Surfing is a multidimensional sport unlike any other. Nothing compares to paddling out to the serene silence that awaits beyond the breaking waves. Once you get out there, you immediately escape the many annoyances ingrained in everyday life—the constant notifications on your phone and laptop, your back-to-back schedule, answering to other people. You’re no longer on the time that your watch reads, you’re on mother nature’s time. You’re also no longer in control of your surroundings. Now, all you can do is surrender and wait for the next set to come, while trying to position yourself for when it does.

The high from catching the perfect wave is so addicting that surfers would fail on one hundred in a row just to catch that one. After you catch that perfect one, you replay it in your mind for the rest of the day.

A successful session is reliant on so many factors of mother nature—a force way bigger than us. For ideal conditions to exist, a good-sized swell must approach from the right direction, the wind must be flowing offshore, and you have to time your session right with the ebb and flow of the tide.

The sport is always teaching you life lessons. It is humbling, even if you’ve been practicing it for many years. One reason why it takes so long to master is that the conditions are going to be different every time you get out there. You might have caught a million yesterday, but today makes you feel like a kook because you can’t land one decent wave.

The community of people that you become a part of when you surf is special. A shared obsession with the ocean that brings you to dive into the water at dawn to get a session in bonds you quick. When you’re out there, you’ll find yourself interacting with people of all ages and backgrounds. People enjoy sharing the stoke of the sport. When you see someone out there teaching somebody new, you’ll encounter them cheering at the top of their lungs when they catch a good wave, and as you look around, you’ll see smiles all across the lineup. The other day, I caught a long wave in to be met with a cheering crowd of locals who frequent the spot that I do. When I got to shore, a local showed me their secret stash of hot packs to access in case I, or someone else, gets stung by a stingray when they aren’t around.

Being out in the ocean and abiding by her rules gives surfers a deep love and connection to nature. It’s common to see sea animals out there, like dolphins, stingrays, and fish. When you have an encounter, it’s a reminder that we are invading their territory. It sucks when you see trash floating in the water, or on the sand in its route to the water. It’s a sad reminder of the negative impact that humans can have on natural environments. It inspires you to pick up trash and advocate for sustainability so that we, as a collective, can take care of the beauty that we are lucky to have access to.

Tune in to see surfing break into the biggest international sporting event in the world beginning on Saturday, July 24th. 

Check out these surf classes on the Mindbody App

Do you live by the ocean? Paddle out with an instructor.

Don't live by the water, but still want to train for your next surf trip? Consider these classes.

If your location isn't listed above, browse Mindbody to see if they are available in your city. 

Bailey Clark Headshot
Written by
Bailey Clark
Marketing Content Specialist
About the author
Bailey Clark is a serial optimist whose passion for marketing lies within creating authentic connections to make the world happier and healthier. As a San Diego native, her favorite pastimes are surfing, F45, practicing yoga, meditation, and really any opportunity to soak up the sun.