The 5 Best Free Cardio Channels I Found on YouTube
I discovered spinning ten years ago and later became certified to teach it myself . I haven’t paid much attention to other types of group cardio since then, but I was obsessed with it for a while.
Thanks to a program funded by the great city of New York , I was able to take Zumba, Cardio Sculpt, and other classes for free in my early 20s, long before I could afford a membership at a gym that offered those classes, let alone take my own certification course. I still occasionally sign up for cardio classes at the gym where I work for movement and nostalgia, but I don’t go as often as I could because if I want to dance or do HIIT, I can watch free workout videos on YouTube.
Of course, some channels are better than others for these activities. Here are my favorites that I’ve found over the years if you want to join me in burning calories while saving money.
Best Cardio Dance Channels
Dancing is a great workout because it gets you moving and keeps you interested. Just yesterday, I was at the gym and saw a packed Zumba class at the studio next door. As I worked hard on the treadmill, I felt a twinge of regret: I wished I could join this class where everyone looked so happy. In the meantime, I’ll upload one of the options below.
Joseph Corella
On 567Broadway, Joseph Corella shares choreography for musicals so you can feel like you’re on stage, even if you’re just practicing your ball-changing skills at home. He offers standalone warm-up videos, as well as longer ones that can be used as a full workout.
He makes the classes approachable by slowly learning the choreography; nothing is intimidating, although you can always rewind and watch it again until you understand it. I like that he performs the moves with real people on stage, rather than just showing off – watching regular dancers practice their moves is very rewarding and motivating.
Fitness Marshal
Fitness Marshall has almost 7 million subscribers, which is pretty much all you need to know about the channel, but I’ll tell you more. First of all, it’s a very energetic channel. The instructor, Caleb Marshall, is very funny and charming. He leads you through dance routines to popular songs, which I like because I find it much easier to follow instructions and remember moves when I’m familiar with the music.
Despite his positive energy, Caleb isn’t always super clear with his instructions. In the video above, you’ll see him start a move without verbally explaining it, then tell you to go into Donkey Kong Arms mode. Sure, you can watch what he does on screen and try it yourself, but if you need more detailed instructions (or are just starting out), you might want to spend your time doing something else first.
Pamela Reif
If you thought Fitness Marshall had a lot of subscribers, Pamela Reif’s stats are even better: Her channel has nearly 11 million subscribers and features plenty of dance workouts, but also includes a fair amount of traditional “workouts.” While Corella and Marshall are more likely to show you actual dance moves, Reif focuses on specific muscle groups or offers niche offerings, like a no-jump workout for those with knee problems. Popular music, easy-to-follow instructions, and a wide variety of videos make her channel an attractive choice, and the visual cues that show you what moves to do and for how long make it very beginner-friendly.
HIIT and other cardio channels
Moving away from dance fitness, it’s worth noting that there are plenty of strength training workouts on YouTube, but you can also find channels that include high-intensity interval training and other calorie-burning approaches.
Fitness blender
Fitness Blender is a company that offers a variety of workout videos from certified trainers. You’ll definitely find a lot of strength training in the feed, but there’s also cardio and HIIT. I like that the video titles are very specific, like “Bored Easily: Bodyweight HIIT Trisets.” Yes, I get bored easily . You’ve got my attention.
Some of the videos on this channel are paid, but you’ll find plenty of free options. I like that the instructors give a quick rundown of each workout, including its difficulty on a scale of 1-5 and how many minutes you’ll spend on each phase, from circuit training to burnout. You can also see ahead of time if you’ll need any equipment, so you don’t get halfway through a video and realize you can’t finish it. Since they’re a big fitness company, they have a lot of quality videos and are constantly adding new ones.
Danielpt Fitness
This is another channel where you’ll find a lot of strength training videos, but I recommend Danielpt because it has a subcategory of “ Bodyweight HIIT” videos. These workouts are typically around 30 minutes long and are challenging but don’t require any equipment. The trainer doesn’t say much, but as you progress through the exercises, which involve a lot of jumping, clapping, and additional movements in addition to working your muscles, you’ll see picture-in-picture inserts showing the next exercise and a countdown of how long you need to do it. It’s not the best choice if you like audio cues, but otherwise it’s super easy.