Four Ways to Spot a Bad (or Unsafe) Home Workout Video
A few months ago, I created a separate Instagram account to curate an algorithm dedicated to fitness and nutrition. I was annoyed that the algorithm on my personal account — full of baseball, hair tutorials, fashion, bunnies, and all the other light entertainment I need in these trying times — was overloaded with high-protein recipes and workout tips. But the more I looked at the workout content my other account was offering, the more one thing stuck out to me: Many of the videos were actually not very good.
Some of it was just hype-based exercise nonsense that suggested I was doing stupid, useless things at the gym. Others, on the other hand, seemed downright dangerous. I started looking through the creators’ profiles and noticed that many of them weren’t even personal trainers or had any other fitness-related certifications or education. I consider myself someone who knows what I’m doing at the gym most of the time, but some of these people were pretty convincing that they knew what they were talking about. Here’s what to look for and what to avoid when choosing a personal trainer-led workout at home.
Avoid those who do not have a clear understanding of certification.
I have no doubt that there are plenty of people out there who have done their own research, worked hard at the gym, and as a result of their personal health journey have become experts in all things health and fitness, without ever having been certified or trained in any of the relevant topics. That doesn’t mean you should listen to them. Even if 99 out of 100 are brilliant, give good advice, and understand sports science, you always run the risk of unwittingly following the advice of that one out of 100 who is n’t .
Certified Personal Trainers (CPT), Performance Enhancement Specialists (PES), Group Fitness Instructors (GFI) — basically, you’ll be looking for a lot of acronyms, and they should be listed right in the trainer’s bio on whatever platform you’re using. If someone is certified in yoga, Pilates, or indoor cycling, that should be listed in their profile, too. If you don’t see anything like that, move on. Certification is expensive and time-consuming; certified trainers tout their credentials up front.
I have recommended many of my favorite yoga , indoor cycling , and Pilates instructors whose classes are available on YouTube. All of the instructors I have chosen are certified professionals. As a certified indoor cycling instructor, I cannot stress enough how different my classes are from what I thought they would be before I started. Knowing the science behind the various exercises and confirming that you have learned everything by taking a certification test is essential to ensuring a safe and effective training experience.
When I see advice on Instagram and I’m not sure about it, I just ask the trainer at the gym. If you have a membership, there are probably trainers there, and most of them will be happy to answer a quick question, especially if it helps someone avoid injury. Next time you go, bring them a coffee or something as a thank you (separate the sugar and milk, of course, so as not to offend their dietary preferences).
Avoid low quality products
I have a lot of respect for content creators who are committed to sharing their experiences, and in most cases I don’t care if a makeup tutorial or a daily life vlog is filmed on a noticeably bad camera or the audio is a little shaky. I commend them for having the strength and vision to try at all. However, with workout tutorials it’s different: poor quality can lead to unsafe practices.
One of the reasons I love the Peloton app so much is that it’s a really high-quality product. And it’s worth it, since I and millions of others pay $44 a month for it. But it’s worth it: I can clearly see and hear the instructors so I don’t miss any techniques or safety cues.
That said, some of my favorite YouTube instructors don’t sound great, and I’m not going to lie. I like Christina Girod as a cycling coach, for example, but I admit her audio can get a little distorted at times. It’s important to avoid poor recording quality or fuzzy audio and video, especially when you’re new and need all the help you can get. As you progress, you may be able to get by without having to understand exactly how much resistance the instructor is asking for or whatever, but don’t get into the habit of being arbitrary.
Avoid anything that lacks variety or modification.
A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work very well when you’re just starting out on your own. The yoga class that’s easy for you might be hard for me, and while it’s good that some of us are trying, it’s not very helpful for you to do something you’re comfortable with, or for me to do something I can’t do well. To make a class fun enough to keep you doing it, but safe, it needs to be slightly tailored to your level.
For example, in my Pilates review, I only included instructors who either break down videos by skill level or offer modifications throughout the workout, verbally explaining variations that people of different skill levels can try. If you see content labeled “for all levels,” but the instructor doesn’t offer any modifications, you’re better off spending more time finding something that’s right for you.
The worst offenders of this rule are users of short-form video apps like Instagram and TikTok. You’ll see many demonstrating exercises without clear instructions, without any modifications, and without any information about how long they’ve been training that way or with what weight. Follow their vague advice (tailored solely to their body type and skills) at your own risk.
Avoid using only free instructions.
I don’t mean to insult your intelligence by telling you to avoid anything that promises you’ll lose a certain amount of weight or master a skill in a certain amount of time; you know it’s almost always bullshit. How on earth can a three-week YouTube course help you lose exactly 20 pounds if it doesn’t know your starting weight or anything else about you? Seriously.
But that’s the problem with free content. Creators are incentivized to publish sensational videos to monetize more clicks. You might not want to hear this, but sometimes you should avoid the free option. I do my best to find the best free instruction available, but honestly, I love my Peloton and Les Mills+ subscriptions more than free YouTube videos. With them, I know I’m getting guidance from educated and certified trainers, the production quality will be high, and I won’t be sold any clickbait gimmicks. It doesn’t have to break the bank. Peloton offers a version of its app for people who don’t have the company’s signature equipment for just $24 a month, instead of the $44 it costs if you have a stationary bike, treadmill, or rowing machine. A basic Les Mills+ subscription is $15 a month.
Many fitness instructors on YouTube, Instagram, and other platforms also offer paid content. I recommend checking out their free content to see if they are a good fit for you, and then consider subscribing.