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8 social distancing workouts from Oregon gyms

If you're at home during the pandemic, you might have some extra energy to burn. Local gyms are closed in-person, but there are many creative ways to workout online.

PORTLAND, Oregon — If you're feeling like you have energy to burn and nowhere to burn it, during this time of social distancing, you're not alone.

We can't go hangout with friends, or even go to the gym.

Luckily, now that it's been a few weeks since the stay home orders began, and that has been plenty of time for local gyms to figure out new ways to bring exercises to people at home.

Here are 8 workouts Oregon gyms are offering while we all stay home:

Do "hot yoga" without the hot studio

As the name would hint, Forge Hot Yoga normally holds classes based out of two brick-and-mortar studios in Northeast Portland and West Linn. Hot studios, at that. But right now, the gym has created a full schedule of online classes, ranging from HIIT Pilates to Yin Yoga. You can sign up for a live class on Zoom, or follow along one of the previous classes in Forge's Live Stream Library.

Workout "in" Lincoln City

Included in the list of things we can't do right now is head to the coast. But you can pretend you're there, when you head to the new YouTube channel from the Lincoln City Parks & Recreation Department. The channel features workout videos ranging from Tai Chi to yoga, all taught by Lori Templeman, a Lincoln City group fitness instructor.

Dance like no one's watching (they're really not this time)

Vega Dance+Lab is a drop-in style dance studio for adults in Southeast Portland. Normally, these classes are full of dancers of all levels (depending on the class), learning a short routine each class. Now, the dance lab has created VegaTV, an online database of dance classes you can do from home. The styles include jazz, hip-hop, heels, cardio, and more. And unlike the studio classes, featuring a bunch of people you don't know, and a giant mirror, when you're at home, really, no one is watching (besides whoever you're quarantining with).

Just keep dancing!

NW Dance Project is a dance company that does professional performances and hosts dance classes. Since performances and in-person classes are currently on hold, the company has launched an "At Home Series" of classes, via Zoom. There are live classes and pre-recorded options.

Burn calories with BurnCycle

If you want an inspirational message to go with your socially distant workout, look no further. BurnCycle classes usually include a bike (again, it's in the name) and an indoor studio (Oregon locations are in the Pearl District and Lake Oswego). But now the gym has launched an online movement, "because movement fuels positivity," says the BurnCycle website. You don't even need a bike to join.

And if you're feeling unmotivated being inside your house all day, maybe you need a mid-workout pep talk from BurnCycle owner Jessi Duley.

Get a workout without ever leaving Instagram

Our thumbs are getting great workouts lately, with all the scrolling we're doing on our phones (or maybe that's just me?). But now you can stay on Instagram, and get some exercise for the rest of your body too. MegaBurn Fitness usually operates out of two studios (in Hillsboro and Southeast Portland), but now the gym is trying out new ways to reach people. Fitness instructors are hosting classes on Instagram Live, and doing Instagram takeovers, sharing workout moves on the gym's Stories. MegaBurn also has a YouTube channel, which started posting workout videos when social distancing began.

Get your kids moving with online PE

Schools are closed, and kids have even more energy to burn than us adults. So Michael Rittman, a physical education teacher at St. John Fisher School in Southwest Portland, is uploading workout videos on YouTube to keep kids engaged and healthy while social distancing.

Each workout is about ten minutes long, and features Michael as the instructor, and even sometimes as a different character to keep kids entertained.

Move with moms in your community

FIT4MOM is a national wellness company designed for moms, with multiple locations around Oregon. Since many moms are now cooped up at home with energetic kids, FIT4MOM has launched an online schedule of workout classes and group activities for parents and young children. There are full body strength workouts, and also storytimes and show and tell times.

Cassidy Quinn is the host of Tonight With Cassidy on KGW. But right now, like many of you, she is working from home, trying to focus on the happier things going on in the world. Tonight With Cassidy is currently on hiatus, but you can watch previous segments from the show here, and follow Cassidy on Twitter @CassidyQuinn. 

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