Here we are again. We’re into another month of social distancing, But with that comes many opportunities to take care of ourselves and those we love. During this challenging time, many companies are offering their services online to help nourish our bodies, minds, and souls as we are hunkered down in our homes. And the best news is that these resources are all free!
Feeding our Bodies
Many gyms and fitness centers are offering virtual exercise classes online. So now, you can keep fit right in the comfort of your own home. And many of them are free!
- Peloton – One of my favorites right now is Peloton. You don’t need to own any Peloton equipment (i.e., bike or treadmill) to take advantage of this offer. Peloton is offering a free three months’ trial during the pandemic so everyone can stay fit and healthy. I’ve taken advantage of many Peloton classes online such as strength training, yoga, running, walking, stretching, and meditation. The instructors are amazing! They explain the proper form for each exercise and motivate me to stick with the routine. They help me to not get discouraged so I look forward to working out. Click here to learn more about this free offer.
- Gold’s Gym – Other fitness centers are offering their services free of charge too including Gold’s Gym with over 600 workouts through their app until May 31, 2020.
- Nike – Nike Training Club App offers workouts free of charge until further notice. My kiddos especially love this app for their daily workout routines.
- Planet Fitness – Planet Fitness is offering live workouts streamed on their Facebook page daily.
- YMCA – Check with your local YMCA’s for their Y360 online community connecting fitness enthusiasts with online classes.
Check with other fitness centers in your local area to see what free classes they may be offering during this time.
Renewing our Minds
- Help with Anxiety – Anxiety seems to be at an all-time high for many people right now. So, this next free resource is an invaluable one. Author and pastor, Max Lucado, offers his Anxious for Nothing bible study (based on his book by the same name) for free through StudyGateway.com. Although the study began mid-March, you can enroll at any time. All five video sessions are available free of charge. You don’t need to own the book to participate. I’ve found the video sessions to be helpful in learning to replace anxiety with faith.
- Strengthening our Faith – Lucado is also doing a similar study for free on StudyGateway.com based on his book called You’ll Get Through This. The format is similar to his Anxious for Nothing study and, again, you don’t need to own the book. You have access to his video messages free of charge.
- Learning Meditation – Now more than ever, meditation is key to keeping our minds at peace. The Peloton app offers meditation classes free of charge. Also, the Headspace App has a large collection of meditations, called Weathering the Storm, free of charge. This includes meditations for sleep and movement exercises to renew your mind. They are also offering free access to Headspace Plus for all US healthcare professionals working in public health settings in an effort to promote calm and quell anxiety.
- Taking Care of Our Well Being – During the pandemic, you can take a class at one of the most prestigious Ivy league schools — Yale University. Click here to register for their most popular class on campus, The Science of Well Being, free of charge. Learn the misconceptions associated with happiness and find out how to live a more meaningful life.
- Doing What We Love – Why not turn to a hobby you love or try something new? There are plenty of hobbies to calm your mind such as working on a jigsaw puzzle, playing a board game, journaling, learning calligraphy, or painting. My daughter and I just purchased our first paint by numbers project. All kits were 50% off. We can’t wait to get started!
Feeding our Souls
I don’t know about you, but I think God is calling us to slow down and focus on what’s most important. As sad as it may be to distance ourselves from friends and extended family, maybe he’s calling us to make a deeper connection to him and to the loved ones in our own homes. Of course, being together 24/7, can bring about frustrations and tensions. What’s the best way to foster peace in our homes during this time? Prayer and taking part in the many spiritual offerings available to us online that feed our soul.
I’ve found so many spiritual resources during these past few weeks, that sometimes I don’t know where to start. But that’s a good thing!
- Online Church Services – Many churches have suspended services due to social distancing guidelines. Therefore, many are broadcasting their services online instead. For example, our church broadcasts mass live each Sunday morning at 11 a.m. (www.saintcornelius.org – click on “Mass Livestream.”) The recording remains on the website for viewing at a later time as well. In addition, I’ve enjoyed watching daily mass online through Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire (wordonfire.org) and praying before the Blessed Sacrament on EWTN’s website with live adoration broadcasted daily (www.ewtn.com). Since the pandemic began, our diocese also broadcasts a nightly live rosary where we gather together virtually via Zoom to pray for an end to the virus.
- Spiritual Reading – Now is the perfect time to feed your soul by picking up a spiritual book, reading the bible, or just sitting in silence for five or ten minutes. As much as we need to be informed by newscasters, it doesn’t feed my soul to listen to the news all day long. In fact, it has the opposite effect. So, I’m trying to balance what I see or hear on the news with spiritual reading. Don’t let this time go by without being intentional to fill up with faith instead of fear. Here are some good spiritual books to consider:
- The Mindful Catholic by Dr. Gregory Bottaro
- Anxious for Nothing by Max Lucado
- Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer
- The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi by Kathie Lee Gifford
- The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
Take Care of Yourself
No matter what you do during this time, don’t forget to take care of yourself. It’s important to find your place while staying at home. Focus on your blessings. Read and listen to uplifting stories or newscasts. Pick up a good book. Do a hobby you enjoy or find a new one to try. Most of all, use this time God has given you to draw closer to him and take care of yourself so you can be your best for those around you.
“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (ESV)
What free resources have you found during this pandemic? Please share with others in the comments section below.
By having to stay at home, this gives us an opportunity to share some special time with our families, Remember playing scrabble or monopoly board games.
. Even clue was exciting, and maybe it is a chance to fit some exercise into your schedule, something that you did not have time for before with work and school
I am going to try to stay positive and continue to pray for all health care workers that Our Lord will keep them safe.
I loved playing those games then and I still do now too!