Looking for no equipment workouts you can do at home? You’ve come to the right place!

Trying to keep up with your fitness routine while confined to your home is not easy, especially if you live in a tiny, city apartment and don’t have easy access to a yard, a home-gym, or any of the convenient things most of your favorite celebrities seem to have on-deck at their LA mansions.

But that’s okay, no time to be bitter. Instead, focus on what you can control—which is your fitness levels! Obviously, quarantine is probably not the time where you’re finally going to sculpt the six pack of your dreams or get that Kim K booty that your boyfriend swears is attainable from squats (yeah, right). It’s definitely not the time to beat yourself up about slacking on your fitness routine or eating a little differently than normal (cookies are great in a time of crisis!).

But, getting moving a bit can definitely help stop you from getting too stir-crazy, and it can help boost your mood when you’re feeling bummed out after scrolling Instagram for the third full hour of the day. Keeping up with your workout routine can also help you maintain a sense of normalcy, which is personally something that has been helping me during this weird time (and something that always helps me when I’m working from home, traveling somewhere new, etc.)

So, without further ramblings, here are some of my favorite no equipment workouts that you can do from home! I will also be posting an at-home, no equipment, booty routine later this week on my Instagram, so stay tuned.

1. The Barboza Method

This is one of my favorite not at-home workouts, and Stefanie, the founder, is live-streaming/posting YouTube videos of class during this time. I did one of her live streams at home and still was sore AF the next day. Going forward, I think the way they’re doing it is that you can sign up for a class like you normally would (through Classpass, etc.) and then you’ll get sent the YouTube link.

Yes, it costs money, but this is an independent studio and a woman-run business so it’s a good small business to support (while getting a rockin’ bod) if you can!

The Barboza Method focuses on toning and strengthening with bodyweight exercises, all done on the floor. It’s sort of like a combination of barre and Pilates, but in my opinion it doesn’t really compare to anything else I’ve tried. The first time I went to class, my entire lower ab region was sore for a week. It’s also great for posture, which reminds me of what Stefanie says after each class:

“Remember, this class is not about what you did in this hour, it’s about what you will bring from this class to your other classes and daily life. And what do you we do in our daily life? We walk.”

Besides a mat, you don’t need any equipment (although having a mirror or a wall to use for alignment may help).

2. Nike Training App

I’ve had this app on my phone for forever, and it’s got decent options whether you have access to a gym or not. Although personally I found the workouts harder a few years back before they updated the app, it’s possible this is because now they have premium workouts that you have to pay for.

I still just use the free version, and they still have a lot of good workout options (from yoga to booty focused to HIIT). And, they label each workout by the amount of time, equipment necessary, and skill level (beginner, intermediate, challenging); which makes it easy to choose one.

3. Dance Body

I tried this dance cardio class once in NYC, you can read about my experience here. They have a live platform, and they’re currently giving users 50% off with the code: DBATHOME. Or, if you’re a new user, you can get your first week free. Dancing around your apartment might just be the thing you need to lift your spirits during this somewhat disheartening time. In fact, in quarantine units in China, they found that dancing helped lift patients spirits and keep them active.

4. Yoga with Adriene

Adriene makes my absolute favorite yoga videos of all time. I honestly prefer her videos to practicing in person most of the time. While her videos probably won’t have you drowning in a pool of sweat, many of them will certainly get your heart racing and your abs burning a bit, all while calming you down at the same time (hopefully).

If you’re new to yoga, I think Adrienne is great at going over all modification options and explaining positions you may not be familiar with. She also has specific videos dedicated to mastering a single pose, if you’re trying to get your yoga basics down.

If you check out her YouTube channel, she has a bunch of playlists based on what you’re looking for (Yoga for Weight Loss, Bedtime Yoga, etc.). She also recently added a playlist of “yoga for uncertain times” which includes a “yoga for loneliness” video.

5. ClassPass Videos

Ever since I moved to LA, I’ve been a huge fan of Classpass, and I wasn’t informed until recently that they also have free video workouts as part of your membership. If you’re also a Classpass member, you should definitely check these out (although I have yet to). At a quick glance it doesn’t look like there are a ton, but I have a feeling they’ll be adding more soon—especially because all classes are suspended for the moment.

Or, to be honest, if you’re a regular at any studio near you, chances are they’re offering some kind of virtual workout option on their own, so you may want to look into that.

6. Other YouTube Videos

I’m not a big YouTuber, and if you’re not either, let me just tell you that you’d be amazed what you can find on there. There are so many free videos for literally anything—from a quick ab routine to a great stretching sequence. If you’re on a budget and have time to browse (and let’s be honest, you probably do these days), you might want to check YouTube out and just search for whatever you’re looking to do.

I hope you find at least one no equipment workout you can do at home from the list—and a few more you can at least try!

Something that’s been on my mind lately: Why do we pull out all the stops for sex with others, but not for sex with ourselves?

I’m partnering with Vush to break the stigma around female sexuality and remind ya’ll that you deserve to feel good. And since it’s more taboo for women to masturbate for some reason, we might not have as much “practice” as we need to figure out what feels good. I’m speaking from experience, too, so recently I’ve decided to make it a point to take some of the things I love about sex and apply them to self-love sessions too.

Here are some of my tips for making sure your self-love time is just as mind-blowing as partner loving—or maybe even more so.

1. Get All Dolled Up

Yes, sometimes sweatpants can be sexy, but one of my favorite things about going out on dates is taking a long shower, lotioning up my body, and carefully selecting everything that goes on my body. Try dressing up in something that makes you feel sexy and admiring yourself in the mirror before you get started.

2. Don’t Forget the Foreplay

You don’t like when a partner skips kissing and immediately tries to get their hands in your pants, right? So, why would you do that to yourself? Take time exploring your body with your hands (or with The Empress, eventually). Or, just take time absorbing anything you might be watching or reading as part of your foreplay. Personally, I find it more fun when I’m already super turned on before even touching myself. 

3. Find a Toy That Works for You (And Don’t Be Afraid To Be a Lil’ Goldilocks-Like)

I have a confession: I don’t really like traditional vibrators. They seem to nearly always be a bit too much for me. I’m sensitive. I prefer using my fingers as a DIY vibrator, so even though I get to try tons of fun toys for work, I always end up going back to what God gave me (my hands).

But this actually changed when I had the chance to try The Empress by Vush. It’s not a vibrator, it’s more of a suction designed to “suck” and apply pressure to your clitoris. Like a vibrator, there are multiple settings (8 levels of fun pleasure). Because I like things more chill, I usually stick to the first setting and sometimes work my way up a few before going back down. It also is 100% waterproof if you want to use it in the bathtub or shower. Plus one thing I love most about The Empress is that it is USB rechargeable! Makes life so much easier without having to find replacement batteries all the time.

I highly recommend trying this The Empress by Vush because it’s likely different than any other toys you’ve tried and designed specifically for the female body (and the place where the female body has the most sensitive nerve-endings). Like I said, toys aren’t usually my thing, and this is the only one I find myself reaching for regularly. If you want to try it, you can use my code GIOV for 20% off.

4. Give Yourself Time to Absorb All the Good Vibrations

One of the most underrated parts of great sex in my opinion? Post-coitus when you’re cuddling and recapping how amazing everything was—just lying there and taking it all in, not immediately reaching for your phone or worrying about what you have to do that day, etc. Try doing this after masturbation, okay? I get that you can’t exactly cuddle with yourself, but you can totally fetal position or sprawl out on the bed, and just absorb how you feel, etc. Think of it almost as a post-masturbation meditation. Chilling out is good!

5. Keep It Clean

Just like you want your partner to have good hygiene, you want your toys to be in tip-top shape. After use, make sure to thoroughly wash The Empress. You can use simple soap and water (yes, it’s waterproof), or you can snag a specialized toy cleaner at your local sex shop or on Amazon.

Seriously, I’m challenging you to take your self-love up a notch and try implementing these tips into your self-love routine. It’s way better than watching Netflix, I promise.

Use my code GIOV for 20% off The Empress at Vush. SHOP HERE.

Comin’ at you with another gluten-free vegan meal-prep recipe!

This recipe was inspired by Brandi Doming, creator of The Vegan 8. She shared her meatless bean balls recipe with me and I ended up making one week’s lunches around them!

Below is Brandi’s recipe for the meatless bean balls, and if you keep scrolling you’ll find my recipe for the zoodles that I paired them with.

Meatless Bean Balls:

PREP: 25 minutes

COOK: 38 minutes

YIELDS: 5 servings

3⁄4 packed cup (120g) finely diced red onion

1 (15-ounce) can low-sodium chickpeas, drained, rinsed, and patted dry, or 1 1⁄2 cups cooked (255g)

4 tablespoons (60g) tomato paste

2 tablespoons (30g) vegan Worcestershire

1 to 2 teaspoons (2 to 5g) mild chili powder

1 teaspoon (3g) smoked paprika

1⁄2 teaspoon (3g) fine salt

1⁄4 teaspoon (1g) ground black pepper

1⁄4 cup (40g) fine cornmeal

1⁄4 cup (40g) brown rice flour

Parchment paper

1. Add the onion and 3 tablespoons (45g) water to a small stainless steel pan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once the water is gone, cook for 3 more minutes, stirring constantly, to brown the onions a bit. This will give the balls a lot of flavor. Turn the heat down if the onion is browning too quickly.

2. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

3. Add the cooked onions, chickpeas, tomato paste, and Worcestershire to a food processor, and pulse several times or just until the chickpeas are broken up into smaller pieces and have a rough, chunky texture. Don’t puree this. You will need to scrape the sides after the first pulse. If there are whole chickpeas remaining, then mash them with a fork so no whole chickpeas remain. Set aside.

4. Add the chili powder, paprika, salt, pepper, cornmeal, and rice flour to a large bowl, and whisk well. Add the chickpea mixture to the spice mixture; stir and press the mixture together for several minutes until it is well moistened and comes together. Using your hands, form the mixture into a sticky, cohesive ball. You will need to rotate and knead the mixture several times.

5. Scoop 1 1⁄2 tablespoons of chickpea mixture out, and press together to form a ball. The mixture is too delicate to roll into balls with my palms, but I found placing a ball in one hand while pressing and piecing it together with my fingertips worked well. Just make sure each ball is compact and smooth. This will yield 15 balls. Place them on the prepared pan.

6. Bake at 375°F for 15 minutes, flip over, and bake 15 more minutes. Let cool for 10 to 15 minutes so they can firm up. Store any extra in the fridge.

7. If desired, serve with pasta and sauce. Add the desired amount of sauce to a large stainless steel pan over medium-low heat. Add only the balls you want to eat at that time to the sauce and rotate them carefully for 3 to 4 minutes or until heated through. The balls will soften too much if stored in the sauce overnight.

Nutrition per serving: 158 calories | 2.3g fat | 6.3g protein | 29.8g carbs | 5.8g fiber |

5.4g sugar | 519 mg sodium

Ashley’s Notes:

• I used Trader Joe’s Soyaki Sauce to replace the vegan Worchestire.
• I used Trader Joe’s all-purpose gluten free flour instead of brown rice flour and it seemed to work fine.
• I found that this made closer to four servings for me (I ate 3-4  meatballs per serving), but maybe I made larger meatballs than I was supposed to.
• I only have a tiny food processor, so I used it to mash the chickpeas, then mixed the rest with a fork. If you don’t have a food processor, you should be able to do it all with a fork.

Zoodles:

2 packages Pre-Cut Zucchini Noodles (you can also totally make your own, but for meal-preps I’m all about convenience)

1 package of cherry or grape tomatoes

1-2 cans of artichoke hearts

½ teaspoon dried oregano

½ teaspoon garlic salt

½ teaspoon crushed red pepper

½ teaspoon black pepper

1 can tomato sauce (I used Trader Joe’s Tomato Sauce)

1 bag of pre-cut broccoli

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and cover a sheet pan with aluminum foil.

2. Distribute broccoli even across sheet pan. Drizzle about 1 TBS olive oil over the broccoli and sprinkle salt, pepper, garlic powder, cayenne, and oregano on top. Mix to distribute the oil and spices.

3. Cook for 20 minutes.

4. Make zoodles according to package instructions (the ones I bought were microwavable, but you can also make them in the oven or on the stove). Drain and distribute evenly into 4 tupperware.

5. Cut entire package of tomatoes in halves and distribute evenly into the 4 tupperware.

6. Open artichoke hearts can, drain, and cut roughly into bite-sized pieces (1/2s or 1/3s should be fine). Distribute evenly into the 4 tupperware.

7. When broccoli is done, distribute evenly into the four tupperware.

8. Sprinkle garlic salt, dried oregano, crushed red pepper, pepper, and any other spices you may like atop the four tupperware. You definitely can just sprinkle them instead of measuring, but in case you’re a newbie I figured measurements were nice to have.

For meal prep purposes, I waited to do these last two steps until the morning before I planned on eating them, just to make sure the meatballs and zoodles didn’t get soggy. But if you want to do this all at once you’ll probably be fine.

6. Distribute three tablespoons of tomato sauce into each tupperware, mix so that it coats ingredients evenly.

7. Place 3-4 meatballs in each tupperware.

8. When you’re ready to eat — microwave anywhere from 2-4 minutes (this really depends on the speed of your microwave and your tupperware — err on the lower end to start).

Viola! As I’m sure you can tell from the recipe, the meatballs are the complicated part, the rest are super simple. But even the meatballs were pretty simple and not a lot of cutting was necessary (that’s the part that always seems to take the longest IMO). I’m all for a protein source that doesn’t utilize gluten or other sus ingredients, and these meatballs def did the trick!