Long before the pandemic started, I loved online workout classes. From following Yoga with Adriene and Tone It Up on YouTube to subscribing to Glo, FitBit Premium, Obé and Pound Backstage, I’ve tried a ton. But this past year, nothing could motivate me to exercise. I could barely convince myself to walk around the block, despite the painfully low step counts my Pixel Watch reminds me of on the daily.

Then I was given a two-month trial of Y7 Studio’s online yoga classes. I figured I’d try it out, but I didn’t have high hopes. After a couple classes, I soon began setting my alarm early, religiously hopping out of bed to tackle a 30-minute flow seven days a week. (Even at my most active, I was never a seven-days-a-week gal.)

I’m under no illusions that this will make me super fit; it’s just a level of activity that’s been foreign to me for the past, oh, six or seven months. So, what inspired the change, and what’s getting me to shell out $20 a month once this trial period ends? (You can also pay $119 for unlimited online classes and four in-studio classes per month, but I prefer the zero-commute life.)

What to Expect from Y7 Studio’s Online Classes:

Classes range from 15 minutes to an hour, and they follow four basic formats:

• Focused Flow (15 mins.) — One vinyasa sequence to challenge you when you’re short on time (or want to focus on one particular area).
• Power Vinyasa (30-45 mins.) — You go through two vinyasa sequences slowly, building strength as you perfect your form, and then flow through it quickly, following the company’s “one breath, one movement” method. (It sounds like this would be boring or repetitive, but it’s actually invigorating, and it’s empowering after fighting your way through holding a warrior 3 until your legs are jelly to see how nimbly you fly through it on the speedier round.)
• Slow Burn (45 mins.) — As you flow through each vinyasa sequence, you build on your skills, so the practice gets harder as you go. You’ll really learn structure and alignment here, and your muscles will be on fire by the end.
• We Flow Hard Vinyasa (60 mins.) — Like Power Vinyasa, you’ll go through a sequence slowly, then do it again at a faster clip, following the “one breath, one movement” method. In this longer class, you’ll go through three sequences, and there’s a Flow on Your Own portion at the end, where you can try modifications and customize stretches to suit your needs (and goals).

The Pros:

• Instructors spend time explaining proper positioning, so you can perfect your form without a teacher’s watchful eye. And they don’t drone on for so long that you’re like, “c’mon, already! I can’t hold a plank anymore! WE GET IT!”
• There’s a variety of instructors and styles, and if you really like one yogi’s style, you can filter to show their classes in particular.
• Flows are set to pop and hip hop music—not elevator tunes or awkward silence. Y7 has a deal with Universal Music Group, so classes will play anything from the Spice Girls to Billie Eilish to Eminem.
• New classes are uploaded weekly, to the tune of 50+ a month, so things don’t feel stale or repetitive.
• You can sort through classes based on how much you want to sweat, the vibe you’re going for (from a music perspective) and how much time you have (ranging from 15 minutes to an hour).

The Cons:

• The music doesn’t work if you Chromecast it to your TV (but it does if you use screen mirroring, so there’s that).
• You can’t access flows on the mobile app, so you need to use a browser if you’re watching on your phone.
• I wish they had prenatal flows, but that’s just because I’m pregnant (surprise, internet!) and as I get bigger, I have to modify. It’d be great to have more options automatically designed for those needs.

The Verdict:

Two months in, and I’m hooked. I have made it a priority to flow daily, even if it’s just 15 minutes, because it makes me feel that good. I’ve been prone to inflammation—and the stiffness that comes with it—and these classes have helped loosen me up. They’ve also been great for reducing the back and shoulder pain I’ve become accustomed to, from hovering over a laptop all day (provided I don’t overdo it with side plank poses; I know myself well enough to modify as I gradually build strength in those muscles).

Eventually, I’m sure I’ll miss a day, and maybe I’ll fall off the wagon for a while (not to mention the mandatory six weeks without exercise post-baby), but right now, it’s become the highlight of my mornings. And before Y7, I was pretty convinced only cold brew could provide that high.