My Week With At-Home Fitness Queen Bailey Brown
I’ve been on a bit of a self-care kick in quarantine. I’m not ashamed of it and I hope you beauties are on it, too. (Yas queen, DIY that hair mask!) With a few extra hours each day to spend however I please—from baking your basic gal’s banana bread to IG live-streaming new sweat sessions—the possibilities are endless. These hours are a privilege not everyone is granted in this pandemic, which motivates me to fulfill my time at home and emerge, when this is all over, a tiny bit better.
My fitness habits have positively transformed in quarantine. I’m still working out every day for at least 30 minutes, and I’ve nevah felt bettah. There is something to be said about finding that Goldilocks, “just right,” workout that you can commit to every day. Not only is everyone’s body different, but everyone wants different things for her body. Fitness instructors often say, “workout for the body you want.” If you are looking for beast-mode biceps and shredded quads, these Bailey Brown workouts are probably not for you, considering the highest weight she uses is 5 lbs, and honestly that’s pushing it. Her method is unlike my first quarantine workout challenge, but I have come to love Bailey’s classes. Not only do most of her videos have the soothing backdrop of Australia’s Bondi Beach, but Bailey’s positivity, compassion and fun personality make it hard to stay away.
Bailey’s Youtube channel is compiled with mini workout classes ranging from 5 to 20 minutes in length. Her videos are challenging, and you will be SWEATIN,’ but they are achievable—tailored to beginners and workout hardos, alike. For the past couple weeks, I’ve been curating a workout plan from Bailey’s quick videos and taking ~30 minutes each day to try them with my mom. Full disclosure: my mom has self-proclaimed FOWO (Fear of Working Out), and even she cannot wait to get in the gym every day to workout with me and Bailey. If sculpt pilates-meets-low impact HIIT sounds tempting, go ‘head, give Bailey a try.
Monday - HIIT Cardio
I hope I’m not alone here—but come Monday, I need to work off that weekend pasta. I love Bailey’s cardio workouts because they sneak up on you. She’s not trying to make you lose 3 lbs and cry during the class; she just wants to get you movin’ and groovin’ for a quick, but effective cardio circuit. I love Bailey’s cardio arm workouts especially, like this boxing one, because the time flies and you end up with fluid, elegant toning in your arms, without any bulking.
Water bottles or small cans are great substitutes for low weights!
You know I love an ab finisher, ladies! You’re in for a nonstop, quick burn that’ll snatch ya waist right up.
Tuesday - Abs + Peach
Tuesdays are for… more abs! And getting that peach ready for swimsuit season! I always love an oblique series from Bailey; she knows how to tighten the waist and maintain that fat burning zone.
So Emily Ratajkowski’s abs are fully a genetic gift from the gods, right? I’ve literally never seen that carving on anyone else. But I have oddly noticed after doing these pilates x HIIT Bailey workouts for a few weeks that my own lil’ ab line is more defined. Bury me in a crop-top, sweeties.
Bailey’s booty workouts are NO JOKE, guys. Fluid and lengthened leg raises like the ones in this video very effectively tighten up that peach. You will feel your active glute, support glute and entire core engaged throughout these exercises. You’re probably going to want to scream a little, but having Bailey there, struggling along with you, will keep your spirits up.
Wednesday - Low Impact Cardio
These are my favorite workouts by Bailey ! ! ! Her low-impact cardio classes make. me. sweat. so. much. It’s hard to believe. I always thought I needed a super intense boxing cardio class to get a good enough sweat in, but these full body workouts leave me feeling just as worked. Again, Bailey’s positivity is infectious during these!
Thursday - Mat Pilates Sculpt
Using only your bodyweight to sculpt your muscles is a great way to tone without bulking. My fav! While Bailey incorporates pilates movements into most of her workouts, this is just a great 20-minute mat toning sequence that will give you that deep burrrn you’re lookin’ for. Prepare for pulsing.
Pilates is one of the very best ways to strengthen your core. During the previous sequence your tummy was turned on and workin’ like a dawg… this lower ab finisher is just here to give that hard-to-reach area a little extra love.
Friday - Arms + Abs
If you are not self-conscious about bra bulge and back fat, hell yeah, sister! Body positivity is the name of the game. That said, we all have those annoying areas, and I for one am not in love with them. Bailey’s 15-minute arm burner highlights chest exercises that will tone those problem areas and throw in a nice, lil’ facelift for the twins.
Did somebody order more pilates? This bodyweight mat workout is plank heavy—because what better way to tone those abs and arms? Just pretend you’re on Bondi Beach and it’ll be over before you know it…
Every move in this ab series is lengthening. Elegance! While I sometimes find ab workouts to be super boring, Bailey finds new and exciting moves to keep us on our toes, and she never stays on an exercise for too long. I really love her 5-minute burners; they are perfect to tack onto any workout or sneak in during a lunch break.
Saturday - Stretchy Sculpt
As someone who never stretches before or after a workout (save me the lecture), Bailey’s guided active stretching has kind of pulled me into it! This recovery sequence is truly a gift to dem sore muscles and a newfound staple of my week.
And a little extra sculpt never hurt nobody…
Sunday - Rest Day Baes!
Enjoy a nice recovery day filled with Netflix, chill, n’ treats.
I hope you loved your week with Bailey as much as I did!
