No Gym Membership, No Worries: Try This...

Having joined my local (wildly overpriced) gym about a year ago, I know only too well that keeping fit can be costly. Yet there's so many benefits to ensuring you achieve your half an hour of exercise a day that reluctantly forking out to use its facilities almost felt like a necessary evil.
But not anymore! I've long been a fan of online exercise tutorials; platforms like YouTube are full of them and they provide a cheap - and easy - alternative to hauling your sorry self down to the gym when it's cold, windy and wet outside. That'll be the Great British weather for you.
After shelling out (to be fair, it was only a fiver) for Jillian Michaels' hugely popular workout DVDs (if you haven't yet discovered the 30-day Shred yet, where have you been?) I later discovered they were pretty much all available online for free. Along with a host of other workout options you won't want to pass up. Basically, with little more than an Internet connection, a pair of trainers and some exercise clobber, you can ditch the gym and instead get a sweat on in the comfort of your own home. Here's to that!
That said, while I won't be cancelling my gym membership just yet (I love me a spot of swimming, and try as I might I haven't yet found a way I can do that at home - ha!) I have found a blimming great alternative to getting fitter.
Meet Adriene Mishler: the woman who'll - gently, might I add - whip you into fine yoga shape in a mere 30 days. And all for free. That's right ladies (and gents!); put your wallet away; your money's no good here. And by here I mean in your own front room.

All smiles: Who knew exercise could be this much fun?!
I first discovered #30DaysofYoga via Twitter, after spotting a fellow blogger post about its benefits - and was intrigued enough to find out more. And let me tell you: I'm so glad I did.
In short, it's a month-long programme of free YouTube videos delivered by the almost impossibly-flexible Adriene. Videos range from around 20 minutes to 35 in length - and despite following the progamme pretty much every day for its entirety, for me, there was never a dull moment.
Until now, I'd seen yoga as some wishy-washy, namby-pamby pastime for either: a) those who were perhaps too creaky to do much else, and b) hippies.
Ladies and gents, I hang my head in (let's face it, a bit naive) shame.

All pictures via Adriene's lovely site.
Yoga is hard. Seriously hard. While I consider myself relatively fit since joining the gym, shedding a stone and trying all manner of high intensity workout classes, I have since discovered a huge new-found respect for yogis. Yep, I have picked up the lingo too!
If you're yet to try yoga for yourself, head straight to Adriene's channel. I haven't tried any other yoga programmes, but it's surely got to be the best, most comprehensive schedule for beginners.
What I love about it most of all is it really eases you into yoga moves and yoga in general, with options to give less difficult poses a go if the hard ones aren't working out for you.
After just seven days of following #30DaysofYoga, I was thrilled to not only be able to touch my toes, but touch the floor with ease. It may sound a small feat, but for me (thanks to my ever-tight hamstring muscles) it was nigh on possible before.

30 Days of Yoga: Day 14
Another week later and I could perform poses even Adriene suggested may be difficult for beginners. In short, I was fast become Uri Geller's spoons in human form.
In terms of workout wear, I've loved slipping on my BAM Organics' climate control leggings. They've proved absolutely ideal for yoga, helping me flex and stretch into all sorts of poses with ease. I initially tried the routine wearing my PJ bottoms (not advisable, my friends) only to find that baggy cloth on legs = a very accident-prone Lauren. These leggings, however, are as comfortable as they are lightweight and help keep your body temperature low to ensure you look less like a lobster following your workout. Result!

BAM Organic's climate control leggings = the bee's knees
If you're looking for something to try ahead of maybe, a big holiday or a pal's wedding, I'd say dive right into #30DaysofYoga. You need nothing but a comfy mat or rug, a computer or laptop and your good self. What's more; Adriene is such a great teacher - encouraging without being annoying, knowledgeable without being pretentious and...bloody witty. Who knew doing the old downward dog could be so hilarious.
Give the programme a shot and let me know how you get on....
Namaste!
Disclaimer: I have not been paid to write about #30DaysofYoga, neither am I affiliated with Adriene and her brand in any way. All opinions are my own and 100% honest, as always. The BAM Organics' leggings, were, however, supplied vi the brand for review consideration - but despite this, I wholeheartedly recommend them.