Online Work-Out Videos Offer The Benefits Of Exercise Without The Hassle

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork)-- If you're having trouble getting to the gym or finding time to work-out, you're not alone. More and more people are turning to the web to find online videos.

The best part is that you can watch them just about anywhere from your computer, to your TV, and they're free, CBS2's Cindy Hsu reported.

Sharon Montplaisir is an Olympic athlete. The former champion fencer is now a personal trainer and said online work-outs are great to fit-in a work-out, no matter what your schedule.

"It's not just the mom who can't leave because she has small children. As I said, there are people who work from their homes, people who have just such a long work day to make it to the gym is almost impossible, but if they come home 15 to 20 minutes before you take that shower and eat, it will make all the difference in the world," she said.

Those hoping to keep fit have thousands of choices, from hardcore to mommy work-outs with the kids. Montplaisir opts for Pop Pilates, where the instructor is clear on proper form and avoiding injury.

Dr. Nadya Swedan focuses on sports medicine and said she's practically addicted to online work-outs.

Right now, she's loving "Jillian Michaels: Six-Pack Abs" video.

"You could just do 10 minutes of it if you don't want to do the whole thing. You don't have to dress up--I've done it in a bathing suit, I've done it in work clothes," Swedan said.

If you're just starting out with online workouts, experts said to look for one that is specifically for beginners or posted by well-known fitness magazines.

"If there's a lot of lifting of weights, if they encourage you to do that, I don't really think that you need to be doing a lot of heavy weights, I think repetitive squats can injure people," Swedan explained.

And the big red flag...

"If you have pain you should just stop, there should be no pain during a work-out," she said.

Experts said to find a video that you enjoy and remember to have fun with it. They stress to be attentive to discomfort or pain since there's no supervision when you're using these work-outs.