I really don’t like working out at home — I find it both restrictive and boring. But given the recent health concerns both in the U.S. and globally, we’ve got to make the most of the circumstances we’ve got. Here are my best tips for making the most of at home exercise.
(1) Engage in mindful movement. Our muscles can get tight from sitting and standing for too long. If any muscle is cramping or feels tight, begin with a few stretches to warm up the muscle. Then, grab some light weight to get the muscle moving, or engage in body weight exercises with that particular muscle. For example, for tight hamstrings, I start by standing with my feet hip-width apart anywhere in my home and stretch slowly a few times by bending forward while keeping my legs straight. Then, I complete a series of (low) weighted dead lifts to keep the blood flowing. Moving cramping or sore muscles tends to help them feel better afterwards. You could also ask your partner or family member to stretch you out! Pay attention to sore muscles, and ease their pain with slow, mindful movement.
(2) Walk outside. Self explanatory. When the weather permits, find a new (or old) trail, park, or area of town to explore.
(3) Explore apps. Beach Body and Les Mills have a plethora of on-demand workouts that I find to be both mentally engaging and physically challenging. Down Dog HIIT is a new app I’ve tried that also gets the job done through customizable workouts for any fitness level.
(4) Get creative with dumbbells. Invest in a light and medium weight dumbbells, and over time you’ll be glad you did. Dumbbell use can grow dull, but they’re a good option to have if you’ve got to make a workout at home work for you. Think beyond traditional bicep curls, and use dumbbells for cardio and other unique weighted movements like dumbbell swings, sumo squats, pulsing jump lunges, or wood chopping movements.
(5) Invest in resistance bands. When dumbbells get boring, switch to resistance bands. I recommend investing in bands of different resistance for added creativity. Add dumbbells to your resistance band workouts for additional mental and physical stimulation.
(6) Combine movements. Combining two or three exercises into one really gets the brain thinking and increases your heart rate. See how many moves you can combine into one!
Leave us a comment — what’s your favorite at home workout?
All opinions are my own, and I received no compensation for expressing them.
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