In these trying times (COVID pandemic, lockdown, working from home…), you can’t let your health, wellness, and fitness suffer as a result of not being able to go to the gym.
Learning how to work out while stuck inside at home is extremely important.
We need to stay in shape to feel our best, and adopting an exercise routine at home offers many benefits.
It saves time, allows you to work out whenever you want, and makes it more likely that you’ll actually do your workout. After all, exercising is easier when you don’t have to drag yourself to the gym.
But what are the best ways to exercise when you’re stuck inside?
Here are the five best methods:
1. Do Yoga
Yoga offers a plethora of health benefits, from improving strength and balance to helping you develop greater flexibility.
It can even relieve back pain, reduce stress, and give you a boost of energy.
Best of all, it’s easy and cost-effective to start.
Just grab a yoga mat and some flexible clothing, and you’re good to go.
Important Yoga Tips For Beginners
When you’re first starting out, yoga can seem intimidating.
You may not feel like the most flexible person in the world.
But that’s okay.
The first tip? Don’t be a perfectionist.
Just start where you are, and work your way toward a greater understanding of the practice one day at a time.
The second tip? Find a YouTube yoga channel to learn from.
Watching a quick five-minute tutorial can be a great way to break the ice and figure out those crucial first poses and movements.
2. Start a Bodyweight Workout
Bodyweight exercises don’t require any equipment.
That’s why they’re called ‘bodyweight’ exercises, because you use your own body weight as resistance.
There are literally dozens of these types of exercises. The good news is that you’ll have a lot of options to choose from.
The bad news?
Some people have a tough time figuring out how to get started.
How Do You Start Doing Bodyweight Exercises?
The first thing to remember is to go easy on yourself.
You don’t have to do every single exercise perfectly at once.
Start with five or six different exercises, then work your way up from there.
Here are some excellent bodyweight exercises to start with:
- Pushups
- Groiners
- Spider crawls
- Burpees
- Handstand wall-walks
- Standing wall jumps
A quick YouTube search will yield hundreds of videos to learn from.
Just schedule yourself 20 minutes of workout time, jump in, and start doing some reps.
3. Jump on the Treadmill
Okay. Don’t actually jump on the treadmill …
But walking, jogging, and running on one is a powerful way to get your cardio workout in without leaving the comfort of your home.
Working out on a treadmill is pretty intuitive, but here are a few pointers to help you avoid common treadmill pitfalls:
- Always stretch and warm up first.
- Buy a high-quality pair of shoes and insoles.
- Consider listening to an audiobook or some music to pass the time and avoid boredom.
And last but definitely not least, start out easy and work your way up.
Going too intense too quickly may burn you out, injure you, or make you less likely to stay motivated for the long haul.
4. Purchase an Exercise Bike
An exercise bike offers many advantages. It’s practical, gives you the power to bypass bad weather, and is safer than ‘outdoor’ cycling.
Plus, it gives you an awesome cardio workout while still allowing you to listen to music, watch TV, or learn from an audiobook.
Sure, it may not be as exciting as outdoor cycling, but it’s a good substitute if you don’t have the time or option to leave your home.
Can You Lose Belly Fat by Riding a Stationary Bike?
Indoor cycling is actually very efficient at burning calories.
You can burn between 350 and 600+ kcal per hour riding a bike indoors.
This will absolutely translate to burning belly fat at a faster rate, as long as you’re maintaining a caloric deficit in your diet.
Pro Tip: Don’t Forget To Stretch, but Do It After the Ride
Indoor cycling is a low-impact exercise.
And contrary to popular belief, stretching before riding isn’t actually necessary.
But one thing you may want to consider doing is to stretch after your ride. This can help you to avoid pain and soreness after an especially intense session.
5. Pick Up Some Heavy Stuff
Lifting weights will provide your body with a multitude of benefits.
It builds muscle, burns fat, strengthens your bones, improves heart health, and even helps to reduce your odds of getting injured while performing other strenuous activities.
Of course, understanding how to do it safely is the key.
It’s important to start out slow, use proper form, and take rest days.
Here’s how to get started with basic weight training from the comfort of your own home:
Step 1: Buy Some Basic Weights
To get started, you’ll need a range of basic weights that are properly suited to your strength, size, and experience level.
You’ll need:
- Dumbbells
- A kettlebell
- A pull-up bar
- A barbell
Step 2: Stretch, Stretch, Stretch
When it comes to weight training, you absolutely must stretch first.
Failing to stretch before going hard on the bench will put you at risk for a range of injuries.
Step 3: Learn How to Use Proper Form
When lifting weights, proper form could mean the difference between maximum results and maximum injury.
For best results, look up some videos or purchase a book to help guide you as you learn the proper techniques for the different types of exercises you want to start with.
Start slow, and learn as you go. There’s no need to rush it.
Conclusion
You don’t need a gym to level up your health, happiness, and overall well-being.
Learning how to work out at home and nailing down that indoor workout routine can serve up some massive benefits that’ll contribute greatly to your overall health and fitness.
I’ll leave you with this:
It may seem daunting to get started, but you’ve got this.
In the words of the great Lau-Tzu:
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”
…or, in this case, one rep.
Now get out there (into your living room) and get to work!
[Insert client bio]
Caitlin Sinclair is the Property Manager at Broadstone Memorial Park. With five years of property management experience and many more in customer service, she has a passion for her community and looks forward to making Broadstone the place to call home.
