Despite the widely recognized health benefits of regular exercise, there is no shortage of reasons for avoiding the gym or skipping that exercise class. From time and budget constraints to a lack of motivation and even a reluctance to workout in front of others, it’s easy to put exercise on the back burner. Luckily, there is almost nothing you can do in the gym that you can’t do in the comfort of your own home, even with little or no equipment. Here are some great examples of how you can reap the rewards of regular exercise without ever setting foot outside.
1. Walking and Cycling
The list of health benefits associated with regular walking is incredibly long, from weight loss to reducing the risk of stroke, dementia and type 2 diabetes. Equally, cycling is great for improving heart health and building muscle tone. Whilst modern life doesn’t always make it easy to fit in a daily cycle or stroll, a home treadmill, exercise bike or even this simple Pedal Exerciser is an effective way to get a regular cardio burst whilst watching TV, regardless of the weather. The one-off cost of buying home gym equipment often works out cheaper than a yearly gym membership, and buying via companies such as Hammer makes professional equipment more affordable, with the added convenience of home delivery.
2. Dancing
Dancing is one of the most fun ways to keep fit, but finding a local class that ticks all the boxes is not always easy. Online videos on YouTube allow you to exercise regularly without being tied in to a set place and time, and require no equipment whatsoever. From Zumba to jazzercise to belly dancing, the internet offers unlimited variety in the privacy of your own home, affording you ultimate flexibility and freedom to choose the workout that best suits your mood.
3. Hula Hooping
Not only a childhood favorite, hula hooping is a surprising all-rounder when it comes toning the thighs, abdominal muscles, glutes, and arms. Requiring nothing more than a little extra space and the hula hoop itself, it can be done without an instructor whilst watching TV or listening to music. Once you’ve mastered the basic hula hooping motion, online tutorials such as these make it easy to increase the difficulty level of your workout whilst adding variety.
4. Weights
Lifting weights need not be limited to that overcrowded corner of the gym, nor does it require spending money on professional dumbbells or discs. From soup cans to bags of vegetables, there are plenty of everyday household items that work just as well as weights and allow you to work out spontaneously as and when your schedule allows. In addition to weight exercises, sit-ups, press-ups and squats are a low-maintenance way to intensify your at-home workout routine.
5. Yoga
Yoga has grown increasingly popular in recent years, favored not only for its physical benefits but also as a highly effective exercise for reducing stress. Using a Chirp Wheel or other yoga wheel is a great way to integrate yoga into working out the kinks in your back, too. Perhaps traditionally associated with trendy studios and highly skilled instructors, it is actually very simple to practice yoga at home using just a yoga mat or towel for support. Once again, the internet makes it easy to learn about different yoga poses and techniques, and to start at a level and a pace that suits you. For more information on practicing yoga at home, read this article.
