By Emily Daigle
Even with social distancing measures loosening up, the thought of staying active at home still sounds ideal to some of us. If avoiding expensive gym memberships and crowded parks while maintaining your fitness goals sounds good to you, see below for brief tips on how to stay active at home.
- Everything calisthenics
Calisthenics are exercises performed rhythmically with minimal equipment. Basically, it is using your body weight and a variety of movements to exercise large muscle groups. Forms of calisthenic exercises include pushups, squats, planks, crunches, and lunges. These exercises can be done almost anywhere within the comfort of your home.
Calisthenic exercises have the ability to improve posture and body strength. At least 150 minutes per week is an average recommendation in order to maintain healthy exercise levels.
- Yoga
One of the best ways to stay flexible is achievable through yoga. You can find which type of yoga is best for your fitness level since there are many different intensities and difficulties. The benefits of the exercise are various. Yoga can relieve back pain, calm anxiety and stress, lift a person’s mood, stimulate mind growth and creativity, train muscles, and, of course, improve flexibility.
Finding a place to start may seem intimidating, but Medical News Today curated a list with five of the most helpful online yoga channels.
- At-home cardio
Boosting your heart rate is the goal of cardiovascular (“cardio” for short) exercise. The nice thing about these is that you typically don’t have to do them for as long as less intensive exercises such as calisthenics. Types of cardio include jumping jacks, running in place, jump roping, burpees, squat jumps, and skipping in place. These can be done nearly anywhere as well (keeping in mind any downstairs neighbors).
Cardio exercises have been known to help lose weight, keep cholesterol maintained, and improve brain function. There are many online sources to help you curate your own tailored at-home cardio circuit.
- Daily home activities
Structured exercises aren’t always the best way to constantly stay active. Make chores fun! Dance around your living room! By simply avoiding inactivity, you can make a difference in your fitness levels daily. Make your daily routine well-rounded by engaging physical movement and mind stimulation.
Some examples of leisurely at-home activities include gardening, painting, dusting shelves, and even taking some time to throw an impromptu dance party in your living room. These activities, while seen as small, can consecutively contribute to our well-being.
