The Best At-Home Workouts
Staying at home the past year has been tough on multiple occasions. Missing out on vacations, meetups, and for our gym rats, not being able to go to the gym has been equally as tough. Many people look at the gym as a safe space for them, as that is the one moment of the day where nothing else matters as it’s just yourself to focus on with no distractions. So from going to the gym multiple days a week to not at all, it’s a big adjustment. But that doesn’t mean you have to completely quit on working out and losing a whole part of your day. There are some great at-home workouts that I have found over quarantine that have helped me feel like I have that sense of normalcy all to myself that I had when I would go to the gym.
For starters, it may be hard for some people as the house may be a busy place and is extremely difficult to find a place to yourself where no one will bother you. If this is the case, don’t be hesitant to take the workout outside. If you have the luxury of a backyard or patio, use it, and if not, local parks are always an option. Lay out a yoga mat or towel, and use the open space around you while you enjoy a great workout without the gym.
First things first, most people who go to a gym use the treadmills, myself included, and getting a treadmill in the house is not exactly the most practical thing for some. So grab that mask, plug in your headphones and go for a jog outside. Going for a run just around your neighborhood is very easy, however if you’re more into an athletic setting, you can find public schools around your area that will have tracks that you can use on your own time. Also, if running isn’t exactly your speed and walking is more appealing to you, find some hills or trails that can have you walking on an incline at your own pace, all while having the added bonus of taking in some nature.
Now that you have your cardio in you’re probably wondering, what am I supposed to do for weight/strength training? Yes, you may not be able to get access to the usual weights typically used, but using your own body weight is just as fine, just put in some more reps if you need it. Some YouTubers have amazing workouts that I swear by and I promise you will feel the same sort of positivity and burn you feel while at the gym. Possibilities are endless as you can find literally any workout your heart desires at that given moment on the internet. Below are some of the links to my favorite workouts I use every week and give me the same endorphin release I would get at the gym.
Holly Dolke: Intense Flat Stomach Workout (8min)
MadFit: Leg/Butt/Thigh Workout (15 min)
Holly Dolke: Slim Legs Workout (7 min)
Holly Dolke: Small Waist Workout (10 min)
Claudia Sulewski: Full Body Workout (20 min)
POPSUGAR Fitness: P.volve Full Body Toning Workout (35 min)
Move With Nicole: Full Body Pilates Workout (40 min)
POPSUGAR Fitness: Rumble Cardio-Boxing Workout (25 min)
The workouts above are absolutely amazing and make me feel like I accomplished as much as I could have at the gym with as much as I have with my surroundings, but we can’t forget about stretching. I am a huge believer in stretching being equally as important as standard exercise. It helps you recover and cools you down after a difficult workout. You can either stretch on your own or incorporate some moves from an online class, both are just as fine. Doing yoga at the end of every workout is honestly life changing and it will zen you out and cool down your body just when you need it most. Here are some of my favorite post workout stretches/yoga videos.
MadFit: Beginner Flexibility Routine (30 min)
Yoga With Adriene: Total Body Yoga Deep Stretch (45 min)
Daniela Suarez: Stretching Exercises After Workout (7 min)
These are all great stretches that will help you loosen up and little bonus here, Yoga With Adriene is actually doing a 30 day program on her channel and it is absolutely amazing. It’s titled “Breath” and will start your year off right. Hopefully with all these new options, you can find the time for yourself and start a workout regimen at home replacing your usual gym routine that will leave your mindset being much more positive. Let us know what you think of these workouts on our Instagram, good luck!