Health is one of the key pillars of living a Bold Life, but for some, it can be a tough nut to crack. After all, breaking a sweat can often best be described as an acquired taste. Still, no one can deny that being in shape is a good thing — and being in fantastic shape is certainly an example of bold living. What, then, is a person to do when they’re short on free time and unable to make it to the gym? Enter: the at-home workout.
Yes, working out in the comfort of your own home can be an option. And depending on the workout, it can mean the difference between a being winded walking up a flight of stairs and sprinting up those same stairs with your giggling kids on your back.
Here, then, are 11 great at-home workouts to help you realize your bold health goals. Some require more of a financial investment than others, but any one of them will get the job done.
The More Expensive Workouts
- SPECIALIZED HOME WORKOUT PLANS, such as P90X, T25, and Insanity, are offered by expert trainers. These are weight loss and exercise programs that combine rigorous training and strict diet plans. You only need to purchase the DVDs and workout guides—and to follow them faithfully. These programs do not require a lot of equipment, but the routines can get very intense. The promise of these workout plans is to help one achieve his or her weight or fitness goals within a calculated or set period of time.
- WEIGHTLIFTING EXERCISES—Using free weights, or sandbags, dumbbells, and kettlebells, is a form of strength training that helps you improve balance, strengthen bones and lose weight. You can purchase weights one pair at a time. For instance, if the five-pound dumbbells no longer challenge you, get heavier ones. Workouts using free weights are also great for rehabilitating and building muscles.
- SUSPENSION TRAINING is a kind of workout that combines body weight and gravity to make workouts more challenging. There a number of suspension training straps and kits on the market, such as TRX Basic Suspension Trainer Kit, ZivaTech Fitness and GoFit Gravity Straps.
- RIDING A STATIONARY BIKE is good for burning off those stubborn calories. You can choose from a wide range of bikes and can ride daily in the comfort of your own living room (or in your garage, or wherever). Choose which one best suits you, combine it with interactive spin class videos—many of which you can actually find on Youtube for free—and cycle away to a healthier you.
- RUNNING ON A TREADMILL is a tried and true method of getting healthy and staying that way. Sure, a treadmill is expensive and keeping one is a long-term commitment, but you can run your miles no matter what the weather is like outside. Burn more calories and maximize the workout by changing the speed, intervals and raising the incline.
- You can do BOXING at home by investing in a punching bag and seriously hitting it for an intense cardio workout. Combine it with a High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) workout—and really, all you need is just 30 minutes to burn away the calories from last night’s pizza. Boxing is a great work out for strength, weight loss and muscle-building.
The Less Expensive At-Home Workouts
- CIRCUIT TRAINING is a body-conditioning exercise that’s meant for endurance or building resistance. It is a form of workout that combines various exercises sequentially completed in a cycle. A round of circuit training can include pushups, bench lifts, sit-ups, stomach crunch, squats, step-ups, jogging, burpees, and squat thrusts. You can find free basic programs in the internet or follow Youtube videos that readily offer HIIT rounds. Circuit training is one of the best at-home workouts out there that is proven to get results.
- DANCE WORKOUTS such as Zumba, hip-hop and belly dancing are some of the dance workouts you can do at home—again, you can find free sessions on Youtube. The best at-home workout you choose should be fun—and dance workouts certainly fit this description. Dance workouts tone the muscles, burn calories and help lose weight. Dance workouts are also good for developing flexibility and balance.
- YOGA was not designed as a workout routine. However, it does seem to give several benefits like weight loss, flexibility, strength, and bone, and muscle building. There are various types of yoga like Vinyasa and Bikram, among many others. You can choose a type that matches you and your lifestyle. If you have a yoga mat, comfortable clothes and a yoga video subscription (or just Youtube)—then you are good to go.
- PILATES is a form of exercise that focuses on posture, balance, and flexibility. And since it is a form of exercise that strengthens the muscle, it can also help in weight loss. There are a number of free basic Pilates instructional video clips online for your use to work out at home. You just need an exercise mat to begin.
- BODYWEIGHT EXERCISES such as planking, lunges, crunches, and body march are proof that you don’t need an expensive gym membership or workout equipment to stay fit. This exercise uses your weight and gravity to help you build strength and endurance. Consistency, commitment, and comfortable workout clothes are all you need to start working out.
Choosing the Best At-home Workout is Exciting, But Here are a Few Things to Note
Remember to always consult a physician before starting any health regimen or fitness workout. Check with your doctor on which type of exercise will work best for you. Depending on your health status, you can choose and combine from four types of exercise—endurance or aerobic, strength, flexibility and balance.
Before you start and decide which is the best at-home workout for you, specify the health goal you wish to achieve. Are you working out to lose weight? Or are you maybe planning to build muscle and endurance? Perhaps, you are planning to join a marathon and you need to prepare for it. These details will help you decide the best at-home work out for you. So, go ahead and take the first step towards a healthier you.
