Home workouts and Exercise routines
2020– The year we all got to know what a lockdown really is. The entire world was stuck in their houses due to the fear of Coronavirus. People had to make conscious efforts to improve their immunity so as to avoid contracting the virus. Unfortunately, when it came to physical fitness, people neither had access to gyms nor could they go out for a run/hike. A strict “NO” to any outdoor games or form of physical excursion. People had no choice but to take care of their bodies right at their homes. Those who could afford: hired online fitness trainers and bought the essential equipment such as the treadmill or stationary bicycle. While the ones who couldn’t afford the pricy services, especially students/bachelors, had to find a way out. Many took the help of apps such as Cultfit, Alo, HealthifyMe, etc. The key was to sustain and keep the body moving with the help of limited resources and without getting bored/demotivated. During the lockdown, I came up with an exercise routine that included a different type of workout every single day of the week. This kept me motivated throughout the week and I looked forward to work-out every single day! Let’s quickly discuss the forms of workout I adopted during the week:
- Bodyweight Exercises
Bodyweight exercises are a great way to build strength and tone your muscles without equipment. Some of the best bodyweight exercises include push-ups, squats, lunges, and plank. I included bodyweight exercises in each workout. I wasn’t very good at push-ups initially so I started off with knee push-ups. The consistency actually helped me to redefine my posture. I had allotted different days for the upper body, lower body and abs. Sometimes I used a pair of dumbbells for better impact but couldn’t go above 5kgs! Abs workout is my favorite kind of workout. I love abdominal crunches, bicycle crunches and Russian twists. I took the help of Youtube videos and several apps to customize my workouts in a fun manner. One fitness influencer on Youtube that I would like to mention is Chloe Ting. Just go through her channel/website once and you will understand why I call her an inspiration!
- Yoga
Yoga is an excellent way to improve flexibility, balance, and strength. Again there are plenty of online yoga videos that you can follow along with at home. One channel on Youtube I would like to mention is Yoga with Adrienne. Try out her videos and I assure you that you will feel good about yourself only after one session. You don’t need any equipment to do yoga (okay maybe a yoga mat or for that matter any mat is fine), and it’s a great way to relax and de-stress after a long day. I usually did Yoga in the middle of the week when I used to be stressed or on weekends when I did not want to exert myself more.
- Dance workouts
Well not everyone can dance, but trust me I recommend everyone to take up dancing as a form of exercise. Before the lockdown, I used to attend Zumba classes at my gym. That one hour used to be my favorite hour of the day. Dance is more of a self-expression than a workout but what better than blending these two together! There are plenty of dance workout videos on Youtube but I preferred freestyle and that was because I wanted it to be me-time where I just appreciated myself and increased my self-awareness in the form of dancing. You wouldn’t believe but just 20 minutes of dancing alone in my room on upbeat music made me feel so confident about myself! It also kept me attached to my social being when the world went into social distancing. I think the best memories that I have of my “lockdown workouts” are definitely about dance!
Working out at home doesn’t have to be boring or ineffective. Also, even though the lockdown is over it is always a good time to start working out at home in case you want to save up some money or practice self-discipline. With the right exercises and routines, you can get a great workout without ever leaving your house. I would recommend you to make a routine for yourself according to your needs but if not, I’ve included mine below. So, start today and enjoy the benefits of a healthy and active lifestyle.
Monday- Lower Body
Tuesday- Abs
Wednesday- Yoga
Thursday- Upper body
Friday- Abs
Saturday- Dance
Sunday- Rest (with active movement)
