Looking to get fit? Or stay fit? Many people equate joining a gym with getting a good workout, but that’s not entirely true. While gyms do offer many different exercise machines, and often a wide selection of classes as well, you don’t have to join one in order to receive an effective and beneficial workout. Plus, gym memberships can get expensive and place a strain on your budget, especially after your introductory period is over.
Fortunately, with the right knowledge and a minimal amount of equipment, you can provide yourself with exercises that are just as effective as the ones you can get at a gym — all inside the comfort of your own home! By developing a home exercise routine, you can save yourself money, work out in the privacy of your own home whenever you want, and benefit from the convenience of having a gym readily available to you at all times, all while avoiding the time it takes to commute back and forth to a separate location.
Below, you’ll find several home workouts, most of which require minimal equipment, or items you’re likely to already have inside your home.
Easily one of the most well-known and effective workouts you can do practically anywhere, pushups are great for developing upper body strength and toning your arms, pectorals, and back area.
The key to a pushup is maintaining proper form. Here’s how to do it:
If pushups are too hard for you at first, you can start by keeping your knees on the ground instead of your feet and move to doing the traditional method once you have more strength.
If you want more of a challenge, try doing your pushups while placing your hands on an incline, such as a stair, or a pair of blocks or bricks.
Tricep dips are easy to do if you have a table, desk, or chair in your home. As the name implies, these are a good way to work your triceps while toning and strengthening your arms.
To do a tricep dip:
Squats help strengthen and tone your lower body and are great example of a bodyweight workout you can do anywhere with a flat surface.
This exercise is for your core and lower ab area and is much more effective than your basic crunches or sit-ups.
(You can complement this workout by remaining in the same position, with your legs extended in front of you instead. While keeping them together, raise and lower them to the ground, and back up to a 45-degree angle. This will work your upper and lower abs together.)
This is another easy core exercise, requiring only a floor, and ideally a rug or soft surface.
Running in place while bringing your knees up high can get your heart rate climbing, and all you need is your living room (or any room with a floor!)
If the full two minutes are too difficult, you can begin with 30 seconds and gradually work your way up as your cardio health improves.(Watch this video if you are having trouble with your form.)
If you want to add some variety to your at-home cardio, consider using a jump rope, or doing jumping jacks. Intervals of three minutes and three sets should do the trick.
For helpful tips on saving money, budgeting, and travel, be sure to check out more from the .
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