For those who enjoy staying physically fit, it was time to get creative during the past year with gyms closed nationwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The good news from this is that it showed anyone that it’s possible to get in a good workout from home, which could encourage some who were either nervous about going to a gym or had trouble affording a membership.
Topeka Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has a look at five free (or mostly free) ways to stay fit without leaving home (or your neighborhood).
- Lace Up a Pair of Shoes
The most old-fashioned of cardio exercise, all you have to do with this is lace up your shoelaces and go for a walk or a jog. There are plenty of variations to make walking or jogging a worthwhile exercise for you, plus the extra time outside will boost vitamin D levels and improve your mood.
- Dust Off Your Bicycle
With the warm-weather months here, get to pedaling! Biking is a great workout that’s not quite as rough on the joints as running, but it can still improve leg strength and help with your cardio.
- Yoga on Demand
Roll out your yoga mat in front of your tablet or smart TV and check out a litany of on-demand yoga classes. Amazon Prime has a number of videos as does CorePower Yoga’s website here.
- Use Exercise Bands
Bands provide great resistance in lieu of having a full weight set. You just need to buy some bands and then have somewhere to hang them from to create the resistance. Different-size and length bands can create the feeling of lighter or heavier weights.
- Use Household Items
You can be even more creative and use items around your house in place of weights or dumbbells. For instance, you can use canned food to do bicep curls or overhead presses. Up the weight by using a gallon of water or milk for back rows, and you can hold a large hardcover book above your chest while doing sit-ups!
To learn more about Topeka Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://topeka-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org/.
