Exercising at home isn’t always easy. And though there are countless online resources to help us keep fit inside the house, sometimes motivation can wane, and doing the same things everyday can start to feel tedious.
So in the spirit of variety and diversity, we thought we’d share 8 pieces of exercise equipment which are great for anyone looking to create a mini home gym on a budget. That way, if the day ever comes when you’d like a bit of a change from exercising in front of a screen, you have something else to go at!
Dumbbells
The classic tool for building up those arms. Dumbbells are an absolute must-have for any home gym. They’re cheap, small, convenient, and very versatile. With a couple of dumbbells lying around, you’ll never be stuck for things to do during your workouts.
Kettlebells
Much like dumbbells, kettlebells are a home-workout staple. They’re incredibly dynamic pieces of equipment, capable of working an impressive amount of muscles.
By incorporating kettlebells into workouts, you’ll stand to improve your overall strength, core power, balance, and flexibility. They’re also great for burning fat and sculpting lean muscles.
Yoga mat
For those times when the floor beckons, be it for sit-ups, leg raises, or a simple bridge. It’s always good to have some padding on-hand to protect our backs from the hard ground.
And not only are yoga mats great for traditional workouts, they’re also good for, well, yoga. Having a yoga mat in the cupboard gives you the option to take your exercise regime in a different direction every now and then. And, of course, incorporating yoga into your wellness programme is a fantastic way to keep flexible and fit!
Resistance band
Resistance bands are excellent workout multi-tools with a host of benefits and functions. You can use them for building strength, weightlifting, increasing mobility, and even as part of rehabilitation programmes.
Skipping ropes
No home gym is complete without some form of cardio equipment. And skipping ropes may just be one of the cheapest, handiest, and most effective cardio exercise tools around.
When you can’t get to the gym for your weekly HIIT class, why not try a HIIT-inspired card game instead? Designed to give you a different workout everyday, Shuffl is an exercise game based entirely on chance. Great for keeping things fresh and exciting.
Foam roller
No workout, at home or at the gym, is complete without a proper cool-down. And foam rollers are wonderful tools for helping to relieve muscle soreness and increase the range of motion in your joints.
A few weeks ago we featured 10 online home workouts to help keep you exercising during the coronavirus outbreak. This time we’re back with 5 more, the only difference being that all the classes shared below are part of an ongoing live-stream series.
So you can look forward to something new everyday whilst maintaining a sense of community. Because following along to live videos can give us a heightened sense of participation, and may help to alleviate feelings of isolation and separation.
Jesmond Pool and Gym
First and foremost are our very own virtual classes. Running daily from Monday – Saturday, you can take part in wide range of classes including Pliates, Zumba, Tai Chi, yoga, meditation, and HIIT. So if you’re a regular at Jesmond Pool and Gym and you’re missing your instructors, these are the classes for you!
Joe Wicks — The Body Coach TV
We’ve all heard of Joe Wicks. Arguably one of the most famous fitness trainers in the UK, he’s built up a huge following on his YouTube channel, The Body Coach TV, and since March he’s been uploading daily live-stream workouts every morning at 9am.
So if you’re a fan of the Body Coach, or just HIIT in general, this is definitely one to check out.
Planet Fitness
Planet Fitness are offering daily “home work-ins”, live-streamed on their Facebook page. Featuring low-impact, full-body, and high-energy classes, there’s something here for everyone.
CorePower Yoga
If yoga is more your thing, then take a look at CorePower Yoga’s YouTube channel. They’re streaming multiple new classes every day, offering an impressive variety of styles. From Pranayama and meditation to Ayurveda and body sculpt. They even have classes on emotional health practises. So this one’s as much for the mind as the body.
Barry’s
Barry’s Instagram page features live-stream classes from a variety of different trainers. Classes include total body, bands, and release classes. This is a great all-round choice for anyone looking for a daily exercise session.
As you may already know, Jesmond Pool and Gym has made the difficult decision to temporarily close until the situation regarding the Coronavirus outbreak is under control. Unfortunately this means that many of our local residents will now be without the exercise facilities they’re accustomed to using on a regular basis.
But don’t worry. Though our doors may be closed, we’re still 100% committed to helping improve the health and wellbeing of our patrons. So to help you stay motivated and maintain a good wellness routine through these uncertain times, we’ve gathered up 10 great home workout routines that you can perform without any equipment or machines.
How To Adjust Training & Diet For Coronavirus + At Home Workouts (No Equipment Needed!)
20 minute FULL BODY at home workout (no equipment needed) Corona Virus Solution
30-Minute Home Workout (NO Gym NO Weights)
10 MIN Home Workout (No Equipment Bodyweight Workout)
Orangetheory At-Home Workout
“My Gym’s Closed” HOME WORKOUT ROUTINE (No Equipment Required)
The PERFECT Home Workout (Sets and Reps Included)
20 MIN FULL BODY HOME WORKOUT // No Equipment, No Noise
20 MIN FULL BODY WORKOUT // No Equipment | Pamela Reif
10 MIN BODYWEIGHT WORKOUT (NO EQUIPMENT HOME WORKOUT!)
Rowing is a fantastic form of exercise. It’s the cardio all-rounder, providing a full, thorough, and satisfying workout every time.
Not only that, but rowing can also be incredibly calming. The repetitive actions involved, and psychical rhythm developed by the movements, can often induce states of relaxation and heightened mindfulness.
It also turns out that there are quite a few benefits associated with rowing. And today we’re going to share 4 of our favourites. . .
Rowing gives a low-impact, full-body workout
Rowing machines are one of the few stationary exercise devices that provide a thorough upper body workout. Working all sorts of muscles, including the back, shoulders, and arms (as well as the muscles of the lower body, of course). This makes rowing an excellent choice for anyone looking to develop an all-round fitness regime.
It’s also incredibly gentle as far as impact goes. The fact that your feet remain still means that there’s very little strain on the joints and bones. So it’s a great choice for anyone who is unable to undertake more strenuous and impactful exercises.
Rowing is a form of cardiovascular training, and when it comes to heart health, cardio exercise has many well-documented benefits. From lower blood pressure to improved blood flow. The heart is, after all, a muscle, and muscles need to be worked if we’re to keep them strong and healthy.
Also, rowing makes the large muscle groups of your body work continuously and repetitively for an extended period of time, which technically makes it both a cardiovascular and aerobic exercise. Which further increases its potential health benefits.
Builds strength
Anyone who’s tried rowing for any length of time knows it’s no easy task. It’s taxing on the muscles and can be very fatiguing. But with a bit of perseverance rowing can be a great method for building all-round strength.
Also, one of the main muscles targeted by rowing are the quadriceps. And well-developed quadriceps provide us with greatly enhanced functional strength in the lower body. This also makes activities such as walking, jogging, and squatting much easier to carry out.
Less impact, more exercise
As mentioned above, rowing provides a great low-impact workout. And if you’re on the lookout for more exercises that offer a less strenuous path to fitness, why not take a look at our post on Low Intensity Interval Training.
Many people agree that a good warm-up is an essential part of any safe and effective exercise routine.
Stretching helps to loosen up the muscles and prevent injury, and a proper warm-up routine may even improve your performance and overall technique.
It only takes a relatively short amount of time to get sufficiently warmed-up. And whether you’re a runner, a swimmer, or just a general cardio fanatic, there’s a warm-up out there to suit you.
New year, new you? That’s what they say. But it’s not only the fitness fanatics who change with the times; fitness trends are constantly coming and going. And with every new year comes a new set of trends and fashions. From Zumba and HIIT to Boxercise and LIIT.
And whilst not all of them can stand the test of time, one thing’s always certain: when January comes around, it brings a sack full of trends with it.
With that said, here are 5 fitness trends to watch out for in 2020. . .
Community fitness
Exercising with others has always been a popular way to keep in shape. But with increasing numbers of people engaging with fitness regimes, and a growing number of local and national exercise clubs, working out in groups is now easier and more accessible than ever before.
And thanks to the prevalence of fitness apps, many of which allow you to connect with others locally, there are myriad ways to meet and engage with like-minded individuals.
Rowing
Rowing seems to be experiencing something of a revival at the moment, which seems set to continue into the new year. One reason for its popularity is its low-impact nature. This makes it an excellent option for older people or those who have sustained impact-related injuries.
Not only that, but rowing offers one of the most effective full-body workouts around. In fact, a study from the English Institute of Sport showed that it works 86% of the muscles in your body.
Meditation
Though it may not seem like a traditional fitness trend, meditation is an amazing supplement to any exercise regime. After all, the modern world is a busy and hectic place, and though exercise itself helps with stress, meditation is an incredibly effective antidote for 21st Century life.
And now with the ever-increasing public awareness of the myriad benefits of meditation, it appears that more and more fitness instructors are starting to incorporate mindfulness into their classes. So 2020 may just be the year of mindful workouts…
Tech-free exercise
This one might seem a little bit illogical. The general assumption is that the further we progress into the “future”, the more we rely on technology. But it appears that the opposite is taking place. More people now are beginning to opt for a less technologically-dependent lifestyle. And one aspect of modern life that has become heavily infused with apps and tech is health and fitness.
But, of course, technology isn’t always good for our mental wellbeing, so the ability to unplug and disconnect once in a while is incredibly important. This means that exercising the old fashioned way, without apps or heart monitors or social media leaderboards, may be one fo the best ways to keep fit (both physically and mentally) in 2020.
Low-impact training
2019 was the year of HIIT. But 2020 could well be the year of HILIT (high-intensity, low-impact training). Most people are well aware of the benefits of HIIT training, but one of its primary pitfalls (especially for those who need to watch out for this sort of thing) is how much stress it puts on the joints.
One solution to this problem is low-impact training. All the benefits of HIIT without any of the impact. This form of training could prove to be particularly popular this year amongst runners and CrossFitters.
