10 Exercises You Can do at Home ...

Daily physical exercise is a must if you want to stay fit and healthy. There should be no excuse to skip out on it other than sickness or death. Well, that’s how it’s supposed to be in an ideal world. However, reality is far from that. There are times when we simply cannot go to the gym or go for a walk. Don’t despair, though, because even in the comfort of your home, you can still do simple exercises to stimulate your blood and your muscles. Here are 10 exercises you can do at home.

1. Walk in Place

I used to think that walking in place was a weird thing. But my mom brought home a really old Walk Away the Pounds video and I fell in love with walking indoors. Believe it or not, you can actually lose weight doing this cardio workout. You will also lose inches off your waist and your legs. You should still wear the proper clothes and shoes to stay comfortable throughout your workout.

2. Stair Climbing

Stair climbing works your legs and your buttocks. Stair climbing is an effective low-impact cardiovascular workout that strengthens your heart and your lungs. Before taking on the stairs, be sure that you are wearing the proper footwear. You should warm up and stretch your legs muscles before ascending. When climbing, don’t lock your knees and lean slightly forward from your hips while keeping a straight back. Take the stairs one step at a time. As your fitness level increases, you can start taking the stairs two steps at a time.

3. Yoga and Pilates

These workouts are very minimalist and require little to no equipment. Basically, all you need for these workouts are mats or a wooden floor and enough space to do the poses. Yoga and Pilates will reduce stress; they will also strengthen your mind-body connection and your core muscles. Before doing Yoga and Pilates on your own, you might want to take classes to learn the proper poses and techniques. You can also learn from videos or instructional books.

4. Push Ups

Push ups are used to test your upper body strength and endurance. Before performing push ups, be sure to warm up and stretch the muscles involved. The main muscles used in a push up are shoulders, chest, and triceps. Go on your hands and toes, with your hands a shoulder-width apart, fully extend your elbows; this is the starting position for good-form push ups. Keep your body in a straight line and lower your body until your elbows are in 90 degree angles. Count one repetition when you push back up to the starting position. Remember not to use your buttocks or abs when pushing back up. There are variations to good-form push ups such as knee, knuckle, bench, and wall push ups.

5. Core Workouts

There are many core work outs that can easily be performed in your bedroom or living room. You can do sit ups, crunches, leg lifts, and other core workouts. Of course, you must do these workouts using the proper form to avoid injury in the back, abdominal muscles, and the neck.

6. Weight Training

Don’t be intimidated by weight training. It is very different from power lifting or weight lifting. Weight training is a form of strength training that involves different muscle groups. It helps tone your muscles and helps you lose body fat. You can use free weights or dumbbells. You can also improvise by using food cans and water bottles. If you are new to this activity, make sure that you learn the proper form from a trainer or a video.

7. Exercise DVDs

There are many DVDs on the market that can give you varied workouts. Video workouts are great because all you need are a television set, a player, and ample space. You can have your choice of exercise for the day. For me, the best thing about exercising with a DVD is the ability to review and study the moves to achieve maximum physical benefits.

8. Wii Games

Photo Credit: kelvin255

In terms of combining exercise and fun, Wii games definitely take the cake. There’s the famous Wii Fit and Wii Plus set that offers over 40 different activities in four categories: yoga, strength training, aerobics, and balance games. Aside from these set of activities, there are also other games that give your body a total workout. Some examples are Samba de Amigo, EA Sports Active, Dance Dance Revolution, Walk it Out, Just Dance, and We Cheer.

9. Dancing

There is no need to worry about other people judging your moves when you dance at home. Put your favorite music on and dance like there’s no tomorrow. Raise your arms, move your legs, and shake your hips. Dancing is a fun cardio workout that you can do using proper movements or freestyle.

10. Doing House Work

Stop hating house work and start moving your body. Many household chores can help you work different parts of the body. You can even modify the movements to increase difficulty and intensity. Not only are you cleaning your home, but you are also giving your body a good workout.

There is no reason for you to be lazy when it comes to working out when there are all these indoor exercises for you to perform. They only require you to get up and move. There are no monthly fees, no pesky gym personalities, no traffic, and no weather conditions to worry about. Know that you can be fit and healthy inside your home.

Top Photo Credit: Dan Anderson (way backed up)