If you’ve ever thought that getting to the gym is a hassle and you don’t have enough time, don’t despair. Working out at home is more accessible, cheaper, and way more fun. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to have a massive amount of expensive equipment to work out. Your bodyweight is perfect and can easily be used to help you get fit without leaving the house, so here are some at-home workout routine tips that do not require access to any equipment at all to get you started.
1. Plank
The plank is a great way to start a routine that will help your core and work out your arms using just your body weight as resistance. Start with the basics of trying to hold yourself in a plank position for about 30 seconds. If this is tricky, begin by planking on your knees. As your arms get stronger, you should move to your toes and ensure your whole body is in a straight line.
2. Begin to Advance your Plank
You can then begin to advance your plank workout by starting in the plank position and lifting one arm and the opposite leg off the ground. Be sure to keep your arm out straight in front of you, level with your head and your leg just a few inches off the ground. Again, hold this for 30 seconds, or as long as you can to begin with and then return to a relaxed position. Next, come up and plank again, and this time stretch out the opposite arm and leg to make sure you are evenly working both sides of the body.
3. Squats
Squatting is an excellent way to work your lower legs and bottom, and it can also be done while you’re waiting for the kettle to boil. You can use the kitchen counter as stability and gently squat as far as possible while leaving your hands on the work surface for support.
4. Step Ups
Whether you live in a house with a full staircase or a bungalow with just a single step up to the back door, you can still use step-ups. It’s a great way to enhance your fitness routine. You can either alternate every time stepping up on your right and then upon your left before stepping back down, or you can do 20 of each on the same leg.
5. Jumping Jacks
Jumping jacks are one of the best cardio exercises you can do with no equipment. Just ensure you give yourself enough space to raise and lower your arms without knocking things off safely. If you’ve ever watched a boxer training, you will know that it is a regular part of their routine because it is so valuable.
6. Cycling Legs
Laying on your back, lift your legs and rest your hands behind your head. Now begin to cycle your legs, pushing out one first and then the next one bringing the opposite leg up to your chest. This works your legs and your core as you are required to keep them a reasonable distance off the ground.
7. Bicep Curls
You can even get on board with weight training at home. Take a couple of cans out of your larder and use these or water bottles for resistance.
8. The Bridge
Again, laying on the floor, place your arms by your side and bring your feet so that your souls are resting with your knees bent as close to your bottom as you can manage. Now lift your bottom so that you form a straight line from your shoulders to your knees, and this is an excellent workout for your core and stomach muscles.
9. Sit-Ups
There is always a place in a home workout for the humble sit-up. It can be modified to ensure that you are not hurting yourself by either bending your knees or just sitting up part of the way if you can’t manage to sit up all the way.
10. Push-Ups
The push-up is also a great way to exercise, and again this can be done in various ways to suit your fitness levels. For example, you can push up from your toes or your knees and use your arms to push you all the way or some of the way up.
11. Jogging
To get your heart pumping and your blood flowing, why not try jogging on the spot. Put your favourite music on and see if you can keep jogging for the duration of this song.
12. Yoga
Yoga is a great way to teach your body how to stretch. It may not be high impact, but it certainly positively affects both the body and the mind, so why not end your exercise routine with a bit of yoga.
