The Gyms Are Shut, So Here Are 7 Ways to Keep Fit at Home

Work that body.

Over the last few weeks, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has really started to mess with the normal course of our everyday lives.

Employees are being asked to work from home, universities have switched to online classes and restaurants have transferred to delivery options only.

One of the latest public gathering places to be scrapped is the gym, and if you think this is a great excuse to become one with the couch, you are sorely mistaken.

Whether you’ve got the whole day available or just an hour after work, there are a bunch of options at your fingertips, so no excuses here!

Here are our alternative recommendations.

YouTube & Instagram

If you’re stuck inside and need some visual motivation, don’t forget about your social media.

YouTube and Instagram have tonnes of free content from thousands of influencers all over the world and with their own workout style to suit you.

Whether you’re wanting to learn more about weight training, HIIT training, Tabata style workouts or you want to follow along with a yoga instructor, social media has what you need.

You may already have some favorites in mind but if you’re looking for something new we have to recommend Grace Beverly (formerly known as grace fit UK) and Natacha Oceane for all your long form YouTube content, or if you prefer Instagram, consider Maddie Lymburner (@madfit.ig) and Amy Kate (@amykatefit).

Online Workout Guides

If following along to workout videos isn’t your style the internet hosts countless exercise guides and plans from various health and fitness experts and influencers.

Whether you’re looking for something short and inexpensive or an option that is more tailored to your individual needs, it’s sure to be somewhere online.

Many plans will showcase workouts that you could try at the gym or with equipment, as well as exercises that allow you to move from home, with your body weight or the everyday items available to you.

If you don’t have exercise equipment at home (and can’t hop down to Kmart) some everyday options you could try include: water bottles for weights; towels instead of a yoga mat; chairs instead of benches and stairs to replace a treadmill.

When switching out gym equipment at home, always remember to use caution and be safe to not injure yourself while you’re trying to keep fit.

If you haven’t already found your perfect workout guide, some influencers to check out include Kayla Itsines Sweat, Sarah Stephenson’s (Sarah’s Day) Sweat It to Shred it, John Venus’s 4-8 week plans and JD and Amy Kate’s (JAKD fitness) online coaching.

If you prefer something a little closer to home, get in contact with your local gym or trainer and ask what plans they might have available, like personal trainers from WA, Nikita and Josh’s Powerhouse 365 guides.

TikTok

For those of us who hate traditional workouts, I bet you never even considered TikTok.

I’m sure you’re wondering, how on earth can TikTok encourage me to move my body? If anything, it does the opposite!

While there is a lot of random content floating around on TikTok, one thing in abundance is TikTok dance challenges.

Not only do many TikTok dances range in complexity from beginners to dance veteran but they set users with a challenge to master each dance and song before moving on to the next, a slightly different source of motivation to traditional styles of exercise.

Short dances like these are great because they’re too quick to let users get bored.

They help you get in a great cardio workout while learning something new. It’s a win win.

Some popular TikTok dances you could try right now include Doja Cat’s “Say So”, K CAMP’s “Renegade” and Benee’s “Supalonely”.

Get Outside When You Can

While we are all technically self-isolating, it doesn’t mean that we can’t go outside at all; it just means we need to keep our distance from other people.

This means that if you can, you should get outside, go for a run or a bike ride, walk your dog or go for a hike with your family.

Getting outside is so important right now, not only to keep your body fit but to also keep your mind fit.

If your mental health is at its best, your work, study and fitness will be too. Getting your daily dose of vitamin D and fresh air is a key part of that.

Pull Out the Old Wii Fit (If it Still Works)

Okay, this one might be a long shot but if it was something you enjoyed back when the Nintendo Wii was popular, what’s the harm in trying it again?

If you have the console at home, consider wiping off the dust and having another go at all the games that encouraged you and your family to get up off the couch.

You don’t just have to use the Wii Fit game (because let’s be honest, how boring does that sound?). You could revisit Just Dance, Wii Sports or even Zumba fitness.

This option should also encourage you to spend more quality time with your family or roommates while you self-isolate.

Embrace Household Chores

While household chores suck, it can be a great way to work up a sweat while staying productive.

If you’re cringing at your overgrown lawn, or your carpet is desperate for a vacuum, consider how quickly a thorough cleaning job can get your blood pumping if you need a little extra motivation.

Making sure you move your body at least once a day is so beneficial to your overall health, and chores are a great way to get that movement in on a time crunch.

Try to Not Eat All Your Quarantine Snacks in One Go

One of the hardest things about being stuck inside is obviously the boredom, and with boredom comes boredom snacking.

If you have done a little bit of stocking up on essentials and snacks in preparation for a self-isolation period, it is best to save them for that period.

While it’s important to make sure you eat when you’re hungry and get in an abundance of healthy fresh foods, try your best to not let the boredom take over.

In the long run it will save you money and keep your body feeling good.

Header Image: YouTube (Lizzo Music)