Since the pandemic hit, we all as a society have learned to become more self-reliant as house help was not available, cooks had gone on leaves and we could not go out of our houses. This led to a host of new and creative inventions that we turned to. As gyms were also shut during those times, we turned towards workouts that could be done at home or at most, around the vicinity of our houses so as not to venture too far outside. Even though gyms have opened up now, we are listing down some of our favorite and easy workouts that require bare minimum equipment but are just as effective in keeping you fit.
- Jumping Jacks:
Jumping jacks are easy jumping workouts that can be done anywhere, be it in the comfort of your own house or a park near your humble abode. These are great in moving all your limbs and get your heartbeat up quite quickly. You can do these in short bursts if you are just starting out, or continuously if you have become a pro at doing them. They are one of the easiest workouts around and can be done by children and adults alike. Even though the chances are that you will probably know how these are done, we will still give you a short primer on how to do them. All you have to do is to raise your hands and keep your feet apart in a star-like shape each time that you jump.
- Planks:
Planks are great for exercising most of your muscles well, especially the muscles that are in your stomach. They also aid in giving you a strong back. Like other exercises on this list, planks can be made as tedious as you want them to be. Holding a plank for a minute or two can do the trick of giving you strong and fit muscles all over your body. Planks need to be done in a proper posture so that they are the most effective for your body. The proper posture for planks can be learnt from many YouTube tutorials.
- Sit-ups And Push-ups:
Sit-ups and push-ups have been around for a very long time and they are some of the most effective exercises to do. Sit-ups help in toning your stomach muscles and to reduce your love handles that may have come on due to all the festive binge that we have indulged in over the past few days. Push-ups, on the other hand, are great for toning your biceps and triceps as you support most of your body weight on your arms in this exercise. It is really about your individual stamina on how many you can do in one circuit but it is always beneficial to start with a few at first so that you do not end up injuring your body in the process of doing more of these.
- Going For Runs:
If you do not want a static workout, you can always opt for running around the neighborhood. Not only will this help you to change your workout surroundings but also expose you to fresh air which can do wonders for your fitness motivation. Running is also a great way to exercise all your muscles at once. You do not need to run at a fast pace to feel its effects. A light jog can also prove to be very helpful in putting your muscles to work without it being too strenuous.
- Brisk Walks:
If running is not your particular cup of tea, you can instead opt for taking a brisk walk in a park. This may not be as effective of a workout as the others on this list, but it can get your body moving so that you can ease yourself into other more intensive workouts. Also, this does not require for you to specifically take out time from your busy schedule to do it, rather you can always go for walks around the block whenever you get the time and you want to refresh yourself.
- Cycling:
The new favorite pastime of the world has become cycling in this pandemic and rightfully so. It is difficult to find an activity that is as fun as it is effective. The best part about cycling is that it can be done by anyone of any age group. Also, it can be done individually as well as in groups.
Again, this exercise is so easily customizable to your body requirements as you can make it more challenging by cycling uphill or if you want it to be an easier workout, you can cycle on plain and straight roads instead.
- Yoga:
There is a lot that has been said about yoga and its benefits for everyone. While it was an age-old practice here in India, the western culture has also begun to see its numerous advantages over other forms of working out. Different asanas have their own specific benefit and these can be held for as long as one wishes and according to his or her stamina.
One thing to note here is that we are no fitness experts so it is better to consult your physician before engaging in these workouts. Having said that, these workouts are actually pretty basic and customisable so that you can cater them to your own personal and unique needs. They can be made as high intensity or as low intensity as you like. Or you can also build up to a high-intensity workout gradually instead of starting big as that might put a strain on your body, especially if you do not work out regularly as is.
Even with such easy workouts, your body may strain a bit so it is really important that you do basic warming up routine before the workout and a basic cooling down routine post it. If you still suffer from a strain in the initial days of starting these, you can use a hot and cool pack to combat any uneasiness. It is also advisable to start by doing a mix of these workouts at least three times a week and then work up to doing them on an everyday basis.