Whether you follow live classes with fitness studios everyday or have a personal trainer who’s keeping you going on Zoom calls thrice a week, you’ve definitely made exercise a part of your new routine. And if working out is a priority, it’s important to make sure that you’re set up the right way. If you haven’t been too active and want to know how to start working out at home, don’t worry - we have a few tips for you to get going.
Set up a fitness space
Finding it difficult to roll out of bed on a particularly cozy morning? We feel you! Being at home for so many months has led to a whole new level of lethargy. Also, a hygge-inspired bedroom might not be the best place for an intense ab workout.
If you have the space, why not go ahead and create a designated fitness area? It could be in the attic, the basement, the study or even on the porch. It’s like going to the gym but without really leaving the house. The fact that it’s a different part of the house from where you relax or work will definitely make a difference. You can get into your fitness OOTD, grab a towel and a bottle of water, and walk across to your very own, private little gym. Once you enter your fitness room, you’re in the zone, motivated to kickstart your day. Keep all your fitness gear and accessories in this area so everything is organized in one place.
Choosing a workout
With no dearth of inspiring workouts on social media or YouTube, choosing the right kind of exercises for your body can be an overwhelming task. What is important to remember here is that every individual is different with a different body type, different physical makeup and maybe even different health-related issues. What works for one person might not necessarily work for another. Think about it, kettlebells might look cool but if they lead to you pulling a muscle or two, the only kettle you’ll be looking at, for a long time, is the one full of tea on the stove.
For instance, if you have a weak spine or knee trouble, intense HIIT workouts or heavy weight training might not be the way to go. Instead, pilates or even strength and conditioning sessions will benefit you so much more. Understanding your body and its needs is the first step to choosing the right fitness regime. And take our word for it, only an expert can help you there. And by ‘expert’ we mean a doctor or a certified physical trainer. You might have a specific fitness influencer you look up to but he or she might not be the right person to guide you. Unless of course, they’re certified and experienced.
What to wear?
That age old question that usually has us standing in front of the mirror, wondering what outfit to choose while the pile of clothes on the bed keeps getting bigger and bigger. The best part about fitness apparel is how comfortable it is and how it can be worn just about anywhere, whether you’re making a quick trip to the grocery store or relaxing at home while bingeing on Netflix. The right attire is very important when you’re working out. Oversized clothing may be appealing but it can also restrict your movements when you’re right in the middle of an exciting crossfit workout. You also don’t want to go the other route with extra tight clothes that cause unprecedented levels of breathlessness even before you start warming up.
Fabric plays a huge role when choosing fitness clothing. You want to go for materials that absorb sweat easily and allow you to breathe. It’s also important to choose clothes according to the workouts you’re doing. Running calls for tighter fits and highly-absorbent materials while yoga is best done in stretchy fabrics that wick away sweat easily. Also, remember to pick your shoes carefully. They should offer a snug fit without being too tight. Ill-fitted shoes can cause your feet to swell or might lead to injury in high intensity sessions. And then, it’s back to that couch with no more workouts, for days at a stretch while you heal.
Get the right accessories
It might be fun to be innovative for a while but how long are you going to use a water bottle for your Russian twists or an old hairband for resistance when you’re working on those glute muscles? When looking for the right equipment, it’s best to start with the basics. A good mat, a pair of dumbbells, fitness bands, and even a workout bench are enough to get going. If you don’t want to commit to buying fitness accessories, a better idea would be to rent them. That way, you can keep changing your equipment to suit your progressive workouts over time. If you have a lot of space at your disposal and you want to set up a basic gym, you could make the choice to get more (and heavier) equipment. Besides the hand weights and resistance tubing, you can also get yourself a treadmill, a stationary bicycle, and an elliptical trainer. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to setting up your private fitness space. Like we mentioned earlier, it all depends on the workouts you’re doing, the type of exercises you like and what’s best for your body and health. Fitness is a long journey that changes over time and that’s why renting accessories is always a more practical option.Consistency is key
What time should I work out? How long should I work out? How many days should I work out in a week? The fitness FAQs are plenty and the concerns are almost always the same. According to the CDC, “for moderate-intensity physical activity, a person's target heart rate should be 50% to 70% of his or her maximum heart rate.” If you’re a beginner, it’s always best to start slow. Don’t rush into intensive exercises that can leave you with a bucket load of aches and pains, and maybe even broken bones or torn ligaments. Even a little exercise goes a long way.
Ideally, beginners should start with three to four 40-minute sessions a week. However, the length of a session depends on the type of workout you’re doing. You can do 20-minute HIIT sessions every day for 5-6 days a week and still see immediate results. Even 1-hour yoga classes three times a week are very effective when it comes to losing weight, building strength and toning your body. The main thing to keep in mind is consistency. If you’re consistent with your fitness at home, maintaining a healthy diet, and living a balanced lifestyle, great results will show in no time.
Exercising isn’t easy but it’s definitely worth it and we’re with you every step of the way. Rent fitness accessories from us and we’ll have them delivered to you in no time.
Stay fit, stay safe!