Starting your fitness journey can be a daunting task. With busy schedules, membership prices and the overwhelming amount of information, how can you truly commit? Whether it’s your New Year’s Resolution or something you have been wanting to pursue for a while, here are some of the best tips to help you kickstart your fitness goals from home.
Warm Up
Before you even start, make sure to take 5-10 minutes to warm up. This will help get the body moving and avoid injuries. Some exercises include arm circles, leg swings and lunges.
Strength Training
If you’re looking to get stronger or increase your endurance, start incorporating these exercises into your workout. Whether you use weights or work with your bodyweight, they will help you progressively get stronger. Some of the most common exercises that work your entire body are push-ups, squats, lunges, mountain climbers and planks.
Low-Impact Workouts
Yoga is the perfect workout to increase your flexibility and movement. It is accommodating to all ages, genders and skill levels and will help start you on your fitness journey. Some of the most common poses are child’s pose, downward dog, warrior’s pose and cobra. This is a great opportunity to practice meditation and mindfulness. If you’re looking for something a bit more challenging, explore Pilates workouts. This mind-body workout will further enhance your balance, mobility, flexibility and core strength.
Cardio/HIIT
Also known as aerobic exercises, cardio is meant to raise your heart rate and will help you burn the most fat and calories. High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is a variation of this that alternates short bursts of intense exercise with brief breaks for recovery. Some workouts that are included in this are crunches, twists, leg raises, jumping jacks and burpees.
If you’re looking for less intense cardio exercises, there are 30-minute dance videos online that will help get you moving. If you have a gym or track in your building or neighbourhood, you can also go for a walk to try interval running, which is a mixture of walking and running.
Equipment
If you’re looking to up your workout game, invest in some equipment. Some of the essential pieces to have are a yoga mat and resistance bands. Weights are great for strength training with adjustable dumbbells if you are limited on room. Another space saving option is a walking pad as opposed to a treadmill if you want to get more steps in.
Tips to Enhance Your Goals
Staying consistent is the biggest tip to managing your fitness journey. Start with an achievable schedule – like 1-2 times a week – and increase it as you see fit. Align your workout schedule with your daily habits and routine to maximize the benefits. It is also important to schedule rest days. Whether you spend it sitting on the couch or making it active by going for a walk, either will help you recover. Staying hydrated and eating better – with specifically a focus on more protein intake – will help build your strength and muscle recovery.