Home Exercise Guide for Busy Parents
The saying “health is wealth” definitely rings true in today’s turbulent times. While we’re all safely staying at home and avoiding unnecessary outings to curb the spread of the current global health crisis, it’s still important to do what you can at home to stay as healthy as possible.
This is where home exercise comes in. The Houston Chronicle reports that some gyms are beginning to enforce health and safety protocols in their premises, but staying in the safety of your own home is still your best bet.
The best part is that you don’t need lots of fancy equipment to get started.
Home Exercise Guide
So without further ado, below is a quick rundown of some exercises you can fit into your busy schedule right now.
Leg raises
Contrary to popular belief, cardio isn’t just running or using a jump rope. Even if you’re working with limited space, you can definitely get that heart rate pumping.
For a super quick warm up, Gala Bingo recommends doing seated leg raises: completing 20 repetitions on each side should be enough to get your heart rate up and prepare you for the next exercise.
This is also a great move to do in your lunch break when you’re feeling a bit lethargic.
Push-ups
There’s no denying the fact that push-ups are a very effective exercise. A few moves target the entire body the way a push-up does, and you can do them at home with relative ease.
If you’re working your way towards a full push-up, lots of personal trainers recommend starting on an incline. Placing your hands on a sturdy surface like a cabinet or a table can help you develop that full range of motion.
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Planks
Holding a plank is one of the best ways to work your entire core — not just your abs, but your back and obliques as well. As with a push-up, you can work your way up to a full plank by trying out different variations.
You can start with your knees down and arms extended, and then a forearm plank, and then a high plank.
Speaking of obliques, you can also try holding a side plank to really build up your balance and core strength.
Burpees
Once you’re ready to up the intensity of your cardio, try squeezing in 10 burpees. The great thing about this exercise is that it gets your heart rate pumping quickly; trust us, just try 10 first and see how well you’re feeling after that!
Another great thing about burpees is that you can easily change them up according to your fitness level. You can opt to omit the push-up at the bottom and the jump at the top, or even walk your feet out into a plank.
Squats
Healthline notes that the biggest muscle in your body is your gluteus maximus, otherwise known as your buttocks.
Working your butt off (pun intended) can help increase your metabolism, and squats can help you do just that. You’re also giving your thighs a bit of a workout when you do your squats.
Remember to keep your back straight to avoid any soreness, and try moving up to squat jumps once you’ve built up your fitness levels.
You’re not alone in your exercise routine: lots of people have started using this opportunity at home to revisit their fitness goals. These exercises are just what you need to help manage your stress and get that much-needed boost of energy.