Everyone has stress and ways to relieve that stress. Some vent to their best friends for hours over a cup of coffee, while many others go to the gym. Sweating out your worries is not only good for your physical health but is beneficial for mental health as well.
Once going to the gym was not a viable option due to COVID-19, there were only two choices: 1) stop working out or 2) find a new normal.
You don’t need a gym to get a workout in.
With these three home workouts, you don’t have to sacrifice your fitness routine. Even if your gym has re-opened, it can be hard to practice social distancing amongst other gym-goers. These circuits will get your heart rate up without putting you at risk.
Do each exercise for 30 seconds with a five-second rest in between each exercise and repeat the entire circuit three times.
Abs Circuit
Major tip: Arguably the most crucial aspect to training abs is aligning your breath with the constriction of your abs. Exhale every time you are crunching and squeezing your core; this trains the deep transverse abdominals aka, your all-natural corset. Squeezing your core while inhaling will do the complete opposite and train your body to shape itself more bulged and bulky.
Up and Down Planks
Start in a plank position with forearms on the ground, butt down, core tight and tucked in, elbows directly under your shoulders.
Bring one hand up after the other so you’re in a starting push up position.
Bring your forearms back down to the ground, one after the other so you’re back in a plank position.
Keep your core squeezed while you’re coming up and down to prevent your hips from swinging side-to-side.
Plank with Hip Dips
Start in a plank position. Remember to keep your butt down, core tight, and your elbows directly under your shoulders.
While maintaining the plank position in your upper body, bring your hips down to one side, working your obliques.
Switch and bring your hips to the other side and repeat.
In and Outs
Start sitting down on the floor, leaning slightly back until you feel your abs shake.
With your arms pushing behind you as support, inhale as you bring your torso down and extend your legs.
Exhale while bending your knees to your chest and squeezing your core, almost like a “lemon-squeezer” position.
Cardio Circuit
Burpees
Start standing up right then jump up with arms up above your head.
Bring your arms down to the floor and kick your legs behind you so you’re in a starting push-up position.
Squeeze your core and kick your legs up to where your hands are.
Push off your legs, bring your arms up and jump and repeat.
Jump lunges
Before you do anything, practice a regular lunge first: bring your right leg forward and bend at the knee. Make sure that your knee does not go over your toes. Left leg should be bent behind you, supporting the position.
From the lunge position, hop up and switch your legs in the air so the left leg is bent in front and the right leg bends behind.
Keep your chest up throughout the exercise and remember to breathe! Swinging your arms up as your switch legs will help lift your body and make the hop switch easier.
High Knees
Keeping your chest up, bring your knees bent up towards your chest one after the other.
Swinging the arm opposite of the knee coming up will help with your momentum, or you can keep your hands in front of you to ensure your knees come up high enough each time.
Legs Circuit
Reverse Lunges
Starting in a standing position, bring one leg behind you and bend while bending the front leg.
Make sure that the bending knee in front is directly above the ankles and does not go over the toes.
Bring the leg bent behind you up to return to a standing position and switch legs.
Rainbows
Start on hands and knees.
Extend one leg out behind you and move out to the side.
With your leg still extended, bring it up in a rainbow shape until your toe reaches the opposite side then rainbow the leg back to starting position.
Do this for thirty seconds then switch legs.
Kick Backs with Side Kicks
Start in a standing position and shift your weight onto one side. This exercise requires balance so remember to keep your core tight.
Extend one leg back behind you and squeeze your butt. Bring the leg back in and extend out laterally.