4 Types of Workouts You Can Do at Home

You’ve decided you want to get your body moving, get fitter and enjoy a healthier lifestyle. But, where do you start? An easy way to get into exercising, and to figure out what type of workout you will enjoy, is by starting at home.

Exercising at home is less stressful and more comfortable, as you don’t have to worry about being watched or experience the fear of not knowing how each machine works. It can also be more affordable; there are a great variety of workouts that need little to no equipment, and many free classes and guided tutorials on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.

So, to get you started on your fitness journey, we’ve put together a great selection of workouts, varying in intensity that use almost no equipment. Read below to find the best one for you.

1. Yoga

Yoga is a combination of mental and physical low-impact exercises that have been practiced around the world for thousands of years. All one really needs is a yoga mat, but any soft surface like your carpet or towel on your backyard grass works too.

Perfect for young or old, beginners or advanced, yoga can both calm the mind and strengthen the body. Enjoy a yoga workout today with a free YouTube class from Adriene.

2. Pilates

Pilates is another low-impact, full-body workout that aims to strengthen your muscles and stabilise your core, while also improving postural alignment, mobility and flexibility. Pilates can be done with just an exercise mat (a bit thicker than a yoga mat) to cushion your pressure points.

A typical Pilates class is 45 minutes to an hour long, but when working out at home you can choose the time and routine that best suits you. You can find a number of Pilates workout moves on Pinterest.

Wondering what the difference is between yoga and Pilates? One of the main distinctions between these two workouts is the intention behind it. Yoga is more about the mind-body and spiritual connection, focusing the attention on the practitioner. Whereas, Pilates pays attention to the alignment of the body, so the focus is on the precision and control of the movement.

3. Dance

Looking to find an exciting way to exercise? Dance workouts are the answer for you! These energising routines are not only fun, but require no equipment, and will have your heart pumping and calories burning.

There are a number of rhythms and dance-style workouts to choose from, varying in length from a 30-minute dance party to a 3-minute bootcamp. Sweat away with a Latin-inspired Zumba YouTube class or enjoy a dance cardio session with The Fitness Marshall on Facebook.

4. HIIT

HIIT, which stands for high intensity interval training, is an aerobic workout that has been proven to boost metabolism and build strength in a shorter amount of time.

Some HIIT workouts include dumbbells and other typical gym equipment, but most can be done with only body-weight exercises – perfect for at-home fitness. One of the trailblazers of HIIT is personal trainer and influencer Kayla Itsines, find her zero to little equipment workout videos on her Instagram page.

With a variety of workouts to try, from low to high intensity, you can now start your fitness journey at home and enjoy a healthier and fitter lifestyle.

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References:
1. “HIIT Workout at Home: 15 Best to Get Your Blood Pumping From 5- to 30-Minutes Long” Women’s Health (blog, Morgan Fargo), 17 July 2020, https://www.womenshealthmag.com/uk/fitness/workouts/a707801/hiit-workout-at-home/
2. “18 Dance Workouts So Fun, You’ll Forget They’re Exercise” Popsugar (blog, Dominique Michelle Astorino), 29 April 2020, https://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Dance-Workouts-You-Can-Do-Home-42796672
3. “8 Things to Know Before You Take Pilates Classes” Self (blog, Emily Abbate), 2 January 2019, https://www.self.com/story/5-things-to-know-before-you-take-pilates-classes
4. “Yoga for Everyone” The New York Times (blog, Kelly Couturier), https://www.nytimes.com/guides/well/beginner-yoga