At-home Workout Programs for COVID-era Fitness

It isn’t safe to go out yet, so that unfortunately means that you should stay away from the gym. But don’t use that as an excuse not to exercise. Exercise is essential to good health. But choosing the type of exercise you get into can be tricky. Many different regimens look fun, but some you could misjudge as the right one for you.

It’s also best to consult with your physician first, especially if you have any health conditions that might be aggravated by certain types of exercise. For this list, we’ll take you through a few workout programs you can do at home, what each of them entails, and what equipment you’ll need for them. Grab your towel and water bottle and get ready to sweat it out!

Boxing

If you’re looking for a high-intensity full-body workout, boxing might be your perfect match. You’ll burn many calories fast while also getting to tone muscle groups from head to toe. It requires a lot of focus and can greatly improve your hand-eye coordination. It’s also one of the best stress-relieving exercise regimens out there – sometimes, you need to punch a bag to release all your negative energy. Don’t be intimidated by the boxing element because, in time, you’ll gain confidence and learn how to throw punches like a pro.

You’ll need hand wraps, boxing gloves, a punching bag (can be hanging or standing), and sports mouth guards.

Yoga

Another go-to routine for stress relief, yoga focuses on connecting your mind and body with your breath. There are different kinds of yoga, but most beginner-friendly programs will involve mastering a series of poses. Holding these poses and learning how to do them properly strengthens your body and improves your posture. If you’re working from home and experiencing body pains as a result, yoga will be your best friend. It will help free you from muscle tension and stiffness from sitting at your desk the whole day. Yoga’s focus on the breath will also help you relax and clear your mind after a tiring day of Zoom meetings.

The minimum equipment you’ll need for yoga is a yoga mat to lay on the floor and comfortable, breathable clothing.

Dance

When working out, you’re free to listen to music to liven the mood, but music is embedded into dance. There are different kinds of dance you can get into depending on your goals. Ballet is good for flexibility, strength, balance, and posture. Hip-hop is more focused on rhythm and cardio. In general, dancing is a great exercise that is great for your brain’s health because it requires you to remember choreography patterns.

Most genres of dance require specific footwear and attire, so what you’ll need to wear depends on the kind of dance you’ll be doing. Make sure to do your research on the footwear and attire you need. On top of that, it will also help you to have a large – preferably full-length mirror – if you plan on dancing at home.

Barre

This is a hybrid workout regimen that borrows from ballet, yoga, pilates, and strength training. It’s named barre after its use of the ballet barre, the handrail that ballet dancers use for stretches and warm-up exercises. Barre exercises tend to look simple, but they can still pack a punch. The moves are isometric, meaning the movements are small and isolated in specific muscle groups, but you still feel the burn after a full session. Barre workouts are also on the low-impact side, so they’re ideal if you live in an apartment and worry about disturbing the tenant downstairs with loud and rapid footfalls. Your barre workout essentials include a ballet barre, dumbbells, and a yoga mat.

The gyms might not be safe just yet, but that doesn’t mean you’re excused from working out. We hope this list of home workout programs pushes you towards maintaining a healthy lifestyle despite the prolonged period of isolation.