top of page
Search

Working Out in a Virtual World



Well, different times call for different measures, don’t they? No matter where you are living right now, I think we all have needed to adapt to a new way of life. Life looks different when it comes to working, educating our children, shopping and getting in our workouts at the gym.

If you are limited to staying at your house right now, you can find a workout routine that works for you. There are many options of virtual workouts including subscriptions to apps, YouTube videos and classes offered on platforms like Facebook and Zoom by qualified instructors. This is a great opportunity to try classes you’ve never tried before or find new instructors, in or out of your area, to widen your fitness horizons.

While working at home may take some adjusting, it is definitely something for which you can make space—literally and figuratively. Find some classes or create a playlist on YouTube of your classes you’d like to try, figure out what equipment you need and designate your gym space. You’ll want to find a room that has some space to move and where you have a place to put any equipment you’ll need.

If you are new to working out from home, you might want to invest in workout equipment. Here is a list of my recommendations for sweating it out at home:

  1. Yoga/Pilates Mat. A good mat is ideal for options like yoga, Pilates and barre, and core work. There are many options out there, but my favorite has to be the POPflex mats. They are vegan suede, very soft and come in a variety of patterns and styles. bit.ly/LaurenPOPFlex

  2. Set of Weights. When investing in weights, you might want to consider what types of exercise you’ll enjoy most. For barre workouts, a set of weights ranging from 2-5 lbs. works well. However, if you are an avid lifter and think you’ll be going for weightlifting focused classes, you’ll want to invest in a high weight option. Everybody is different, so you’ll need to choose what works best for you. In general you’ll want a range of light, medium and heavy dumbbells, so you have a variety to choose from depending on what body part you are focusing on.

  1. Resistance bands. Resistance bands are a great way to challenge the body as well. You can use them instead of dumbbells for a number of strength exercises, and they take up less space if you have a small workout area to work with. https://www.amazon.com/SPRI-Xertube-Resistance-Bands-Exercise/dp/B0000AV8KI/ref=sxbs_sxwds-stvp?cv_ct_cx=resistance%2Bbands&dchild=1&keywords=resistance%2Bbands&pd_rd_i=B0000AV8KI&pd_rd_r=aa270e93-e33b-4cfa-99f5-d47dd1c9aee0&pd_rd_w=nwGMa&pd_rd_wg=5Vbxd&pf_rd_p=183579a1-f0e6-4556-8e39-8fe08e8f8141&pf_rd_r=V18ANM44912D9H6VC7D5&qid=1589893079&sr=1-3-dd5817a1-1ba7-46c2-8996-f96e7b0f409c&th=1

  2. Loop bands. Loop bands can make your workouts extremely effective as well. You can use these alone or in addition to weights. For example, you can put the loop around the thighs, while holding dumbbells in your hands to perform squats. Pushing your legs out slightly against the band will give you additional resistance while performing your repetitions. https://www.amazon.com/Fit-Simplify-Resistance-Exercise-Instruction/dp/B01AVDVHTI/ref=sxin_10_ac_d_rm?ac_md=0-0-cmVzaXN0YW5jZSBiYW5kcw%3D%3D-ac_d_rm&cv_ct_cx=resistance+bands&dchild=1&keywords=resistance+bands&pd_rd_i=B01AVDVHTI&pd_rd_r=6b810da8-b050-47ca-9c44-300dc36c9808&pd_rd_w=XrdK0&pd_rd_wg=eSkBI&pf_rd_p=a0516f22-66df-4efd-8b9a-279a864d1512&pf_rd_r=147E726JSE9Q3FGB63Y0&psc=1&qid=1589893039&sr=1-1-12d4272d-8adb-4121-8624-135149aa9081

  3. Portable barre. If you are a regular at barre class, and you are continuing your workouts at home, you might want to invest in a portable barre. You can absolutely use a chair for many barre workouts, but I like to offer this option for those who have a dance background or like the feel of a barre during the workouts. It is more stable than a chair and the one I use has a weight rack which allows you to not only store your free weights, but also gives you an opportunity to sink low into that chair pose with no concerns of falling over! https://www.bootykicker.com/

The list really is endless with equipment you could invest in, but I wanted to offer a few of my favorite options right now during this season of life. I recommend figuring out what types of workouts you enjoy and then investing in one to three types of equipment, so you have a variety to work with during your sweat sessions.



Comentarios

bottom of page