Getting more physically fit is a common goal for people of all ages. Unfortunately, the fitness industry is filled with expensive equipment and classes that don’t make it easy for people of all economic levels to workout. With the COVID-19 pandemic keeping many affordable gyms closed and limiting access to other budget-friendly exercise options, there is now the additional challenge of finding ways to workout at home.
Luckily, there are plenty of budget-friendly ways to exercise at home. Whether you’re looking for clever tricks to reduce how much you spend on fitness or you want a zero-cost solution, you have options. Let’s take a look at a few of them together.
1. Find Free Online Workouts
The internet is filled with free resources, all you have to do is look for them. Use YouTube to search for exercise videos that suit your fitness level and activity preference. There are hundreds of videos out there, from strength training and intense cardio to beginner’s yoga and Zumba.
If you’re willing to pay a little bit for your workout, look into virtual classes. Many gyms as well as individual trainers have transitioned to live virtual classes during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you already have a gym membership, look into the virtual classes that your gym is offering. About 67% of people with gym memberships never use them. Rather than waste your hard-earned money like this, see if you can take advantage of your membership while still social distancing.
2. Use Your Home As a Gym
The standard gym may be filled with fancy, expensive equipment, but you can create many of the exercises you do with that equipment with the existing features in your own home. Start with the staircase in your home. Just by going up and down your steps, you can recreate the workout you get from the StairMasters at the gym. You can also use the stairs to do lunges, push-ups, and other exercises that engage different muscles.
At home, you can turn almost any chore into an exercise, getting the work you need to do done while also getting your workout in. If you’re doing laundry, for instance, try adding in a few extra laps up and down the stairs. If you’re bringing groceries in, use the full milk jugs or other heavy items as weights and do a few lunges. Chores that are already active, like raking leaves or sweeping the driveway, are the perfect opportunity to get in your workout.
If you have a swimming pool, be sure to make good use of it. Not only does your pool provide great entertainment for your kids and boost your home’s value by up to 7%, but it also presents the perfect way to workout at home. Swimming is a great way to work your entire body and cardiovascular system while being a relatively easy exercise.
3. Choose Inexpensive Gear and Equipment
While fancy, expensive exercise equipment tends to take the spotlight in the fitness world, there are plenty of affordable options out there. Instead of investing in one expensive piece of equipment that you might not even use that often, invest in budget-friendly gear like dumbbells, resistance bands, and jump ropes. If you do want more advanced equipment, look into purchasing second-hand equipment at local garage sales, second-hand stores, or on online platforms.
Getting enough exercise is as important for your overall health as going to visit your doctor at least once a year. While it may be tempting to spend all of your time at home relaxing on the couch, remember to fit in a bit of exercise each day, even if it’s just going up and down the stairs more than you normally would. By trying out these budget-friendly workout strategies, you’ll be able to get your physical activity in without breaking the bank.