Want to work out at home but short on space? Exercising at home in an apartment, studio, or other small space can be challenging. Although exercising in a tight space may seem impossible, there are many creative ways to stay active with limited room.
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Even with confined space, these innovative suggestions make it possible to follow a fitness & exercise routine in your own home.
Bodyweight Exercises That Require Minimal Equipment
If you're working out with limited space, chances are you don't have an entire weight rack, battle ropes, or gym machines to help assist your workout. Luckily, bodyweight exercises that use your body's weight as resistance are some of the simplest ways to get fit. Regardless of your physical fitness level, bodyweight exercises can help you get in shape without requiring much equipment.
Some bodyweight exercises use minimal equipment, while some may not require any at all. For example, bodyweight squats can help you tone your legs and glutes, and push-ups can help you tone your chest muscles. Other bodyweight exercises, such as pull-ups, may require minimal equipment, such as a door-frame pull-up bar.
Using Household Items as Workout Props
Did you know that many basic household items can serve a new purpose in your exercise routine? If you don't have enough room at home to store exercise equipment, common household items can fill the role.
For example, a simple step ladder or step stool is all you need to perform step-ups. Step-ups are a great workout for toning your glutes, hamstrings, and quads while also getting an aerobic workout in.
Don't have a weight rack? Weighty household objects will work just as well as dumbbells. Look around your home for heavy items, such as a bottle of laundry detergent, to incorporate into resistance-style workouts.
Creating a Designated Workout Area
To make the most of limited space, you'll want to create a designated workout area in your home to use for every workout. Choose a room, or an area within a room, with as much open floor space as possible.
If you cannot find a permanent place, you may need to push a coffee table or other piece of furniture aside to create a designated workout space.
Incorporating Online Fitness Classes or Apps
Starting an at-home exercise routine with minimal equipment may leave you feeling lost or unmotivated. That's why some people find it helpful to join online fitness classes or apps to help create a structured workout plan. Look for an online fitness class or program that involves limited or no equipment.
In addition, many free at-home workouts are available on Instagram or YouTube. Without access to a gym, these workouts are great options to keep your fitness & exercise routine exciting and challenging.
Since physical and mental wellness go hand-in-hand, check out at-home meditation and mindfulness practices too.
Making Use of Outdoor Spaces
For people in ultra-tight spaces, exercising indoors might not be an option. If you feel uncomfortable working out indoors, don't forget you have outdoor spaces available to you.
Whether it's a walk around your neighborhood or a run around the local track, be sure to check out your community's outdoor offerings. These spaces are great for getting aerobic movement into your fitness & exercise, such as walking, jogging, or running. Checking out your area's local recreation center may also open new possibilities for outdoor exercises or group classes.
Bodyweight strength training exercises can also be performed outdoors too. To create a well-rounded routine, try a mixture of lower-body and upper-body exercises, such as walking lunges, burpees, and push-ups. Not only will you get your daily dose of vitamin D while exercising outdoors, but studies show that outdoor workouts can have positive effects on your heart rate and blood pressure.
Get Creative With Tight Space Workouts
Sticking to a fitness & exercise routine is possible, even in super-tight spaces. For a resistance workout, stick to the basics of bodyweight exercises, such as squats, pull-ups, and push-ups. On the other hand, cardio exercises, such as jumping jacks or running in place, are great for getting your heart rate up without requiring much floor space.
To help support your new at-home fitness & exercise routine, choose a designated space, whether indoors or outdoors, to do your workouts. Following online fitness programs or app-based workouts can also help you stay on track.
Want to learn more hacks to help enhance your health & fitness? Discover even more wellness and lifestyle tips on the ActiveFit+ blog.