Keep Your Health On Track During The Winter With Virtual Workouts
Keep Your Health On Track During The Winter With Virtual Workouts
When it gets too cold, snowy or icy to safely do your normal outdoor workout (or even drive to the gym), exercising at home can be a great option. But you no longer have to go it alone just because youβre home. βThere are so many great online programs, classes and trainers that can help keep you motivated and on track,β saysΒ Nick Parkinson, MEd, AT, ATC, TSAC-F, supervisor of athletic training and sports performance at Henry Ford Health.
Setting Up Your At-Home Workout Space
If your only excuse for not working out at home this winter is that you donβt have enough room, then think again. βYou can get a good workout indoors in a space the size of a yoga mat,β says Parkinson. Just because your gym has vast workout spaces doesnβt mean you need that much free space. βI use my living room for workouts just by pushing some furniture aside,β he adds.
One trick for transforming your living room, bedroom or home office into an inviting workout space is to tweak the surroundings. βThe atmosphere of the room can really help you feel more motivated,β says Parkinson. So turn on some bright lights, blast some inspiring tunes, and view your online fitness class or online personal trainer workout on your TV (not on a tiny phone screen).
Essential Gear For At-Home Workouts
The truth is, you can get a great workout at home with little (or even no) fitness equipment. βThere are plenty of strengthening moves you can do using just your own body weight,β says Parkinson.
If you want to assemble a small collection of gear, he recommends having two pairs of dumbbells (one lighter, one heavier), a couple ofΒ resistance bandsΒ in varying strengths, a kettlebell and a mat. βYou can find great equipment at reduced prices on resale sites or in secondhand stores,β he says.
And if you have no formal workout equipment, get creative. βYou can fill milk jugs with sand or use a couple of cans from the pantry as hand weights,β Parkinson suggests.
Tips For Selecting The Right Virtual Fitness Program
There is no shortage of options when it comes toΒ virtual workouts. The trick isnβt so much finding a virtual fitness trainer or online fitness class as it is finding one thatβs right for you.
βYou need to do your homework to find a class, program or trainer thatβs appropriate for your fitness level, physical condition, the gear you have available and your workout goals,β says Parkinson. If youβre looking at online personal trainers (there are many who post daily workout videos on YouTube or other platforms), dig into their background a bit to find out about their training and education. Itβs also helpful to get recommendations from friends or even fitness instructors or trainers at your gym.
βOne of the most important things to look for in a virtual exercise program is the ability to scale the difficulty level up or down,β says Parkinson. Many programs, he says, let you access options for harder or easier moves with the click of a button. This allows anyone dealing with injuries or other limitations to work out more safely.
If youβre considering signing on to a subscription-based virtual workout program such as Peloton Digital, ObΓ© Fitness or Nike Training Club, check to see if they offer a free trial. βThese programs are typically pretty affordable and cheaper than a health club membership,β says Parkinson. βBut be sure to try out a few classes during your free trial to make sure you like what they offer before committing to a monthly fee.β
How To Stay Motivated For Your Online Workouts
Itβs hard to beat the convenience of getting your exercise with a virtual workout at home, but sometimes it can be tough to motivate without the camaraderie of a gym full of people. One option is to see if your gym offers any livestreamed virtual classes. βIt helps to see familiar faces and be working out βtogetherβ with a bunch of other people,β says Parkinson. That option can also allow you to continue with classes youβre used to doing in person.
You can also enlist others in your household to join you in your workout. If thatβs not possible, commit to joining anΒ online fitness communityΒ or being a virtualΒ workout partnerΒ to a friend. βThe two of you can arrange to stream the same virtual workout video at the same time and hold each other accountable,β suggests Parkinson.