Modern technology allows many home owners to exercise for free. Now there are no more excuses for avoiding the gym, finding a personal trainer, or forgetting to keep fit.Here are some top tips for getting fit for free at home.
Create some space
You don’t need to transform your garage into a mirrored hall to be able to exercise at home. Start by maximising the space in your living room or a spare room. This could mean rearranging the furniture to create a larger floor area and decluttering to give yourself enough room to move and stretch.
It’s also a good idea to check that this area of the house has a good wifi connection, and to also add some speakers and a TV or laptop.
App appeal
With so many people now using smartphones on a daily basis, it’s no wonder that apps have become so popular as cheap and easy ways to do some DIY fitness. Over 58% of smartphone users have downloaded fitness or health apps that can give you exercise tips or monitor your daily food intake.
Programmes such as MyFitnessPal track what you’re eating and help you stay within a set calorie limit. Or the free AppleHealth option can help you keep an eye on your daily exercise as well as your sleep patterns.
Adding some speakers to the designated exercise room in your home can also help with your motivation, as you can put on uplifting fitness playlists from the music app Spotify.
Use YouTube
While apps may help you track your progress, videos are great for getting the right exercise techniques. Head to YouTube for step-by-step guides to yoga, pilates and weightlifting.
Search by sport type, length of training or what kind of results you want to see. YouTube gives you the power to pause, rewind and revisit the same workouts again and again, so you can go at your own pace.
Be influenced by Instagram
Working out at home means you need to be self-motivated. Thankfully social media has a few good sources of health inspiration, from recipes to exercise tips.
Personal trainer Joe Wicks, aka @thebodycoach, is a great one to follow. He posts short video clips of healthy meals that can be made in 15 minutes.
Alternatively visit Ella Mills’ account @deliciouslyella for vegan recipes that can help you stay in shape and feel good.