This past year has made the words ‘lockdown’ and ‘quarantine’ regular features of our lives. Whereas before we could go and join any class or do any activity without hindrance, we are now cooped up at home.
This decrease in physical conditioning has led to what people are calling the COVID 15. This is like the freshman 15, where you gain weight during your first year as a freshman in college.
Excess weight is a problem for a lot of reasons. You want to stay fighting fit, especially during this time, as increased weight is COVID comorbidity. However, with gyms closed, you might feel frustrated about how to avoid this.
Many people have taken up solo sports or exercise routines to combat both weight gain and boredom. If you can’t figure out how to restart your fitness routine, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s see what your options are!
Yoga
Yoga has gained a massive following in the last few decades. It has taken over the US quickly, with yoga studios now open in every major town and city. Yoga is an excellent beginner’s exercise. If you’re an intermediate or pro, don’t fret. There are enough variations in yoga to challenge even the fittest people around.
The great thing about yoga is that you don’t need equipment. Sure, exercise balls and resistance bands help your training. However, they are not necessary to your practice, and they are easy to purchase as well. You can sign up with a local instructor who provides classes online, or you could follow free YouTube videos as well.
Cycling
If you like the outdoors, you should take upcycling! Because you are on wheels, choose trails and roads which have less traffic and fewer people. If you live close to the countryside, use this opportunity to explore natural landscapes close to you. This can be a refreshing daily ritual for those who are tired of being cooped up at home.
To start, you may need to dust off the cycle that’s been lying in your garage. If your bike is damaged, check what’s wrong and look up how to fix it. You can remove and replace headset bearings and do other quick fixes at home. However, you should take it into a shop if there is extensive damage or even consider purchasing a new bike.
Jogging
If you don’t know or are not comfortable riding a bike, try jogging. Jogging or even walking briskly is an excellent way to get your heart rate up and get your blood flowing. Because you’re on foot, make sure you choose times and areas that are less crowded to avoid the risk of infection. Many runners take off their masks, which exposes them to the risk of COVID because it is uncomfortable.
You can buy specific masks for joggers which are comfortable and stay on your face. The risk of contracting the coronavirus from a fleeting pass is low. However, you should take as many precautions as possible, like carrying your own sanitizer for hands and surfaces. You can also choose to wear a face shield for extra protection.
Pilates
Pilates is an excellent choice for those who have mobility issues. Pilates is a science-backed exercise routine that is designed to work out specific muscle groups. It takes as much equipment as yoga, which means that you only need an exercise mat, to begin with. If you’re doing intense exercise, pilates is an excellent way to increase your flexibility.
The great thing about pilates is that all age groups can safely do this. Thus, if you’re living at home with family and want to encourage everyone to work out, pilates can become an excellent bonding activity.
Like yoga, you can support your local fitness experts and sign up with classes under them. Pilates is best done under supervision as doing the moves incorrectly can hinder rather than help your exercise journey.
Dance
If you’re easily bored by exercises like yoga and pilates and don’t want to leave your home to jog or bike, you could dance away your COVID 15! Dancing is an underrated way to keep in shape. It is both intensely tiring and intensely fun. There are many teachers who have registrations open for specific styles of dance classes.
If you don’t want to train formally, you could look into aerobics classes. Another great idea is to turn to YouTube. Choose a dance routine and song you like and try and pick it up step by step. If you go this informal route, make sure to make a routine and stick to it if you want the exercise benefits to show in a few weeks!
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