The Coronavirus pandemic has forced many of us to swap gym time and fitness classes for at-home workouts lately.
You may be surprised by the ease and convenience of working out without ever leaving your home.
You don't need to pack a bag full of gear, shower supplies. No fighting rush-hour traffic and crowded parking lots. No awkward lurking around the squat rack or bench press waiting for your turn.
But you may be wondering if you're doing it right — and whether or not your fitness is suffering.
Working out at home is a convenient way to stay in shape without the hassle of making it to the gym every day. But especially if you have the tendency to overdo it while exercising, it's important to take a few extra steps to make sure you don't end up hurt. Read on to learn six tips that can make your home workout a little safer.
1. Find a suitable workout space
Look for anything that could get in the way and cause you to trip, fall or an object that could be knocked over during your workout.
2. Put on your gym clothes
Dress like you’re going to the gym. You will feel more like exercising when you’re wearing athletic clothes and footwear. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes that let you move freely and are light enough to release body heat.
3. Warm up, stretch & cool down
Warm up to prepare to exercise, even before stretching. Cooling down helps to flush the lactic acid out of your system and prevent muscle soreness. Make cooling down the final phase of your exercise routine. It should take twice as long as your warm up. Slow your motions and lessen the intensity of your movements for at least 10 minutes before you stop completely.
4. Cross Train
Doing just one type of exercise every day can put strain on a particular muscle group, which can increase the probability of injury. To combat this, mix it up with different kinds of exercises so that you don’t overexert certain muscles.
5. Listen to Your Body and Know your limits
When you’re working out at home, you maybe without a spotter. For this reason, its very important to listen to your body and know your limits , especially if you’re lifting weights.
6. Rest and Have fun
Work smarter, not harder’ have replaced ‘No pain, no gain’ as the motivational slogans on the walls of pro sports weight rooms. Fatigue and pain are good reasons to not exercise.