Home workouts are a great way to exercise without the hassle of cost, travel or opening hours and they can be equally as effective as a gym workout.
Procrastination is so common when it comes to exercise and health: it’s too hot/wet, party season, diet starts tomorrow, the gym’s shut, I work late. The truth is, the most important thing you can do for yourself is to look after your body and your health and you don’t need a gym or copious amounts of equipment to be able to succeed.
By using your body weight only, you can successfully tone, strengthen, burn fat and build muscle. Below are some of my personal favourite moves that can be done in the comfort of your own home, or even hotel room when travelling:-
The Plank
Plank – My all time number one, favourite move. Planking is an excellent way to improve your core strength, with available options for beginners to prevent injury.
It builds strength also in your upper and lower body, so truly is a great full body workout. There are also ways to advance the plank as you develop your strength: 1 leg, 1 arm, add a press up, etc.
There are also ways to advance the plank as you develop your strength: 1 leg, 1 arm, add a press up, use a kettle bell set, etc.
Squats
Squats – A great calorie burner as you’re targeting large muscle groups.
Squats are also an excellent way to increase lower body strength and again, work the core. Squats help to strengthen your entire body, including bones, muscles and joints, as well as increasing flexibility. This results in reduced chance of injury, as well as making you look good!
Squats help to strengthen your entire body, including bones, muscles and joints, as well as increasing flexibility. This results in reduced chance of injury, as well as making you look good!
This results in reduced chance of injury, as well as making you look good!
Half Bridge
Half Bridge – An excellent posture to practice after doing planks; a half bridge can improve posture and prevent/improve back pain.
It’s also a great move for working the glutes and hamstrings, strengthening the core and energising the body.
Reverse Plank
Reverse Plank – As a plank freak, I also love the reverse plank (yes, and side too!).
It strengthens your glutes, hamstrings, abs, lower back, shoulders, triceps and of course, your core – what’s not to like?!
Again, there are options for beginners (bent legs, on forearms) and developments for when you are more advanced, so it is great for a whole range of abilities.
Why not Try the TRX Home Suspension Trainer?
If you find you are wanting to mix things up a bit as your home workouts are getting tedious, you can seek variety but still keep things simple. A popular option is suspension training (also known as TRX training).
The TRX home suspension trainer allows you to perform an endless number of exercises, without needing an endless supply of equipment.
All of the above moves can be performed with a suspension trainer and your TRX home suspension trainer travels easily and can be anchored to almost anything.
It uses your own body weight and gravity as resistance, so you vary your workout, without the need for weights and heavy equipment. While there are many options out there, you don’t have to spend the same amount as the TRX straps well for in order to get the best suspension trainer available to buy today.