Exercising at Home During the Quarantine
During the COVID-19 pandemic many of us across the country are spending much more of our time at home either by choice or government fiat. In either case this usually means we are not getting the amount of exercise we normally do. Whether our exercise regimens are walking, swimming, or engaging in sports, doctors are unanimous that exercise is vital for heart, lung, and muscle health. It would be unfortunate that some people who are very serious about sheltering in place are not getting the exercise that is vital to overall health.
Secondly, psychologists inform us that the first step toward good mental health is to keep physically healthy. After all, spending the too much time “locked up” in the house can make anyone stir crazy. Below are some exercises that can be performed at home.
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Classic exercises where a gym is unnecessary include push-ups, sit-ups, jumping jacks, bends to touch your toes (or as far down as you can get), various stretching routines, etc.
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If you live in a high-rise building, you can take the elevator to a high floor (if you already don’t live on one) and take the seldom used steps down to your floor. After several days of this, you might be ready to walk up a couple of flights during this daily routine.
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In place of weights, you can use bottles of water, oil jugs, flour sacks etc. to do your reps with. A kitchen counter can be a substitute for a gym barre for certain exercises – a chair can be used in many creative ways, as well.
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Although not for everyone, yoga or meditation may be an option to improve mind/body health.
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Ordering a punching bag online might be a good idea for those who want to combine exercise with destressing. Compression chin-up bars are also available and can be placed in doorways.
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How about some fun at the same time? Turn up the stereo and enjoy a few dances with your significant other, or even alone. As an extra bonus, music can be psychologically uplifting.
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If you have a smart watch, The Express informs us that the typical goal for a person without certain health concerns should be about 10,000 steps a day. If you cannot do 10,000 steps, start with less and gradually work your way up.
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Now might be the time to dust off those old fitness DVDs. There are also many exercise routines available for viewing on You Tube.
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Sometimes you can kill two birds with one stone: mow the lawn, clear the leaves, trim the bushes. Maybe even do some house painting that you’ve been delaying.
A few words of caution: Do not overdo it when you start. Begin slowly and build up to a more rigorous routine. Secondly, check with your doctor (and personal trainer if you have one) concerning what you should undertake and how quickly you can build up to a more strenuous routine.
For most everyone exercising is a great idea; it boosts “happy hormones”, reducing stress while improving our physical health at the same time.