A Home Gym
Ever thought about how easy it is for all those people who have a gym at home? Maybe you’ve thought it would sure be easy to work out regularly if the equipment was at your fingertips. No more convincing yourself to go to the gym on a dark rainy night.
Easy ways to exercise at home
- Well, you may already have all the exercise equipment you need right at home. Maybe you already own a treadmill, stair climber or stationary bike. If so, put it where you can see it and will be reminded to use it. In front of the TV perhaps? Look for a way to kill two birds with one stone. How about putting the bike near the telephone? You can chat while you exercise!
- How about starting a stretch and tone program? As you watch TV or listen to music, do a series of curl ups, arm exercises or stretches.
- Soup cans make great hand weights!
- If you’ve got yard work to do, that’s Mother Nature’s gym. Raking leaves, shovelling snow or sweeping the sidewalk are all excellent exercises for your arms and upper body. Remember not to push yourself too hard.
- Got cleaning to do? Anyone who’s cleaned the garage, cleared junk out of the basement or vacuumed the whole house, knows it’s easy to work up a sweat – and this is truly legitimate exercise.
- Sounding too much like work? How about popping an exercise video in the VCR. Spend 30 minutes getting the kinks worked out. Then, celebrate with a refreshing natural drink.
The point is this – we often make excuses for not exercising. It’s too dark out, it’s too expensive to join, I have no room for equipment or I’d need a babysitter. These may all be valid excuses, but look around – your home, yard and neighbourhood can be a perfect place to be active.
© Wellness Matters, 1998, used with permission.
