Moving your body every single day has so many benefits for both your mind and body.
Research shows that exercise can improve your mood and help decrease feelings of depression and anxiety. And according to Healthline, it’s also great for increasing your energy levels, reducing your risk of disease and helping with weight management.
If you’re stuck at home for a long period of time — be it for self-quarantine or because you’re required to work from home — your options can feel limited. But, there are so many things you can do to get your blood pumping from the comfort of your own home. And best of all, it’s free.
Complete a simple exercise circuit
You don’t need a bunch of elaborate gym gear like weights and machines to conduct an effective workout. Doing a simple circuit of exercises will get you moving and give you those blissful post-workout endorphins. Self has compiled a quick workout that you can do at home, without the need for fancy equipment. And, there are even GIFs within the article to show you how to safely complete each move.
Do a yoga flow
Yoga is arguably the easiest exercise routine to do at home. If you don’t own a yoga mat, simply use a rug or towel that you already have — as long as it covers the floor, doesn’t slip and provides you with some support for your hands and knees, then it’s fine!
If you’re a newcomer to yoga, there are tonnes of great yoga videos on YouTube that are easy to follow. We particularly love the Yoga With Adriene YouTube channel as Adriene is super friendly and she has a back catalogue of yoga videos that are all super varied depending on your exercise needs. Adriene’s dog Benji usually makes an appearance in her videos as well, which is an extra bonus.
Skipping
While it might seem like a simple type of exercise (and maybe one you haven’t done since school), skipping is also extremely effective. According to Live Strong, skipping is great for your cardiovascular system. “Because your heart rate increases as you skip, the activity works your heart and the vessels that transport oxygenated blood around your body. As you work your cardiovascular system, it becomes fitter and you will feel less breathless when you are active.”
Skipping also has a lower impact on your joints compared to running. According to the Heart Foundation, 10 minutes of high-intensity skipping can have the same benefits as 30 minutes of running and it’s also great for coordination, balance and muscle tone.
The current health crisis is evolving rapidly. If you suspect you or a family member has coronavirus you should call (not visit) your GP or ring the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
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