Being stuck at home all the time because of COVID-19 can be really frustrating, but it is possible to do home exercises during this pandemic to keep you healthy.
Here’s a list of exercises you can do without any equipment. Strength training is just as important as cardio, so try to incorporate both types into your workout.
If you just want one simple piece of equipment to give you a full body workout, it should be the TRX.
There are lots of phone apps that talk you through a quick 5-10 minute workout (some on my phone are 7MinuteWorkout, Workout Women, and Daily Cardio), and there are hundreds of YouTube videos with home workouts you can try.
I like to exercise while watching TV or a movie. That way, I’ll make sure to keep moving throughout the entire episode. For movie suggestions, check out my list of the 20 Best Romantic Comedies to get you started.
You can create your own personalized workouts using a combination of strength training and cardio exercises listed below. There are plenty of other exercises to incorporate into your daily routine, but here are some common ones for beginners.
Bodyweight Strength Training Exercises:
1. Squats: This is the best leg workout, but make sure you have proper form. Otherwise, you can hurt your knees and back. If you have pain while doing it, STOP! You can also modify the squats if you have injuries. Check out instructions on how to do a squat on Stylecraze.
2. Push-ups: This is an ideal chest workout, but again, proper form is key. If you have a shoulder or neck injury, you should either avoid push-ups or modify them. Go to Sportsrec for proper push-up instructions.
3. Planks: This is the best core workout that strengthens your abs, back, chest, and shoulders. The longer you hold it, the better. Check out Livestrong to learn how to do a plank. The forearm plank is the most common, and you can try other variations to mix it up.
4. Supermans: Most people don’t have a pull-up bar at home, so here’s a good alternative to work out your back muscles. Check out Popworkouts to learn how to do a superman.
5. Lunges: This is another great leg workout. If you have a knee injury or feel unbalanced, you can hold a chair for support or modify the exercise. Check out Greatist for instructions on how to do lunges.
6. Crunches: Quality is more important than quantity when it comes to abdominal exercises. Make sure you do each crunch slowly and deliberately. You should avoid these if you have a neck or back injury. Go to Healthline to learn the right way to crunch.
Cardio Exercises:
1. Running in place: This is pretty self-explanatory. If you don’t know how to do this, check out Sworkit for directions.
2. Front/side/back kicks: If you enjoy learning about kickboxing moves, check out Shape for the proper techniques.
3. Jumping jacks: Here’s another exercise that is simple to do. Go to Gethealthyu to learn how to do these.
4. Jab/hook/uppercut punches: This Shape article explains how to punch properly.
5. Mountain climbers: This is a great full body cardio exercise. You can learn how to do it at Verywellfit.
6. Squat jumps: Womenshealthmag explains the proper way to do this exercise. You should avoid these if you have a knee injury.
This is a great list—thank you for these suggestions! I’m looking forward to trying these this coming week!
Thanks for this helpful list! I will definitely start incorporating this into my routine.
I’m so glad you find it helpful!
Great list! The gyms in NY are still closed and I needed some new ideas. Will implement a few into my routine!
Thanks for the great workout ideas! I can’t wait to try these out.
Great ideas for easy, at home exercises! I practice yoga regularly, which has many benefits as well!
I use Beachbody on Demand, and many of their programs require no equipment. I’m still feeling my booty from doing squats on Tuesday! For people that don’t want a paid subscription, there are tons of free resources online.
I can definitely refer to this helpful list for workout ideas. Thanks for sharing!