Fitness Gurus: 5 Fun Ways to Get a Great Workout at Home

Have you ever wanted to work out - had the very best intentions - but just couldn’t get out the door? You don’t have a babysitter, or you have to make dinner, or you just don’t have the energy to go to the gym. It’s happened to all of us, but a great fitness routine doesn’t require a round trip to the local fitness center. Here are five ways to get a great workout in your own home.

1. Swimming

Swimming is a great way to get exercise. It allows you to work all of your core muscles and to work up a good sweat without really feeling the effects. This isn’t even an exercise you have to go to the gym for anymore. You can have swimming pool builders like Aqua Rec come and install your very own custom pool at your home. This could be a great exercise investment in the long run rather than having to pay for a monthly gym membership.

2. “Group” Fitness

If you love group fitness classes then you are in luck. There are awesome streaming services like Daily Burn that you can sign up for and follow guided workout routines. There are different options from kickboxing to yoga, and you opt into the circuit which tells you which days you do a “class” and which days you take off. When you start a circuit you’ll be doing a planned series of workouts with other people. You can chat with a community of fellow exercisers and see your progression through each workout program. It’s a great way to have the feel of group fitness in your own living room.

3. Strength Training

To get an intense strength workout you don’t have use the gym’s complicated machines or push and pull heavy equipment or cars around to show off your strength. You can get a great weight lifting workout at home with just a few dumbbells and the right technique. Pick up some resistance bands and hand weights (you can find these at your local Sports Authority, Walmart or Target). Check out a site like BodyBuilding for a strength moves that you can do at home. The “mind-body connection” is crucial when building muscle - and no amount of grunting or heavy lifting will make up for great form. Use your at-home strength sessions to focus on each individual muscle you’re working and you’ll get results.

4. Yoga & Pilates

There is an endless stream of yoga and pilates teachers on YouTube. Just pull up the site, enter something like “15 minute pilates” (for however much time you have), and watch the videos line up. You can find all styles of yoga and pilates, from relaxing and restorative to intense “power” versions. With so many instructors offering their guidance online, you can try several and find the style that you like best. The hit the mat!

5. Walking

Simply going for walk can give you a cardio boost. Technically this one isn’t in your home, but it is right outside your front door. Take the dog with you for some exercise, or take your kids or your significant other or your roommate along for company. If something like the store is within walking distance you could even walk to run an errand. It’s a great way to get some fresh air and physical activity and you don’t have to go far to make it count. A mile takes about 20 minutes.

Who needs a gym membership? With all of these at-home workout options, you can get fit and healthy without leaving your living room. Which will you try?