Workouts to Get the Hang of at Home
For the fitness and/or athletics enthusiast, having to stay at home for months on end, avoiding the gym and your favorite sports and athletic activities, is like torture. Exercise and physical fitness is such an important part of life and for many, a daily routine. Without it, you can fall into the serious blues, to say nothing of the physical downsides to not training for a while.
Not to worry, though: the good news is that you can train and do a number of beneficial, hard core exercises that will keep you in peak shape right from home! Everything from a great cardio-rich aerobics routine to the perfect front delt workout, there are so many great workouts to choose from and develop for your own daily at-home workout routine.
Photo Credit: Victor Freitas
It might not be the same as the gym, but if you use a little creativity and motivation, you might find that these at-home workouts are every bit as beneficial and rewarding. You can create your best body and enjoy peak fitness, right from your own home.
Let’s explore a few at home workouts.
Aerobics, Yoga, and More
Yoga, Aerobics, Pilates, some Martial Arts and even dance workouts are all really high-intensity, cardio workouts that can be done solo or at home, which is something their enthusiasts have been doing for years, long before social distancing was a necessity. These at-home workouts are perfect for the person who doesn’t have a ton of time to flit back and forth to the gym, who doesn’t want to pay for costly gym memberships or classes, or who just enjoys working out at home, in comfort and privacy.
You, too, can jump on the bandwagon and do some great workouts at home. Whether you’re into something more low impact and relaxing like yoga, prefer something high-intensity and fun like dancing, or want to do something more strict like Martial Arts – these can all be easily done via online classes, videos and books, and require minimal equipment or athletic gear. They’re every bit as easy as they are affordable. Because you’re at home already, it’s easy to implement these workouts into a morning or evening routine, or just fit one in whenever you’ve got a spare moment.
If you’re craving social interaction, many yoga and dance studios, etc, are offering online classes via Zoom and other platforms! Check and see what your local classes have on offer.
Weight Lifting and More
If you’re an avid weight lifter, you likely already have a setup at home, even if it’s just a basic one. Nothing beats working out at the gym, but you can piece together a pretty good home workout with just a few basic essentials and a weight bench.
You can find all sorts of online tutorials for exercises that target specific areas such as the delts, quads and other muscle groups that you can do with just a few different weights. If you have a set of dumbbells and/or barbells you can do a whole host of arm exercises fairly easily.
If you’re able to safely work out with someone, it’s a good idea because working with weights without a spotter is extremely dangerous. Weight lifting alone is not advisable. You can get creative with different, safer ways to use your weights – such as going for a walk/jog with weights attached, using household items as weights, and so on.
Old Fashioned Exercises
The old tried and true are often the best workouts. Push ups, leg lifts, crunches, and so on. People may scoff, thinking those old exercises they learned back during gym at school can’t possibly help you get the real results you want, much less have you looking ripped.
But those folks would be wrong. The truth is, if you have the patience to do a lot of reps and stick with it every single day, those “boring” old exercises like push ups and planks can have you looking and feeling incredibly fit. They work core muscles, arms and strengthen your endurance, and they’re easy to do at home with no equipment whatsoever.
Outdoor Exercise
A quick walk, hike, jog or run around your neighborhood can’t be beat. Take the dog for a long stroll or download an app like Couch to 5K or other training apps to help build your endurance over a period of time. Even if you’ve never been into running, if you pace yourself (pun intended) and take the time to develop your insurance, these workouts are incredibly rewarding.
Cycling is another outdoor activity that’s hugely beneficial. It’s heavy on cardio, but low impact on joints and knees. Whether you’re into road cycling or mountain biking, going out for a stroll on the bike is a great way to work entire muscle groups in the body, strengthen your endurance and get your heart pumping. Plus, it’s incredibly good for your mental health, which is important during a time that everyone is stuck at home, feeling lonely and bored.
Other outdoor exercises that are fun and comprise a great workout include jumping on a trampoline, swimming, chin ups (installing a chin up bar outside is super easy), boxing (with an outdoor punching bag), games such as touch football, baseball, volleyball and tennis, and yes, even gardening/yard work can really work up a sweat and burn tons of calories. Get creative with it!
These are just a few of the many, many ways you can get the most out of a workout and maintain peak physical fitness, even while stuck at home. Exercise and movement are super important, not only for physical health and fitness, but to help promote relaxation, alleviate anxiety and stress, and keep us all at optimum mental health while we’re going through trying times. It’s also a good idea to follow basic health guidelines like eating healthy when you can, getting enough sleep, and drinking lots of water.
We all miss the gym, but with an innovative and motivated attitude, you can create an entire exercise routine right at home that will be every bit as intense and beneficial as anything you could do at a fitness center. Try it and see for yourself.
Treat Yourself Well 2020 Edition
2020 has been a really rough year for everybody thanks to the coronavirus, leaving most of us being a bit scared and worried. Even with all that there is going on in the world right now, we need to take some time to treat ourselves to things we really want. After all, it is important for us to realize we matter too. If you are a fashion lover or just want a new piece to give you a confidence boost this summer, you can do so by adding a few pieces to your wardrobe.
Here are a few ideas of what you can treat yourself with for summer 2020:
A special watch
A special watch adds an elegant touch to any look and it is an investment piece that will last you years to come. You can look at luxury watches online from popular sites like Pisa Orologeria, where you’ll see quality and style, with over 40 of the world’s best-known brands of luxury watches. This is an item that you will get a lot of wear out of. Plus if and when the time comes for you to part with your beloved watch, it is a special gift to pass on.
A massive sunhat
For example, the Jacquemus sunhat is a popular option for summer. It’s a floppy oversized straw hat that will add drama to your beach and summer look in general.
Every girl needs a dramatic sunhat for both fashion purposes and for practical sun protection purposes for summer! It’s not your typical hat, and it’s a way you can treat yourself and your wardrobe with a touch of high fashion.
If you’re thinking about heading off on a beach holiday, you should go for a health and dental checkup first. This ensures that you’re healthy and can enjoy your holiday to the fullest extent. If you require dental care, you can rid of tooth decay or get dental implants in Chatham.
A beautiful swimsuit
A beautiful swimsuit in your favorite cut and color that helps you feel confident and comfortable is a summer essential. Treat yourself to a gorgeous swimsuit from a brand such as Monday Swimwear, Oséree, or Leslie Amon for a modern take on classic swimsuits.
Gorgeous sundress
A gorgeous sundress is the ultimate summer piece, creating a stylish and beautiful look with just one piece. Opt for a linen or cotton dress for breathability, and go for a neutral or classic color to ensure it will be in style for years to come. If you have enough neutrals, choose one a gorgeous dress in your favorite color to wear!
Designer sandals
A pair of designer sandals can elevate your simple summer looks and add a touch of luxury. Strappy, barely-there sandals are popular this year, and if you opt for a simple pair they will withstand the ‘trend’ and fit into the classic style.
All of these items are things you will have for years to come and will be fashion staples. The more classic you go with your selection, the longer they will last!
Wider Real Estate: Building Your Perfect Community
Many people have strong visions of their perfect home. You will know what features you want, the way your home should look, and how each piece of the puzzle will fit together on the inside. While you may have a good idea of what you want from the house itself, though, many people ignore the community around their home when they’re thinking about this. Building your local community to make it better can be an excellent way to improve your home. This article will be exploring some of the work that can go into this.
Renewable Energy
More and more people are developing an interest in renewable energy as time goes on. As this sort of option gets cheaper, the idea of having solar panels on your home is becoming increasingly tempting. Of course, though, not everyone can afford something like this, and you may simply be unwilling to make such a big investment. Community solar schemes offer an alternative to having panels added to your own home, instead giving you and the other members of your local community the chance to pool together for a more cost-effective option. This will give you the benefits of green energy, while also helping you and your neighbors to get to know one another.
Youth Enrichment
Pretty crime is very common in places that leave little for their young people to occupy their time with. Graffiti, public drinking, and general community disruption are common when the youth can’t anything to do, but punishing them for this rarely makes a positive difference. Taking the time to provide them with activities that can enrich their lives can be a good way to limit the impact the young people have on your local area. Youth centers, sports teams, and other places for teenagers to hang out will all be good for this, offering an alternative to hanging around on the streets.
Politics
This final area will take a lot more work than others. Getting involved with politics can provide you with an excellent chance to have an impact on your local community, with even the lowest-level politicians having power if they’re willing to fight for their cause. This could help you to solve problems in your community, or you could focus your time on making improvements to things that are already good. Of course, as a big part of this, it will make sense to put some time into learning about local politics. This will be very different from fundraising or working with your neighbors, and you will need to make sure that you have the skills to handle it.
Improving your local community can be a challenging process. Many people find themselves unsure about what the should be doing to make sure that they’re doing their part, especially in a world where neighbors are rarely friends. Of course, though, someone has to make the first move when it comes to action like this, and you will probably be surprised to see how many people will come forward to help you out.
One of my favorite home decor and tabletop sites is having a two-day flash sale with 20% off sitewide. Fete Home has been one of my favs, for a while now. All of their pieces are so well curated by the founders..if you missed my post on them re-read it HERE. In the meanwhile here is a sampling of some of their chic wears….Check out their entire assortment at www.fetehome.com.
Every Day Brighter…..
I was so happy when I heard that Dabney Lee, the gorgeous “Party, Paper and Lifestyle” store was opening in Downtown Rye…I met Dabney a few years ago through a mutual friend. I immediately fell in love with her fabulous style, sweet personality, and all-around fun positive attitude…She is a true girly-girl straight from SoCal. Her upbeat, perfectly curated store is exactly what we needed on our beloved Purchase St. Also Dabney, knowing that my daughter Daisy was looking for something to do this summer (since everything had been canceled for her), hired her ON THE SPOT to help in the store. She is that AWESOME!!!! Needless to say, I spend a lot of time stopping in to say Hi to Daisy but to really stalk Dabney and get some of her great tips from which cool dress brand or chic earrings to buy for summer, or how to set a best-dressed table (she attributes this talent to her Grandmother) or to help me pick out some really fab things to bring to a picnic soiree or the latest hostess gift…If you have not been, you have to check it out. If you are not local to Westchester, follow all of Dabneys finds on Instagram. PS….She just unpacked the cutest sandals…you know where I will be tomorrow!!!!!
Dabney has the sweetest selection of dresses in bright, fun colors for summer!!!
The cooler on the left keeps an entire bottle of wine cold all day and it comes in a bunch of smashing colors!!!
Her Fourth Of July paper products and celebration items is dwindling quickly….but there are still some fun pieces available…
I love all of her monogram, items there are so many prints and colors to choose from..here are some of the desk accessories…
The selection of paper plates is the best I have ever seen, so many colors, shapes and prints…I am obsessed with those little mermaids, I need one for my cabana!!!!
I have been DYING for a monogrammed Melamine plate set..I just need to decide on the print/color…I love the trays too!!
When Dabney posted on Instagram that she got these new lightweight woodblock print masks in..I had to run right in and grab a couple..they are soo perfect for the summer…
There is candy for days and who can really resist it (and who wants to!!!!!)….already my dad and husband have finished off a few jars!!!!
The wrapping paper is sooo adorable….I love that you can just grab a different sheet for all your gifts!!
The party supplies get cuter and cuter on each shelf..I love the candy celebration necklace….its such a fun gift for your fav girlfriend!!!!
Just some sneak peeks into the shop…
Stop in to say Hi to Dabney yourself…and of course join her for a glass of Rose´.
Photo: Pixabay
Anxiety can hold us back in so many ways. We feel trapped and unable to socialise. We want to hide away and the physical symptoms are draining. If you have a chronic health issue, you may suffer with anxiety and understand the implications of it. Chronic illness affects millions and upto 80% of older adults have one chronic disease and upto 36% of people worldwide suffer with some type of issue.
Our society still attaches a stigma to chronic illness but there are a multitude of issues that affect people, from chronic pain to mental health issues and some people just don’t understand how it can affect your life. There are however, some ways that you can try to get your life back on track. It is always best to seek advice first from your doctor and do what is right for your body but changing things up can really assist you with getting back out and about again!
Yoga & Pilates or other gentle exercise
Yoga and Pilates have been around for years; their benefits are huge and although it may seem difficult, it doesn’t have to be. Yoga for beginners is relatively easy and focuses on stretches. Yoga helps shape and develop your thinking patterns, your focus and your strength. It can be an important aspect of your life if you are wanting to change your mindset and be a stronger person inside and start to change things for the better. Pilates can be a little less demanding but works mostly on the core and back; it’s wonderful for those with back issues! If your doctors say it is OK to do it then it can be very good for easing chronic pain of the back and shoulders and even other forms of exercising such as walking and swimming can be really good gentle exercise that gets those endorphins going!
Taking Supplements & CBD
You should really seek advice on what supplements are best for your particular needs but rest assured there will be something for you! It is a fact that supplementing your diet has its benefits, it can be good for the body and mind as long as you are maintaining a solid, healthy diet, you will start to see a shift in energy levels. Another form of long term pain relief may be CBD oil. With EDO CBD you can find something that is a good fit for you and for many years the use of CBD has been an interesting concept that has recently come to light. It is believed that foods with an acidic value can cause havoc on your body if ingested frequently so changing up your diet also will help. Looking at consuming alkaline foods, such as spinach, greens, nuts, grains, can have a positive impact on your body, especially the digestive system and is proven to help your body. Also ginger and camomile can be good on the digestive system as they are light and help relax the muscles and nerves around the stomach.