The reasons people go to a gym for the benefit of their health is very personal and very complex. People can be lovers and loathers. Even if you are a lover you may not necessarily go, despite a paid up subscription. If you are a loather you may religiously rock up and work out, week after week. Regardless of whether you are lover or a loather, without actually going to a gym, there are other ways to gain from what a gym has to offer with a ‘home gym’.
The home gym doesn’t require you to fill all available space with expensive highfalutin equipment. Consider what it is highfalutin equipment it is trying to achieve and demand of your body. In short it aims to work on flexibility, strength, balance and cardiovascular fitness.
A home gym can be a substitute for the actual gym OR it can compliment an existing gym routine. Most people will already have the equipment needed in the home. It’s about considering certain items in the home from a different perspective. For a example a broom, a weighted door stop or large bottle of bleach, a chair, a wall. Of course there are many other options but we’ll start with these.
The broom in the home gym
Standing tall, lower the broom towards the back of your head
Then straighten your arms above your head. Repeat
Keep equal weight under your feet
Chin tucked in and shoulders dropped
Breathe
Lift and lower the broom behind your back
Keep equal weight under your feet
Chin tucked in and shoulders dropped
Breathe
Lunge to one side reaching the broom away from you
Repeat, changing sides
Chin tucked in and shoulders dropped
Breathe
The door stop / bottle of bleach in the home gym
Move the weight towards your chest then away from your chest
Keep equal weight under your feet
Chin tucked in and shoulders dropped
Breathe
Squat down and stand up with the weight in your hands
Keep equal weight under your feet
Chin tucked in and shoulders dropped
Breathe
The chair in the home gym
Place hands on the front of the chair
Bend and straighten your elbows to lower and lift your body
Keep equal weight under your feet
Chin tucked in and shoulders dropped
Breathe
Place hands on the front of the chair
Bend your elbows to move your body towards the chair then push away
Keep equal weight under your knees
Chin tucked in and shoulders dropped
Breathe
The wall in the home gym
Lean on the wall
Bend your knees to slide down the wall
Keep equal weight under your feet
Chin tucked in and shoulders dropped
Breathe
Stretches
There are lots of stretches that can be found in my other blogs. Search in the search bar for specific stretches that relate to you. Lots to choose from, lots of fun!
Balance
Intersperse wobbling on one leg in between the above exercises to improve your balance reactions and dexterity. The more you wobble the more your balance will improve. Oh Yes!
My home gym and me
I use a home gym because it fits with the moments I have free to stretch and strengthen and wobble. When I have specifically set time aside to undertake a longer routine, it’s all there ready and waiting; no queuing, no need to wipe away the evidence of someone else’s hard work (ewww…) and no hoping that nobody’s watching you. Just you and your body investing in your health.
So if this appeals to you, or just parts of it, set to and work out what you’ll do, how and when. Keep it simple and realistic. Turn up the tunes if that’s your thing or switch on your TV and watch as you workout or simply be as you simply move!
Kathryn Reynolds 19th June 2018 at 11:45 am
I love my new gym, thanks Rachel. It makes me giggle too x
Rachel Kili 21st June 2018 at 7:56 am
So impressed Kath that you have your gym. What a bonus that is makes you giggle. I love that!
Rachel
Sarah Williams 19th June 2018 at 10:31 pm
Thank you Rachel, it’s good to be reminded of how adaptable one’s routine and environment can be and how much can be achieved with so little. I see you have a range of ladybird weights at your disposal!
Rachel Kili 21st June 2018 at 7:57 am
Hello Sarah
Thank you so much for your feedback. Indeed I do have my ladybird range of weights. Very useful they are too!
Rachel
Helen R Morrison 20th June 2018 at 4:22 pm
Great ideas thank you, Do you have a few for the coffee shop?!!
Love your ladybird weights.
Rachel Kili 21st June 2018 at 8:01 am
Hi Helen
Great to hear from you! With regards to the coffee shop, perhaps you could take your broom along and encourage other customers to join in…?!
Rachel
Kate Glennane 20th June 2018 at 4:53 pm
Brilliant Rachel, such good ideas, thank you very much!
Rachel Kili 21st June 2018 at 7:58 am
Hello Kate
I really appreciate your words and so pleased you liked my ideas.
Rachel