Last Updated on June 25, 2024
We know. It’s a week after New Year’s and you’re still on the couch, playing the role of a potato. It’s understandable. Covid-19 has many people on hyper-alert, which means the usual mad rush to the bench press machine after New Year’s Day isn’t quite so maddening.
But even if a standard gym isn’t for you right now, you can still get your exercise vibe on at home (though not from the comfort of your own couch).
We bring you some examples of innovative workouts, snippets from here and there.
We start in San Francisco at the Boom Box Studio on Market Street, which recently hosted its first outdoor workout.
Owner Alexandra Mogannam had a few suggestions, including taking two towels and doing sliding exercises at home. Or using your hands or feet on the towels for more dynamic stretches and lunges.
Another innovative twist: Using wine bottles as weights.
“Just keep moving forward, whatever that is, just get out of bed, just take care of yourself in any way you can and as long as you don’t stay stagnant, you will be ok,” she told abc7news.
How about a plank?
“If you’ve been longing for a stronger core, planks are the way to go. With consistency, you can build up to a 90- to 120-second plank, and visible abs will be yours in no time,” says a post in popsugar.com
Um, what’s a plank you may ask? Place yourself in a pushup position (hands extended or with your elbows on the floor) = plank.
Another healthy tip:
Drink more water.
“There are so many reasons to kick your soda habit and start drinking more water,” says popsugar.com “In addition to staying well-hydrated, drinking up to eight glasses of water a day will help you get clearer skin, feel more energized, and lose weight. Start by simply bringing a refillable bottle to keep at work and opt for water when dining out.”
And, of course, we offer a tried and true form of exercise:
Walking.
Bonus points if you take that walk with your rescue dog. Keeping healthy and saving animals= good karma.
The key is to keep moving, stay motivated, set goals (if you need it for motivation), and if you do so, make them attainable and don’t set yourself up to fail.
We’ll let Growing Bolder’s own Marc Middleton have the last word:
“If you want to keep moving, then you have to keep moving,” he says in one of his “60 Second Soapbox” clips. “…We exercise because it makes us feel good today. We exercise because it improves the quality of our life tomorrow.”
