Home workouts are becoming an increasingly popular trend in the fitness world. Gone are the days of being limited to the gym or a pricey personal trainer, now you can get your workout done at home! The best part? You don't have to spend tons of money on expensive classes that may not work for your schedule anyways. A home workout means you're able to customize your workouts and it's also time efficient-what's better than spending less time getting more results all from just a home workout? That might sound like a perfect solution but there are still some things you need to know before diving in head first! After all, there's no such thing as too much knowledge when it comes to a full body workout.So here are 10 tips and exercises that will help make your home workouts a success and get your heart rate pumping.What is a Home Workout?How to Start a Home Workout Routine?The Easiest Way to get Over the Beginner Hurdle?What are the Benefits to a Home Workout?Steps to get Started on your Home Workout?What are some Exercises I can do Without Equipment?What are some Exercises I can do With Basic Equipment?What is a Home Workout?If you're working from home which as you know in Australia is becoming quite common, you can't afford to be slacking on your full body workouts. It's important to stay motivated and productive for yourself while you're sitting in your pyjamas. Working out at home allows you the freedom to concoct your own workout based on what you enjoy most and when you want it, whether it's boxing or yoga. That way, even if you don't make it out of the house, you can still feel accomplished for having a productive day. There's no excuse for skipping a workout while you're working from home because there are so many things that can be done around the house that will get your heart pumping, make you feel great and help you lose weight.How to Start a Home Workout RoutineThe best way to do this is to set time aside in your schedule. It's hard enough getting motivated to work out when you exercise at a gym or class setting but even harder when it's just you vs. the couch.The Easiest Way to get Over the Beginner Hurdle?Block off an hour of "me-time" in your calendar and stick to it! This also helps prevent any wasted time during the week for those days where boredom sneaks up on you and next thing you know it would have been 3 hours later. If all else fails, be sure to have a variety of exercise options so you can mix it up and avoid burnout. No one wants to do the same workout all the time, regularity is boring. Sure, waking up early before work or staying up late at night may not sound appealing but it's important to make exercise a priority in your everyday life if you want to see results fast and get off on the right foot!What are the Benefits to a Home WorkoutWorking out from home is a great way to work out without having to spend tons of money on expensive fitness classes and if you really wanted to keep it cheap you can just work on bodyweight exercises. You will be able to get in that much needed workout without feeling guilty about not going outside or trying something different. Not only does working out from home save time but it also saves money and is just as effective for those lazy days when the couch feels too tempting!1) Save MoneyWorking out from home can reduce your expenses by over $1,000 per year if your membership costs $39 per week, this can increase by a lot more very quickly if you also have a personal trainer. A wise investment might be purchasing your own exercise equipment such as resistance bands, dumbbells, stability ball and other items2) Save TimeIf you are always on the go and don't have the time to workout from home then you are missing a great opportunity. Working out from home is very convenient; all you need to do is get your motivation on and have some spare time in the day for some high intensity workouts.3) Choose what workout works best for youIf there was a particular routine that got boring or wasn't effective enough then you can always switch things up or alter your reps and sets. That's one of the benefits of working out from home, having control over what type of exercise will benefit your body! You can choose high intensity or low intensity workouts and low weight high reps or high weight and low reps.Steps to Get Started on your Home WorkoutI'm going to write about what I do at home to work out. I have a stability ball and my couch which I use as a form of balance. I also use resistance bands if I want to do certain exercises like those in Pilates. And I can get a full-body workout with my own body weight by doing push-ups, sit-ups, squats, etc.Obviously I find that working out at home can be less expensive than going to the gym. I don't have to pay membership fees but I do have to buy equipment, which is what most people think of when it comes time to workout from home. But actually, you can get a full body workout with your own body weight and a stability ball. And there are so many exercise bands on the market today that they are quite affordable as well. That's another benefit of working out from home--you really don't need much equipment! The only difference is you might not be able to find certain weights or resistance levels because you're limited by your own body weight.Why does it have to be a big deal? It's just buying equipment--anyone can do that, right? Wrong! A lot of people over think working out from home and they don't buy the right equipment or even work out at all! They stress about spending money on a stability ball when they really should see if they can borrow one first. Or maybe you're thinking, "I'll just go down to my gym..." But let's be honest--you're not going anywhere until you realize what workout routine will really solve all your problems. If you want to work out from home, start now! Buy some exercise bands and try them with simple exercises like squat-type moves or partial push-ups and basic strength training because you aren't going to buy a stability ball and get on it right away.I'm not saying that it's easy working out from home, but once you understand the importance of starting, you won't have any excuse to stop. Working out at home will ignite your passion for fitness because you'll be able to realize what is really possible with your body with just those few extra reps and sets. You might even feel like trying new exercises or pushing yourself harder than you ever have before! I think the key is just being consistent. It takes time to build up stamina but with consistency and some strength training, the results are inevitable!What are some Exercises I can do Without Any Equipment?Sit-upsTo do a sit-up, lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the ground. Reach your fingers to the bottoms of your shoes, bring them up toward your toes as you lift your head and shoulders off the floor. Lower yourself back down slowly until you're lying flat. Repeat for 10 to 15 reps over 5 sets and we're sure this'll add some good burn to your workout.LungesTo do a lunges workout from home, you're going to need something heavy to hold in your hands. You can also wear a backpack or use dumbbells (if you have them). Stand with your feet hip width apart and make sure your toes are pointed straight ahead. Hold your weight with your hands directly in front of your chest, then step forward with a single leg and bend that knee so that your thigh is parallel to the floor. At the same time, lower your hands so that they're in front of you and parallel to the floor. Stand up with a straight back and repeat this movement with your other foot. Continue for 30 seconds and then rest for 30 seconds. Repeat these movements for eight reps in total, resting two minutes every four times you repeat them.Wall SitsTo do a wall sit start by standing next to the wall with both feet facing it and about 5-8 cm away from it (or as close as you feel comfortable). Make sure that your knees are bent at least 90 degrees—otherwise it will be impossible to maintain this position for any duration of time. Next, lean back onto the wall so that you're resting against it with your full back and shoulders. Try not to put all your weight on the wall—keep your feet flat on the floor while doing this move by driving through them and keeping them flexed at about 80 degrees. This is sure to help build muscle in your lower body.SquatsHow to execute a perfect squat and get those legs and glutes burning;1. Stand with your feet parallel or slightly wider than shoulder width apart and your toes facing forward. Your feet should also be flat on the floor, not pointing outwards or inwards. Your body parts (head, neck etc.) should be aligned vertically as if standing up against a wall- avoid leaning forward!2. With both arms extended in front of you for support, bend at the knees so that your knees are bent lower than your hips while keeping your back straight and head up. Slowly lower yourself down until your thighs are almost parallel to the ground but don't sit all the way down yet!3. Hold this position for about 2 seconds before returning to starting position.4. Repeat for as many reps as you can do.If you want to make the exercise more challenging, try doing a single leg at a time instead of both (hopefully, your balance will be good!) or holding something heavy on your upper body before returning to the starting position. This way you are increasing weight and/or using a single leg only, which makes it much harder than just regular squats! Also, don't forget that these squats should not just be done on a daily basis-- rather they should be introduced gradually into your normal workout routine! If this is all new to you then I recommend doing them three times per week while following the accepted guidelines about how many sets and how many reps each set entails. 4) Use proper form and always keep your back straight and counting your reps while performing this exercise-- do not bend forward. Also, remember to breathe while doing this! If you are out of breath at any point then stop and take a rest before resuming these home workouts.5) Do not perform squats with extremely heavy weights or else you might really hurt yourself! You should start off fairly light especially if you have had previous injuries in your lower body-- just be careful about it and build muscle.Push upsPushups are one of the most popular home workout exercises, but they can be difficult to do correctly. I’ve compiled a list of ways that you can make push ups more effective and easier on your body. You don’t need any equipment or even a lot of space and will become one of your favourite home workouts. Pushups are a great introduction to bodyweight exercises and are definitely a workout to build muscle.1) Hold your hands shoulder width apart with your fingers pointing forward. This is the traditional way to do pushups. If this is too hard for you, try using an exercise mat for some cushioning or use only one hand at a time while holding onto something like a chair back or table leg with the other arm so that you have support from above and below and begin your reps. This will give you some relief in your joints which could help if this is too much for your muscles to handle.Side plankA side plank is a great home workout to build core strength and stability. A plank are also a good way to work on your balance. This type of strength training will workout the muscles in your back, arms, abdomen, buttocks and legs.1) Lay down on your left side with both hands placed under your shoulders in a straight line for support.2) Lift yourself up so that you are balancing on one arm and one leg while keeping the other arm straight out from the shoulder (this should be perpendicular to the floor). Keep this position as long as possible without letting either foot touch or rest against the ground. Remember not to arch or round off of either spine or hips!3) Repeat on opposite side.4) Hold each side plank for 10-30 seconds.5) Make sure to breathe throughout the entire exercise!The side plank is sure to leave your abdomen burning.What are some Exercises I can do With Basic Equipment?One of the major reasons why people don't workout is because they are worried about the cost of expensive home exercise equipment. Luckily, there are many home workout equipments which are not expensive and do a great job at helping you to build muscle.Some workout equipment to get on the cheaper side include;Jump RopeA jump rope is one of the best, low-cost home workout tools that can be used to build endurance and muscle strength.The skipping rope is also a good home workout tool for those with limited mobility. Skip about 10 meters forward then back for 3-5 reps, concentrating on your feet and using your arms to keep the rope moving.Only use a skipping rope that is the correct length for your height. If you are too tall or too short, you will not be able to skip properly and may end up injuring yourself. The ropes need to be stored in an area where they can't entangle with other objects such as toys and home equipment.Resistance BandsResistance bands are a great way to build and tone your muscles.Begin by looping the band around your foot in a way so that it will not slip off. Once you have it securely attached, place your foot on the couch or bench behind you while also holding on to the band for balance.- Bring your arms over your head and grab onto the middle of the band with both hands- While you stretch back, tighten the band so that it is now being pulled towards the ground (In this position, you should feel resistance)- then, slowly release and go back to starting pose. Repeat for other leg.- Repeat for 10 reps.Stability Ball (Exercise Ball)The stability ball is another home exercise tool. You can use it for abs exercises, core workouts, and even back and stretch routines while also working your upper body. Here is a sample home workout routine you can do with the ball:- 10 sit up reps on the ball- 10 pushup reps on the ball- 10 squat reps on the ball- 20 crunch reps on the ball- 20 back extension reps on the ballDo these sets twice. Try this home workout for abs and core, you'll be impressed with how it will help sculpt your upper body! These are also great for additional strength training.DumbbellsTo properly use dumbbells to work on your biceps for strength training, you should start by holding the dumbbells with your hands close together and palms facing each other. Your elbows should also be close to your body. The next step is to keep your elbows stationary and move your forearms from a low position to a high position. You will then bring them back down to the low position and repeat the exercise for 10-12 reps. You should hold the weight in both hands and repeat this exercise.To use dumbbells to work your triceps, start by keeping your elbows close to the body. Hold the dumbbells with both hands and move your arms in an inward motion as if you are hitting your elbow against a wall from 10 O'clock to 3 o'clock. Repeat for 10-12 reps or until you feel the muscle contracting in the back of your arm.You can also use a single dumbbell and keep your elbow stationary. Move the forearm in an outward motion, close to you but not touching your body. You will then bring them back towards the armpit from 9 o'clock to 3 o'clock after 10-12 reps or until you feel the muscle contract in the back of your armYou can also perform shrugs using dumbbells to build up your trapezius muscles located at the base of your neck and above both shoulders. Hold one dumbbell with both hands with palms facing downward. Keep your elbows bent slightly and raise them as high as possible by only moving from your upper arms. Finally, lower it slowly to repeat this exercise for 10-12 reps or until you feel the tension in your trapezius muscles.These home workout equipment are cheap and effective. A home workout doesn't have to be expensive in order for it to be effective. Also, the home workout equipment listed above can help you build up muscle by themselves or they could be used as a way of supplementing your current home gym set. Working out from home has many benefits; one of them being that exercises don't need to cost money but can still get you in shape! You'll never find an excuse not to work out when home gym equipment is this easily accessible and affordable!ConclusionThe home workout is a great way to get in that much needed exercise without spending the money on gym memberships or expensive fitness classes. You can build muscle and lose weight by doing simple workouts at home with just your body weight, resistance bands, dumbbells and even a stability ball. If you're ready to start working out from home for yourself but need some help getting started, our blog post should provide all of the information you'll need! We included tips as well as different exercises which will work for any level of fitness-beginner or expert alike. There's no better time than now to take advantage of this opportunity so why not give it a try?
