Now that there is a need to spend most of your time at home, it may be tempting to lie in or just watch television on the sofa, but NHS advice says that staying active and in motion while in self isolation is important for your health.
If you don’t have gym equipment at home or can't get out of the house or flat then no problem. Your house is full of items and itself can be used to keep you healthy and in shape.
Stairs
If you have them at home, going up and down the stairs can serve as an alternative cardio exercise to get blood circulation going. Engage your core, thighs and arms. Just be careful when you’re on your way down.
Chair
You can do tricep dips on the surface of a chair. To prepare, your back should be facing the chair. Slowly bend your knees until you can rest your palms on the chair. Make sure your fingers are facing forward. While in this position, slowly extend both your legs.
To execute a repetition, bend your elbows to lower your glutes towards the floor. You don’t need to make your bottom touch the ground. If you can, you can also do this workout on a stair.
Wall
With any wall or vertical surface, you can perform a wall sit. Put your back against the wall and slowly lower your upper body until your legs form a 90 degree angle. Hold the position and engage your core.
You can do 3 sets for 30 to 120 seconds each. If you want more of a challenge you can do it longer.
Kitchen Table
Before you do this, make sure to clear the area of plates, knives, and anything else that might get in the way or cause injury.
Placing your palms on the edge of a sturdy kitchen table, you can do incline push-ups. Steadily bend your elbows to bring your chest close to the table.
Backpack
If incline or normal push-ups are a bit dull or a little too easy, fill up a backpack with some items like books, cans or bottles. Then wear the backpack while you do your reps. Alternatively, you can also wear the backpack as you go up and down the stairs for a more challenging cardio workout.
Broom
With a broom stick you can do body twists that target your oblique muscles. Take the broom and bring it in front of you by gripping (avoid underhand grips) with both hands, shoulder-width apart. Bring the broom overhead and then slowly bring it down to your nape.
Then to execute the reps, twist your upper body towards the left and then to the right. Repeat this as many times as you’d like.
Exercise safely
Before you start exercising regularly and getting creative with your household items, please consult your doctor to see if there are any medical conditions that prevent you from doing these exercises.
If you have previous injuries or a heart condition that impedes you from exercising, visit the nearest london medical diagnostic clinic.
At Vista Health, we help patients become better informed about their health issues by offering rapid, convenient and affordable diagnostic services.
Call us on 0333 242 6887 or email us at booking@vista-health.co.uk.