Ways to Stay Active at Home During the COVID-19 Pandemic
While staying active and healthy is important at all times, it is all the more crucial as we spend more time at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. No, being active doesn’t prevent the virus, but it can do a lot to keep your overall health at optimal level regardless.
Physical activity releases endorphins that boost your mood, protecting your physical and mental health at once. Keeping active during COVID-19 also helps boost your immune system. This can be especially important for older people or those at higher risk from the virus.
Being active doesn’t just mean having a complex home workout routine. It can be any number of easy exercises to do at home, including going for a socially distanced walk! In an effort to keep everyone mentaly and physically healthy, let’s explore ways to stay active at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ways to Stay Active at Home During the Pandemic
While some people may have a home workout routine that fits their lifestyle perfectly, others may have gotten most of their activity from daily tasks like going to work, regular shopping, or going out with friends. While we all spend much more time at home during the pandemic, it’s important to incorporate new ways of being active.
Some simple ways to to stay active at home during the COVID-19 pandemic are:
- Practicing yoga or tai chi
- Try a virtual fitness class
- Develop a simple home exercise routine
- Take a walk or go running several times a week
- Dance it out to stay active
Practicing Tai Chi or Yoga at Home
When it comes to staying active at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, you don’t need a full home gym setup. Practicing yoga and tai chi can be done pretty much anywhere with minimal space needed. This makes them perfect even for those with smaller living spaces!
While both provide great mental and physical benefits through movement and encouraging self-reflection, we personally can’t get enough of yoga! Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, yoga is for all skill and fitness levels. It’s a great way to increase flexibility and mobility while adding an element of meditation for mental health, as well.
To get started all you need is comfortable clothing and a yoga mat. For beginners we also recommend considering a yoga block to help you maintain balance while you adjust to new poses and positions. Don’t have a yoga block? No worries! Anything will do. Choose something you can put a little bit of your weight on to help you balance that is roughly the size of a shoe box and you’re set to go.
Stay Active at Home With a Virtual Fitness Class
Get creative finding ways to stay active at home during the COVID-19 pandemic and join a virtual fitness class! There are streaming fitness programs of all types available from popular providers like BeachBody or you can find endless routines on Youtube. Many fitness trainers are even offering live virtual classes on Zoom and similar video platforms.
Develop a Simple Home Exercise Routine
If a virtual group fitness class isn’t your speed, take things at your own pace by developing a simple home exercise routine. You can get a full workout from the comfort and safety of your own home!
If you’re working out at home you can do simple exercises like push-ups, squats, and lunges with ease. For those without a home gym setup, improvise! Use a solid piece of furniture as a base for some of your exercises. There are loads of activities to combine with zero gravity chairs, for example, that help you stay active at home. You can use zero gravity chairs to do things like quad lifts, calf raises, and core-building exercises.
The best part of incorporating a zero gravity recliner into your daily workout is that you can relax in it afterward as part of your at home post workout recovery routine! From workout to recovery without moving an inch. Your chair will help your body heal faster, rehydrate tissue, and improve blood circulation throughout the body keeping you at optimal health!
Take a Walk or Go for a Run
Finding ways to stay active at home doesn’t have to mean literally staying indoors. During the pandemic it’s important to your physical and mental health to get outside for some fresh air. Staying inside too long can increase feelings of depression or anxiety and lead to you being unmotivated to stay active.
Going for a brisk walk or run several times a week helps you get your cardio exercise in by raising your heart rate. Be sure to walk or run safely during the coronavirus pandemic and maintain social distancing if you’re walking or jogging with a partner. Furthermore, make sure you properly warm up and stretch beforehand so you don’t pull a muscle.
Having a zero gravity chair comes in handy here, as well, as part of your cool down routine after your walk or run. Going from an activity like that to simply sitting on a couch can make you tense up and get stiff. In addition to previously mentioned health benefits of zero gravity chairs, many models also offer bonus features like heat therapy and massage. Take advantage of both to keep limber and loose after your workouts!
Have a Pandemic Dance Party at Home
Traditional workouts not your style? Looking for something with a little more fun and flair to keep you motivated? Dance it out! There are lots of dance workout routines like Zumba that will help you get your heart rate up while you have a blast. Not feeling an organized routine? Have a solo dance party! Anything that increases your heart rate will help you get in your cardio exercise for the day.
If you’re looking for ways to safely mingle with friends during the pandemic, schedule a virtual dance party together! This can be a fun way to party safely and get your exercising in. Who said fitness can’t be fun?
Whether you’re looking for a formal workout or a fun way to get your cardio in, finding ways to stay active at home during the COVID-19 pandemic is crucial to your mental and physical health. Staying active helps boost your immune system and keep you healthy. Make use of that home gym, clear some space for a floor workout in the living room, or even choose a zero gravity chair to help you exercise! You’ll arrive on the other side of this pandemic looking great and feeling awesome.
Self care is more important now than ever before. Check out these ways to implement self care at home during quarantine for activities you can do, or learn more about our chairs here: What is a Zero Gravity Chair?
