Did you know that you don’t need a gym membership to stay fit and healthy this winter? There are many at-home exercises to ensure we stick to our fitness journey all year round. Here’s a few to try out:

Jump Rope

You can buy a skipping rope or use any rope at home for this one. The key is to start small; you can skip for 2 minutes when you start out. After 2 weeks you can push to 5 minutes or more. All you need to do is put a timer on and count how many jumps you make in that time.

Stair Stepping

Stair stepping is a great exercise to do in your home, even if you don’t have a set of stairs available. Find the biggest book you own (or a sturdy chair), put it in front of the TV, and step up and down while watching your favorite show. You may not work up a sweat like you would with a jump rope, but you will be keeping your body active and healthy.

The Plank

If you don’t have much time but want to build up your core muscles, this is the exercise for you. Get into a push-up position, but instead of bending your arms and moving down towards the floor, hold the position with your arms extended. Start off by holding the position for 30 seconds and add an additional 10 seconds every week.

Dancing

Dancing is an excellent way to burn calories and get your heart rate going while having fun. If you are in the privacy of your own home, there is no need to look like a pro. You can watch dancing exercises here.

Cleaning

Do not underestimate the power of the physical strength needed when cleaning. All the sweeping, vacuuming, and mopping is a lot of work and it’s enough to keep your heart rate up and sweating.

Water Bottle Weights

If you are looking to do some arm, shoulder, and back strength training, you can make your own weights by filling up water bottles. If using water bottles becomes too easy, use milk jugs. You can modify the exercise to your level by filling the jugs with water to the exact weight that you need. For a greater challenge, increase the water amount just a little bit each time you work out.

High Knee

This is a good replacement for running. To do this exercise, march in place or down a hall, and bring your knees as high as they can go.

YouTube Workouts

There’s a lot of workout routines on YouTube. You can find any kind of workout you want, and it’s a good chance to learn other forms of fun workouts such as yoga, pilates, stretch bend workout, cardio, and more.

When it comes to workouts, trying out a variety of workouts can help you understand more about your body, and what you like and don’t like. The most important thing is staying consistent Choma. Best of luck!

If you or a friend need advice or help, you can contact Ask Choma, send a Facebook message or a Twitter DM, or a WhatsApp Message (071 172 3657).