You Don't Need a Gym!
There are many, many ways to be active that do not include a gym. Yes, a gym is nice. Gyms have all the necessary equipment to exercise every part of your body, from Treadmills, to weight machines, to fun balls to roll around on. But, if you are one of the thousands of Americans out there who have a gym membership and rarely, if ever, use it; or if you live somewhere where you do not have access to a gym; or if you simply cannot afford a gym membership, read on.
Walk or Bike to Work. Starting and ending the day this way will energize you for the day and help you unwind afterwards!
A playground is a perfect place for a workout. If you go early in the morning, you’ll likely have the place to yourself. Walk to the park. Or if you have to drive walk around the perimeter of the park a few times to warm up. Then use the playground equipment to play and move around!
Try an adult playground or public fitness park. Playgrounds for Seniors are also catching on here in the United States. These are becoming increasingly popular in bigger cities, but you never know – you may have one closer than you think! These typically are laid out following a path, with adult sized structures with placards explaining how to do the exercises.
Have a set of steps in your house? Climbing steps is a great cardiovascular workout. Try this quick routine: Walk or run up and down the stairs. When you get to the bottom, do a set of 10 push-ups, either on the ground or using the stairs as an incline. March in place, lifting your knees slowly and deliberately. Do 20 jumping jacks. If regular jumping jacks are too strenuous, do a modified version where you still move your arms up and down, but simply step one leg out to the side, alternating sides. Do 10 standing squats. Repeat 2 – 3 times.
Go for a bike ride. Ride around your neighborhood. Or do your errands and ride to the grocery store!
Go for a hike or walk. Many towns have developed walking trails along a river or around a lake. Stop at benches and do push ups off the back. Do dips off the seat. Do a set of squats or lunges.
The bottom line is to keep moving! There are countless ways to incorporate exercise into your daily routine. Yes, a gym does provide proper equipment and space. But if you can’t make it to the gym, you can find lots of other ways to keep moving. It’s up to us to be cognizant of our bodies and the need to move.
