Exercise is important for a healthy lifestyle. When you live in an apartment, however, you might feel that your options are limited. The good news is that you don’t have to spend a ton of money to get a great workout in. And even if your community doesn’t have a fitness center, there are still ways you can get fit without all the fancy equipment you might find at a gym.
Read on to find out how you can exercise in your apartment using minimal workout gear. You can even watch television or blast energy-boosting music while doing these exercises to keep things interesting.
This is one of the simplest and most convenient ways to work out in your apartment community. If the weather is nice, it’s great to get outside and enjoy your surroundings while you exercise. And even if the weather isn’t cooperating, you can still take advantage of the benefits of walking. Scale the stairs of your apartment building for an intense cardiovascular benefit that is low impact, while also toning your legs.
Don’t have a lot of space to work with? Not a problem. Jogging in place is great exercise for your heart, and you can do it in just about any room. Turn on the television, crank up the tunes, and get to jogging in place to burn calories. To make your workout a little more difficult, alternate between jogging in place and doing jumping jacks.
As long as your apartment has enough overhead room for the rope to turn freely, you can get great cardiovascular exercise by jumping rope. This also tones arms, legs, and shoulders. Even though you’ll be indoors, make sure to wear cushioned, supportive shoes to reduce the risk of injury. Make sure your jump rope is the right length. To test for the correct length, stand in the middle and pull the handles up toward your armpits. If the handles touch your armpits, the rope is the right length.
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A stability ball is a large, inflatable ball that can be used for a number of exercises. Light and compact, it's perfect for working out in an apartment. The stability ball crunch is one of the most effective ways to work your abdominal muscles, as it allows you to contract and lengthen these muscles. Sit on the stability ball and walk your feet forward while leaning back on the ball. Place your hands on your thighs, across your chest or on your temples. Now, contract your abs while lifting your head and shoulders off the ball. Hold this position for a few seconds, then slowly lower your head and shoulders back down. Repeat!
You don’t need expensive weights or fancy machines to build muscle and increase strength. Simply pick up a few items you most likely have lying around your apartment and do a few reps. Start out with something lighter, such as canned vegetables, and work your way up to heavier items, like milk jugs or laundry detergent bottles.
Although they’re certainly not a favorite exercise of many people, pushups can be a good source of cardiovascular activity while building up arm strength and toning muscles in your chest. If it’s too difficult, start off on your knees instead of keeping your legs straight. Or, if you have enough wall space in your apartment, you can perform pushups standing up against a wall.
Photo credit: Shutterstock/AlexandrMusuc