Now that more people are forced to shift their workout routines online, making sure you’re doing the right thing for your body is more essential than ever. If you’re looking for a little extra guidance, we’ve gathered some great tips from instructors and other at-home workout fanatics.
While solo exercise isn’t a new concept, it can still be challenging to push yourself and be safe when you’re doing things without a trained professional. To prevent injury, or just keep yourself going, there are some crucial things to know.
We’ve narrowed down some great tips from across the internet that you can take with you into your next workout.
Don’t do something if it’s painful
There’s a common misconception with exercise that you have to put your body through pain to make change. The truth is, it’s the opposite. If you’re feeling pain, you should back off, adjust your form, and ensure you’re doing things the right way.
While you should be in an uncomfortable space, and things shouldn’t feel easy, that doesn’t mean you should feel actual physical pain. Learning how to read your body is important for at-home workouts.
If you feel like you’re about to get sick, pass out, or are feeling a strain in your muscles, it’s time to pull back. You can do a great workout without feeling any of those things. So, listen to your body and do what’s best for you.
Limit high-intensity workouts
There are individuals out there that do hard exercises every single day, thinking it’s going to change their body massively. The unfortunate truth behind this is you can do a lot more harm than good with this routine.
High-intensity workouts create stress and inflammation in your body. This is great when you’re doing things in moderation, but without allowing your body to move into recovery mode, you’re putting a lot more stress on your heart, muscles, and bones.
Stick to high-intensity workouts just three times a week, and use your other sessions for recovery. Do some stretching or yoga, go for a walk or light jog. You can still get movement in, just make it less intense.
When in doubt — ask
If you’re following an online instructor or know someone you can reach out to, you should always ask about things you’re unsure about. Especially if you’re trying to take your workouts up a notch or working with new equipment.
Most online instructors are willing to provide some feedback or information. Reach out to them with your questions, tell them what your concerns are, and take their feedback to heart. Trained professionals know what is good and bad for the body. Listen to them as much as you can, and follow their direction.
The last thing you want to do is get injured because you didn’t reach out and ask if you were doing things correctly.
Doing at-home workouts is a great way to get movement in and save yourself some money. Just be sure you’re safe in the process by following these tips.
