I'll always remember when the world stopped at the beginning of Covid-19. I had just given birth to my third child and was happy to be able to move my body more and start being more active again. Some of my funniest moments during that time were my daily gentle Barre and Pilates workouts I would do with my friend.
Using a chair and the treadmill handle as our barre and setting the phone close-by so we could follow what the instructor was doing on screen. That's when I was personally introduced to live streaming virtual fitness classes. The convenience of taking a class virtually instead of in person has made it so easy to keep my fitness routine in my busy life.
If you haven't tried it yet but are interested, you might be surprised about just how many choices of classes you can find virtually nowadays. Anything from yoga, Zumba, boxing, biking, HIT, Pilates, meditation, mindfulness, and dance classes are available to you, only one click away!
According to a poll of 2,000 people by OnePoll, 75% of people believe it's easier to stay fit at home. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020, 64% of respondents stated that they're more interested in at-home exercise than ever before.
Additionally, these at-home fitness options offer more flexibility than stationary gyms and remove barriers that people once had like commuting time, financial cost and experience level.
With all that is going on in the world and stress levels being at a general high, making our fitness a priority is important.
We know that working out helps relieve stress. There is a strong link between physical activity and mental health. During and after exercise, the body releases some 'feel good hormones' that bring the mind to experience a sense of achievement and mental clarity.
Dedicating a space in your home for your fitness routine
I love to dedicate a space in my home to exercising the mind and body. It doesn't have to be extravagant or big, or even have much equipment at all. The intention is to set a bubble of space where you come back to daily to take care of yourself. It can be as simple as a yoga mat, a candle, and a set of ankle weights. I personally love all body-weight workouts where no equipment is needed. You can break a sweat without breaking your wallet on expensive equipment.
With that being said, if exercising from home is becoming your main way of working out, maybe you do want to invest in a few more items that can help you complete your at-home wellness space. I have some friends who have found a passion for biking after investing in a spinning bike or real road bike that you set in front of a screen. These are part of the high-end workout equipment and smart gyms. Others are set up and satisfied with a few dumbbells, exercise bands, yoga blocks and sweat towels.
Recovery
As people are becoming savvier about workouts, we're seeing more interest in ways to recover better post-workout. You've probably witnessed all the rage around recovery tools that were once only reserved to top athletes and physiotherapists, such as the deep tissue massage tools. They are designed to help soothe, enhance recovery, and release tension in the body.
I also personally enjoy massaging my achy legs from doing squats and Pilates with the Arnica Gel from A.Vogel. It's super easy to apply, not greasy at all and helps relieve the soreness. And of course, it is made of all natural ingredients.
A.Vogel Arnica Gel is a traditional herbal medicinal product for use in the symptomatic relief of muscular aches, pains, stiffness, sprains, bruises and swelling, and can be used up to 4 times a day.
As much as virtual active workouts have become more popular, so have virtual meditations.
Relaxation is key in recovery. You need to spend some quality time with yourself each day while relaxing in nature or doing something else that helps you relax. You could meditate every day or only during certain times of the day. Either way, it's good to start now so you have time later in life to practice regularly.
There is a surge in whole-body wellness, we're shifting our perception of fitness and seeing it more as a piece of a larger puzzle of health rather than a way to simply gain strength. So, whether you are getting active back at the gym or at home virtually, props to you for making your health a priority!
Sources
https://nypost.com/2020/07/16/survey-says-the-at-home-workout-is-here-to-stay-even-if-covid-19-disappears/
https://www.canfitpro.com/blog/2020-fitness-trends/
