Training at Home

Strength training at home

Whether through choice or circumstance, many people don't have regular access to a gym. If this is your circumstance, don't despair - we'll show you how to get a quality workout in the comfort of your own home.

For various reasons, many people don't have access to a gym. Whether it's because of budget, schedule or distance, not having the resources of a gym can put a dent in your workout plans.

While most of us would like access to a gym, once you start thinking about it, there are loads of ways to stay in shape without joining a gym.

The key is to stop thinking along traditional lines.  Of course it would be easier if you could join a class or have a huge range of machines available to you, but even without them you can still have great workouts.

Whether you are looking for cardio workouts,  strength (resistance) workouts, or a mixture of the two this will guide you as to what you can do based from home with a minimal budget.

Cardio workouts at home

There are numerous options if you want a good cardio workout from your home. Some of the best options include:

Walking or running: All you need for this is a good pair of shoes. Research shows that walking or running three times a week for at least twenty minutes is a great base for overall conditioning, with either a brisk walk or easy jogging effective in getting your heart rate going sufficiently.

Other methods of achieving a good home-based cardio workout include:

• Stair climbing
• Skipping
• Mini-trampoline

For just a small investment you could have a home version of the cardio machines you see at a gym - a stationary bike or stepper for example.

These don't have to be expensive - there are always loads for sale in local newspapers, at garage sales, or on e-bay.

If you decide to take this route, be sure to check out anything before you buy it - quality varies widely, and a cheap useless machine is a frustrating waste of space.

The other consideration if you are buying equipment is the space in your house - it's easy to misjudge whether a piece of equipment will fit, so carefully measure the space you have available.

Alternatively you could put on your favourite music and dance, or use a fitness dvd of some kind (aerobics, yoga, Pilates etc). Again, you'll find a great selection available on amazon.

Resistance training at home

Resistance training  should be a core part of any exercise program, and it's easy to achieve. If you have the money and space, a barbell and dumbbell set along with a bench will allow you to do a whole range of resistance exercises for the whole body. Or try resistance bands and a swiss ball offer further exercise oppotunities.

If you have a little more space then purchasing a kettlebell and DVD package will give you a whole new home workout experience.

Finally, if you have absolutely no equipment, you can still get a good resistance workout using just your body weight - the following exercises would form the basis of an excellent workout:

• Squats
• Lunges
• Calf-raises
• Push-ups (or modified push ups)
• Wall push-ups/Counter height push-ups
• Chair triceps dip
• Curls (holding anything!)
• Abs bridge (two legs/one leg)
• Crunches

For further suggestions just visit youtube for many, many more ideas and suggestions.

The beauty of working out at home is that you can squeeze a workout into a busy daily schedule

So if lack of funds or opportunity is holding you back from working out, it's time to be imaginative. Once you start to look for ways to workout at home, it becomes easy.

If you are still unsure, have questions or would like professional guidance many Personal Trainers offer training at home and can create a highly effective and enjoyable workout to suit you.