5 Tips for Creative Work Outs

Exercising is a great way to stay in shape and support your physical health, but doing the same workout over and over again gets boring after a while. Sometimes you need to mix things up to get back in the groove and continue enjoying your exercise time.

Luckily, there are plenty of ways to do this! In this blog, we’ll go over some easy at-home workouts that save you a drive to the gym, and ways to modify your current workout to get more out of it.

1.) Resistance Bands

Resistance bands are great for stretching and training. You can use these to get a deep stretch in your legs and hip flexors, build strength in your arms and shoulders or even as an aid in your core workouts. The best part is that you can buy them for about $10 from any sports or exercise store.

Get yourself a variety of tension weights if you decide to go all in on resistance bands. This way you can work different muscles with the appropriate tension so you’re always building yourself up and not pushing too hard. Many resistance bands are sold in sets, so it’s easy to get multiple for a good deal.

2.) Stadium Runs

If you live near a high school or college sports complex, then you can use the bleachers as your workout buddy. Stadium workouts are great for building cardio and leg muscles in one exercise. There are a few ways you can approach this workout:

• Up/downs — run up the stairs and walk down the next section
• Snakes — run up and down the stair sets from one end of the bleachers to the other; walk back to start
• Circuits — continuously moving, run the bleachers, run back to start and do another two or three exercises before taking a quick break and starting over

3.) Dumbbells

If you’re limited on time and space, an in-home dumbbell or kettlebell workout is a great option. You can use them for traditional arm exercises, such as bicep curls and shoulder presses, or you can incorporate them into a full-body workout. Use them for squats, deadlifts and even core exercises to add just a little more weight to your exercise.

Are your dumbbells too light for some of your workouts? Instead of buying a new set, learn how to make dumbbells heavier so you can use the same pair for every activity.

With these few types of workouts in mind, let’s turn to some ways you can make the most out of them.

4.) Listen to Music

Nothing helps get you hyped up more than some upbeat music! There’s a reason athletes love exercising to their favorite tunes: it gets you excited. The tempo of the music helps you elevate your heart rate during a hard workout and provides a steady tempo that your body will naturally follow throughout your exercise.

Most trainers recommend different tempos for different workouts — such as 140-160 beats per minute if you’re doing cardio — but it really depends on your preferences. Find music you enjoy that gets you pumped and listen to that while you exercise.

5.) Eliminate Distractions

You might be listening to music on your phone, but that doesn’t mean you should be on your phone. When you work out, it’s important to eliminate all distractions so you can focus on your body and your breathing. Not only does this better help you relax, but it’s also safer. When you’re distracted during your workout, you open opportunities for an injury that wouldn’t happen if you were paying attention.

So be sure to always turn off notifications when you work out. You don’t have to answer texts or phone calls, just focus on your workout. You’ll feel more refreshed and energized to deal with the distractions of life when you’re finished.

These are just a few tips on how you can get in a good workout and make it fun. Try it for yourself!