Staying fit doesn’t mean that you always need to hit the gym. In fact, some of the best physical activities involve simple workouts that do not require a whole fitness plan. These simple workouts can help you maintain your weight, improve balance and range of motion, and strengthen bones and joints among other things. Without further ado, here are some easy exercises you can do to stay fit!
Walking
Walking is one of the simplest, yet most effective forms of cardiovascular exercise one can do. Getting in at least 30 minutes to an hour of walking per day can do wonders for your health.
Apart from helping you stay trim and improving your stamina and cholesterol levels, walking can also strengthen your bones, keep your blood pressure in check, lift your mood, and lower your risk for a number of heart-related diseases as you age.
Swimming
Swimming is another fun activity that actually helps you stay super fit. It is a form of cardio that works all your limbs, so you can rest assured that you will have a full-body workout from taking a dip.
Swimming has also been proven to be a great form of exercise for those who suffer from arthritis since the buoyancy of the water offers extra support to your body. This in turn reduces the strain that you put on your joints and allows for more free movement.
If you are looking for more of a challenge, water aerobics is a great calorie-burning exercise that increases endurance and helps you tone up and strengthen your muscles.
Strength Training
Strength training is often associated with bulking up and can sound a bit intimidating to those who do not frequent the gym. However, it isn’t always about lifting heavy weights. In fact, lifting light weights can help work your muscles and keep them strong since too much inactivity can cause your muscles to weaken over time.
There are several at-home weight training programs that are great for beginners who are apprehensive about going to the gym. However, always remember that when starting a weight training program, don’t take on too much at once. Technique and form matter, so start light, and work your way up.
If lifting weights doesn’t sound like something you would be interested in, fear not. There are several strength building exercises that target different muscle groups. These include but are not limited to:
Squats
Squats work the quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes. As they strengthen quadriceps, squats can aid with knee and joint pain. They are also great for strengthening hip muscles and toning your calves and thighs. Furthermore, doing squats effectively can help burn calories and assist with weight loss.
Lunges
Like squats, lunges target all the major muscles of the lower body including your glutes, quadriceps, and hamstrings. They offer all the same benefits as squats in addition to improving one’s balance.
Push-ups
If done correctly, a push-up can help strengthen the chest, shoulders, triceps, and even the core trunk muscles, all at once. And the best part about a push-up is that it can be done at any fitness level.
Tai Chi
Remember, you don’t always have to do something rigorous to keep yourself healthy. Sometimes, strengthening the mind can have a healing effect on the body. Tai Chi is a Chinese martial art that combines movement and relaxation. It is a form of mediation that involves performing a series of graceful movements that transition smoothly into one another. It is a body and mind strengthening exercise that is suitable for all ages and fitness levels. It is particularly good for older people as it is not too strenuous and helps increase balance, which is important as you age.
Find the Best Exercise for You
Exercising does not have to be something tedious. You can stay fit doing activities that you enjoy. As long as you can find a way to incorporate some form of aerobic exercise into your daily routine for at least 30 minutes, you are on the right track to staying fit. Remember to have fun with it and stay healthy!
