Staying active is vital to maintaining a well balanced mental and physical lifestyle. Physical activity keeps your immune system working effectively by; flushing bacteria from the lungs and airways, increasing blood circulation and raising your body temperature. It also significantly lowers the risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke.
During the lockdown, we have been advised we are able to leave the house for a walk or run, which is a great way to get fresh air and some vitamin D, but what if you are unable to walk or run due to injury? What about if it is raining! Here are a couple of at home activity ideas for you to try out in the comfort of your own home!
Home circuits
Home circuit workouts are fantastic for a short but intense workout! Find a space in your garden or in the lounge. Grab some baked beans, flour, or a bag of rice and use them as weights. Below are some great home based workouts we have selected to get you started.
Low impact home work out – good for beginners
Zumba
Zumba is fantastic for getting your heart rate up and moving those hips, not to mention it is a heck of a lot of fun! There are free online Zumba classes for children (or your inner child) presented by Kanikani Fitness Channel. You can head to the Kanikani website every Tuesday and Thursday at 9.30am.
Zumba is available on most online platforms such as Youtube and Facebook.
Yoga
Yoga is a slower paced option for a home work out – this doesn’t mean it is easy though! Both disciplines focus on syncing up breathe with movement, which is incredibly beneficial for your nervous system. When you breathe deeply through your diaphragm, your parasympathetic nervous system activates (think rest & digest), helping reduce feelings of stress and anxiety thus relaxing tension in the body. Breathing with your movements also encourages more mindful and conscious activation of muscles, ensuring your strength improves as you progress.
Yoga with Adriene is a well known Youtube channel, she has a range of videos for all levels. Adriene is light hearted and fun!
Yogalight and Yoga Online are both great resources of NZ based content
