It is pretty obvious nowadays due to the pandemic access to certain luxuries or things taken for granted have now suddenly become limited if not completely closed entirely.
With this new prospect of people working, communicating and collaborating remotely people are seeking solutions to being stuck at home and not gorging themselves on snacks without first burning the calories to earn it. We are now looking to simply doing workouts from home.
Seems simple enough but not necessarily for everyone. For some people loved the social aspect of the gym, hanging out with like minded people and motivating and encouraging each other to reach that eventual goal one day at a time. Having the coach there and ready to provide instruction on what to do and have a game plan to approach that goal, it’s quite a lot to lose so suddenly.
Let’s first take a look and see what is being done now because even the gyms need to make sure their clients are still receiving their money’s worth and not feel left in the dust.
FORMS OF COMMUNICATION
For the most part, we have access to phones and the internet. Calls, e-mails, texts, group chats are still available especially with how connected most people are to social media (whether they want to be or not).
Gyms are making content for their members to follow, as well as accommodating those who may not have certain items in their house but suggest to try and get them if possible.
Shadow boxing routine from Coach Aaron at Kingdom MMA and Fitness
Not only just gyms but various fighters and online trainers are providing little routines that are simple to follow and don’t require much. Just yourself and some space.
So trainers are doing their part. What can we the people at home do to get ourselves started and not get too lethargic while in lockup?
Stuck at home, an outgoing person’s worst nightmare
SPACE
Depending on where you live, space will be required to start your workouts. If we just focus on not having any gear whatsoever just simply for body weight exercises. Enough space to allow you to do push-ups, sit-ups, planks, squat thrusts and jumping jacks would be a good start (so about your height horizontally and vertically measured on the floor)
This will allow you to start basic workouts, no gear required. There are plenty of sources showing daily routines or challenges to follow for the month as you slowly learn the mechanics of your own body while building strength in the joints and smaller muscles that might get ignored when trying to use athleticism to blaze through.
You can work on how your strikes look and see if they are being done right
Record so you can see how you look and fix whatever is needed
Have focused drills on a specific combination or technique (don’t slack)
Do these during the rest in between sets
- Straight punches, shoe shine combinations as many as you can before the next set or at least for 15 – 30 seconds
Be more comfortable throwing your strikes in a controlled manner, so then you realize when you are overdoing something and learn to find out why.
SIMPLE GEAR TO GET STARTED
Now depending where you live, you are not the only one who has become “inspired” to make a home gym and you’ve noticed a lot of weights have disappeared from the shelves like toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Let’s make due with some gear that doesn’t break the bank while still maintaining small space available.
- Jump Rope
- The most basic and cheap alternative in case jumping jacks are getting boring, good cardio can be the equivalent of a run (I’d recommend going outside for a light jog or walk, get some fresh air while maintaining your distance)
- Medicine Ball
- This item has yet to disappear (50/50 chance), good for adding some variation to push-ups and sit-ups
- Kettle-Bell/Dumbbell
- Free weights to build strength if you want a bit more than simply body weight
- Yoga Mat
- In case you are concerned with sweating all over the place, having a towel nearby helps too
When more space is available to you, say like a basement or garage then more doors open based on your budget or who is willing to help you put stuff together.
Make due with what space you got whether it is a lot
Or Not
In the meantime the biggest hurdle for everyone is accountability, can you police yourself and maintain the discipline of keeping to a routine? Only you have the answer to that, the saying is it takes four weeks to turn something into a habit, let’s give it a shot.
Written by PJ the Fight Architect.