With self-isolation and working from home becoming a global reality, I’ve come to realise how much I took for granted pre-Coronavirus. Namely, being able to waltz down to a spin class or spend a Sunday morning at my local yoga studio.
And so, for me, one of the hardest things about our pending lockdown is the realisation that I won’t be able to go to the gym. You may roll your eyes, but working out keeps me sane. Stressful day at work? Work out. Feeling less than 100% after an over-indulgent weekend? Work out. Can’t sleep? Work out. Bottom line, it helps to keep my mental health intact.
Since my gym doors are firmly locked for the foreseeable, there’s only one thing for it: amp up my at-home workouts like never before. And that means investing in some at-home gym equipment, not because body-weight workouts aren’t effective (they are), but because I may as well make things exciting and challenging if I’m not allowed outside.
Resistance bands are a great place to start – this seemingly simple piece of equipment can make your muscles stand to attention like no other. In fact, according to recent research published in the Human Journal of Kinetics, using resistance bands is on par with lifting weights in terms of effectiveness. From glute bridges to lateral band walks, there are so many exercises you can do with them.
I’ll also be investing in some dumbbells (the workout possibilities are endless) and an adult’s skipping rope. This widely cited study found that skipping with a rope is one of the most effective cardio exercises out there – and you only need a small back garden to partake.
When it comes to larger pieces of equipment, the Adidas T-16 treadmill is well worth the investment. It has 24 pre-set programmes, 15 levels of incline and it folds for easy storage. The running dec is cushioned and can reach a speed of 18kph, and you can track your pulse, calories, time spent working out, speed and distance. You’ll use it long after the lockdown is over.
