Are you not ready to return to public sweat-out sessions? Are you still afraid of going indoors for your gym sessions? Luckily, you don’t need a lot of gym equipment to keep fit. Your own backyard can be a haven for your fitness workouts. If you know the right routines, have a small extra space in the backyard and are creative and resourceful with the “equipment” you need, you’ll be able to stay in shape even without going outdoors.
First Things First: Clean It
Make sure that your backyard is free from obstructions, ticks, and mosquitoes. You can call a tick control company now. Their anti-tick and anti-mosquito services are safe for kids and pets. Your kids and pets can run freely around the garden or backyard without worrying about getting tick bites. Making sure that the backyard is safe for your exercise routine is the first step to turning it into a home gym. You don’t need a super large space for your routines. A small corner or the middle part of the backyard where the early morning sunlight streams is the perfect spot.
Build a Storage Space
You don’t want to be carrying whatever gym equipment you have into the house every time you are done with your workout session. You can simply build a small storage space where you can store your gym equipment such as dumbbells, kettlebells, and other weights. If you have a yoga mat, that’s where you can store it, too, to keep it away from your pets, kids, and garden pests. Make sure that the storage space has enough ventilation, and keep it clean to prolong the life of your equipment and tools.
Use Your Bodyweight
You don’t need expensive gym equipment and even weights. You only need your body weight to hone your muscles and strengthen your core. Lunges, squats, and push-ups are the most popular exercises that use your own body weight. You can start by doing push-ups against the wall before doing it on the floor. Then, you can progress to squats. It seems easy, but it puts a lot of pressure on your stomach muscles. Make sure you have the right stance when doing squats because this exercise can hurt your legs and lower back.
Run Around the Backyard
Sure, it is not the same as running in a public park or around the street (though why not do that, too?), but if you are more comfortable inside your own property, then who’s stopping you? Running is a cardiovascular exercise. It will pump blood into your veins and give you adrenaline. It will also help you lose weight and prepare your body for the more strenuous exercise of weightlifting, lunges, and more.
Weeding out the Garden
Do you know what’s another workout that will help you keep the garden clean and lose weight at the same time? Weeding out the garden. Pulling weeds from the grass is a great sweat-out activity. It makes you perspire and exert your pent-up energy from being cooped up inside the house for too long. You can even ask your kids to do this with you. They’ll love the idea of “helping out” even if it’s just the simple task of keeping the backyard free from weeds and other trash.
Water the Plants the Old Way
Instead of a garden hose, which wastes water, why don’t you water the plants the old-fashioned way? Have you forgotten how your grandparents water their plants? Use a watering can. You’ll need to collect water and carry that pail of water to and from the plants that need watering. You’ll have to scoop the water with the can. The repeated action will work out your arm muscles. It’s a great exercise to improve your biceps.
Get the Right Gear
Wear the right gear even when you are just working out in your backyard. The right gear will prevent injuries and accidents. Aside from the right gym clothing, you can also get battle ropes, a training bench, TRX straps, dumbbells or kettlebells, and adjustable weight plates. Don’t forget to get a sound system or a set of portable mobile speakers to get that full gym experience you must be missing by now.
There’s no need to go to the gym if you don’t feel like it yet. Your own home is the right place to be when you want to stay physically fit during this time. With enough space, equipment, tools, and creative imagination, you will be able to recreate the feel of being in a gym without necessarily going to one.
