As an active aging specialist and personal trainer, two of the most popular reasons that people give for not exercising usually are a lack of time and money. We all have the same 24 hours a day to either schedule exercise or not, but what we all don’t have is the same amount of money to commit to an expensive gym membership or personal trainer. To help all those who struggle with finding ways to exercise efficiently and allow them to get a great workout on limited resources; here are 4 ways to exercise on a budget
1.Go to the jungle gym or park- I know for most people the park is only for kids, but when I go to the park I see equipment that can be used for a workout. Some exercises that can be done on jungle gyms are pull-ups, dips or step-ups for your legs when done on a park bench. While you might have to do a lot of repetitions if you don’t have weights, the benefit is all the equipment is built very sturdily and most importantly it is free.
2.Use your body weight- the great thing about the human body is that it usually weighs enough to give us a good workout depending on the exercise. Pushups are probably one of the best exercises with no equipment, because it works pretty much your entire upper body but also your core which is great for posture and a flat stomach.
3.Use the internet- because of the time we live in, the Internet has a wealth of information that is easy to access. Many fitness professionals either post videos or write articles that give exercise ideas and easy to follow programs. While the exercises and videos are readily available on the Internet, it is still important that people use their discretion on which exercises are appropriate based on their level of fitness.
4.Try exercise bands- exercise bands are great pieces of equipment because they are light, non- expensive and are easy to travel with or carry. In addition, exercise bands allow you to challenge yourself with the varying tensions that they come in. The amount of exercises that can be done with exercise bands are almost limitless if you use your imagination.
While going to the gym and having access to all the wonderful machines and weights is great and can help you achieve all of your fitness goals; I know that this isn’t always an option for everyone. With a little imagination and use of your own body, you can give yourself the workout even those in the gym would envy.
About the Author: Eric Daw is an active aging specialist and the owner of Omni Fitt. Omni Fitt is dedicated to the wellbeing, health and quality of life of people aged 55 and over in Toronto. Eric motivates and empowers the older adult population to take responsibility for their independence, health and fitness through motivating and positive coaching experiences.
