While gyms are out of bounds, your workouts do not have to come to a standstill. Here are some ideas to keep you moving in the confines of your home.
When it comes to exercise, Singaporeans generally enjoy working out at the gym or going for a run in the open air. Visiting the gym, unfortunately, is not possible during the Circuit Breaker; the need to maintain social distancing means going for a run outdoors is not encouraged.
Under these circumstances, you may be tempted to give up exercising altogether, but that is hardly wise. If you are working from home, you are likely to be far less active than when you were commuting to work, which makes it even more important for you to incorporate some form of exercise into your day. Besides keeping you physically fit,exercise has psychological benefits as it lowers stress hormones, such as cortisol, and improves feel-good hormones, such as endorphins.
HIIT
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a popular fitness regimen that combines short intervals of intense activity followed by a shorter rest period. Freelance fitness instructor Yong Pei Lin feels that HIIT-based programmes are an effective form of workout for those exercising at home: they do not take up too much time (a session can be as short as 10 minutes, says Pei Lin) and enables you to burn more calories in the same amount of time compared to other forms of workouts, such as jogging and weight training. This makes HIIT ideal for people who are busy juggling working from home with parenting duties.
All you need is an exercise mat, and dumbbells or resistance bands if you want to increase intensity and add strength training to your workout. Check out high-quality videos that range from 10 minutes to hour-long workouts from fitness trainers uploaded on YouTube and Instagram. Here’s an example:
Yoga
Yoga is a good alternative for those who prefer exercises of a lower intensity. Yoga helps build strength, balance and flexibility, and can also relax the body and mind, depending on which form you choose to follow. Ranging from the vigorous ashtanga or power yoga to the gentler yin yoga, there are variations to suit different requirements. What’s more, a yoga routine doesn’t take up too much space.
Online Workouts
Many fitness instructors — yoga, pilates, personal trainers, dance teachers — have taken to offering their classes online during the Circuit Breaker; some of them are even FOC! All you need is a mat and a sound Internet connection.
That said, Pei Lin advises those who follow online workout videos to ensure they are put together by properly certified trainers. Following those without the necessary fitness certifications could compromise your safety, she cautions.
You can check out Pei Lin’s classes on piloxing and HIIT-based workouts at Inkedcheffitness on Instagram and Facebook. She also recommends N1 training videos on Instagram for gym goers interested in home-based weight training.
Work Out with Pei Lin
Hello, AA Members! Are you keen to join Pei Lin for an online workout session? Register now, as spots are limited. Details below:
Date: Thursday, 11 June 2020
Time: 4pm–5pm
Max: 90 pax
RSVP: https://forms.gle/yRipZv6MHhPxu8o5A
Price: Complimentary for AA Members
