How to Get a Great Work Out Anywhere
Upon finishing college I realized I had a problem: I was going to be moving around irregularly for the foreseeable future, and this meant that it would be next to impossible to keep up my workout routine. I wasn’t a competitive athlete, but staying healthy and in shape was important to me. After a lot of research and experimentation, I developed an extremely simple (and more importantly, cheap) system for working out. This will work wonderfully if you can’t find (or afford) a gym, and even if you’re on the road.
Stretching
-Should be done before and after activities, particularly of the muscles being targeted (as in any workout).
-Yoga: If you practice or have an interest in starting to practice yoga, all you need is a non-slip surface, such as an easy-to-pack $15 yoga mat.
Aerobic Activities
-Running: All you need is shoes. If you invest in some good running shoes, you can work out almost anywhere, and if you are traveling, running can be a great way to learn more about your new environs.
-Jumping rope: A jump rope takes up almost no space and costs almost nothing. You can easily find a decent one under $10. Jumping rope is also more intense than running, so you can get a great workout in a short amount of time.
-Dancing: If you’ve got an iPod and a place where no one will care if you’re stomping around, then by all means, let loose. This is one of the simplest and most fun ways to get aerobic exercise.
Anaerobic Activities
-Elastic bands: These also take up extremely little space and can be used for a multitude of exercises.
-Push-ups: No equipment necessary. If you get bored you can try different styles (Hindu, wide-arm, diamond, one-handed, etc.)
-Crunches: These classics can be done in a similar manner to the push-ups.
-Side crunches: For the obliques.
-Leg lifts: For those hard-to-target lower abs.
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