Mindful Movement
While the stay-at-home order is being lifted for some states, many people are still trying to stay as close to home as possible to best protect themselves and their families. With this important, yet restrictive decision, many are finding it difficult to add movement to their days at home.
The idea of adding movement into your routine may seem daunting at first. You may be thinking, "I already have enough to worry about. How am I supposed to do THIS too?!" We hear you, we ARE you, and we struggle with this, too.
Although it may feel difficult to focus on, movement is something that your body is craving right now. Not only does it help reduce stress and improve your mood (thanks endorphins!), light to moderate exercise (for just 30 minutes a day) has been proven to boost the immune system.
Light to Moderate Movement Ideas and Resources
Take a walk, ride a bike, or go on a light jog
This is an obvious choice that we sometimes need to be reminded of! Grab those you live with or go solo and get yourself out there to enjoy some steady movement (and sunshine). Don't feel the need to overly exert yourself, just enjoy the movement that you are allowing yourself. Overly exerting your body can actually decrease your immune system, so try not to be too hard on yourself.
Take a FREE class
I am not even kidding when I say I may never attend an in-person workout class again! Yoga, pilates, barre, weight lifting, dance and MORE can be found online and many of these classes are free! Here are a few of my favorites:
FitOn: You can use the website or download the app for this great resource. FitOn offers a variety of classes for all different levels for free. Many of them are prerecorded and you can take them whenever you want. This platform offers body weight workouts as well as resistance workouts, making their classes perfect for all ages and fitness levels!
YouTube: If you have not been on YouTube in a while, now is the time to check it out. You can literally find any type of exercise class you want just by typing in a few key words. My favorite classes to take on this platform are yoga classes. I have been taking classes with Adrienne for a few years now and she is great for beginner and advanced yogis! Don't forget to have some fun and maybe take a salsa class with your quarantine buddy!
Find a fitness instructor: There are many different certified instructors offering free virtual classes right now. One of my personal favorite instructors is Holly Perkins. As a certified personal trainer, I am VERY careful as to who I choose to workout with because injuries from strength training workouts are very common. I follow Holly because she is specific in her instruction and gives guidance for body alignment, even in prerecorded videos. She also offers live weekend workouts (via Zoom) and if you turn on your camera, she will make sure you are using proper form!
Take a donation or fee based class
Since fitness professionals are not able to work with clients in-person, many of them are hosting donation or fee based classes via Zoom. Check out your local gym websites to see if any of your favorite instructors are offering virtual classes. Personally, I recommend checking out a virtual Tai Chi session taught by Charleston local, Yan Agrest. He hosts these sessions on Zoom and does a wonderful job of guiding you through the process and encouraging proper technique. His classes are donation based and the proceeds help fund the Martial Arts Mentor-ship in Title 1 Schools!
Have you found ways to keep moving during this time? Please share your movement adventures with us!
Gesundheit Carolina is not affiliated with any of the above recommendations. Before beginning an exercise program, we recommend speaking with your healthcare provider. If you are in need of a healthcare provider, please reach out to us for a free consultation.