Exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle for just about everyone. Yes, even older adults. The type of exercise you participate in is less important than just getting your body moving. There’s just something special about getting your blood flowing, your heart beating a little faster, moving your muscles, and getting those endorphins released. In fact, the lack of activity can actually cause more health issues and, as you get older, be one of the biggest contributors to losing the ability to do things.
So, exercise is good for the body. But, it’s also good for the mind. Those endorphins that get released in your body when you exercise are excellent for reducing stress and anxiety, helping with depression, and boosting your self-esteem. Ever heard the term “runner’s high” or wonder why so many people like to exercise first thing in the morning (like yours truly)? Those endorphins wake you up and boost your mood!
What about a gym?
Many people choose to go to a local gym to workout, and that’s a fantastic option. Gyms offer a good variety of equipment and (my favorite part) classes to help you meet your fitness goals. But, for some people, a gym membership just isn’t an option. But, did you know that you can still get a great workout in right from the comfort of your home? And, you don’t even have to have a ton of equipment on hand!
I’ve been working out from home for a long time. I love gyms and the variety they offer. And, perhaps someday it will actually work out for me to have a membership of my own. But, for now, I’m enjoying the convenience of working out at home! When you work out from home, it’s important to change it up so you’re not doing the same routines over and over again. You need to challenge your body with different movements and work different muscles. So, I have compiled a list for you of some really
great options. In this digital world we live in, there are SO many options out there. I have tried to provide a good variety below of exercises I have used.
Helpful equipment
You really don’t need very much equipment (or any at all) to get a good workout at home. That being said, I have found it helpful to have a few basic pieces of equipment. Definitely optional, but they do enhance the quality of your workout, especially as you move out of the beginning phases into intermediate or advanced.
YouTube
The great thing about finding workout videos on YouTube is there is a wide selection to choose from. Keep in mind, though, that many of them have ads that run through the videos which will add brief interruptions into your workout every now and then. I choose to just keep doing the current move through the ad to keep my heart up. Think of it as a quick bonus for your results!
Her videos are on my regular rotation. They include a lot of strength training with a few cardio workouts mixed in. I would consider her workouts as an intermediate or advanced level. They include weights, but you could easily adjust to lighter weights to suit the workout to your own level.
Body Project offers a wide variety of free workouts to fit just about any need, from beginner, low intensity, to high intensity, intermediate or advanced options. The majority of their videos on YouTube are cardio-focused, with some resistance training and strength training as well. www.Teambodyproject.com you can access an entire library of workout videos that are not on YouTube, as well as participate in workout plans, all for free!
She has a wide variety of video options focusing on various parts of the body as well as various styles of workout. Geared to the beginner or intermediate exerciser. Everything from walking workouts to HIIT for beginners, 20 minute fitness, yoga, and more! Her workouts even require minimal equipment, which is great if you’re just getting started.
If you want a fun combo of dance and aerobics, this is a great option. It’s over an hour of dance, so you’ll definitely get a good workout in! Bonus: they’re wearing leg warmers and leotards, so you can channel your inner 80s child.
Her motto is, “It’s a great day to be alive” and I love her for it! Her YouTube channel has a good selection of workouts. I recommend going to the playlists section of her channel, though, because she has quite a bit of non-workout videos. There are a few workout specific playlists that have some great workout options on them. I would consider her workouts beginner to intermediate.
If you’re looking for a good selection of short workouts (5-10 minutes) this is a great option. There are a few 20 minute options as well. Make the most of small windows of time and tackle one to get your blood flowing. The video options include everything from warm up to cool down, so you can easily combine them to make a fantastic workout combo if your goal is to exercise for longer than 5-10 minutes.
POPSUGAR is another channel that has a huge selection of exercise videos ranging from 10 minutes to an hour. They have a wide variety including dance, strength training, HIIT, pilates, and workouts geared toward specific muscle groups. Great for beginners through advanced exercisers. A great channel to keep your workout routine from getting monotonous!
If you are wanting to start from the beginning and work on building endurance, this is a great place to start! All of the workouts on this page are very low intensity, walking workouts focused on helping you get healthy! With options from 10-50 minutes, they’ll fit any schedule.
Need some specific modifications, like you injured your foot or have diabetes? Caroline has a plethora of workouts on her website geared just for these needs. I injured my foot a few years ago and she got me through the season of wearing a boot but still getting some cardio and basic strength training in. She also has a variety of workouts geared to dancers and.
Amazon Prime
It’s a little more difficult to find free workout videos on Amazon Prime, but they do come free of ads which is really nice. The ones I have found are some of my favorites to do on a regular basis!
This is my favorite free workout series on Amazon Prime Video. She has a huge variety of workout videos, all around 15 minutes. They’re a mixture of cardio and strength training with modifications for every move. I typically combine two videos to give myself a nice 30 minute workout. Equipment needed is minimal and she really knows how to work you!
There is a series of videos here that offer a great overall body workout. They all range from 15-20 minutes, so you could easily combine multiple videos if you choose. The goal of these workouts is to replace high intensity with workouts that you could do every day. Their motto is consistency is key, which I totally agree with! These videos are great for any level. You could easily lose the weights, or add heavier weights, depending on your needs.
There you have it, my friend! Those are some of my favorite at-home free workout videos to help keep you fit, healthy, and strong! When you give one a try, share below what you think of it! Have a favorite not listed above? Share below so we can all enjoy it!
