WFH: Workout From Home
- morgan rohan
- May 7, 2020
- 6 min read
Workout from home! Working out is a big part of my daily mental health management and it obviously helps keep the rest of me healthy too. I like to use a variety of resources and switch it up because I can get pretty bored and unmotivated if I'm only doing one thing or feel too stuck. I've made a little below for where to source some routines that are little to no equipment and mostly free to access anywhere in the world. I've also added some links to activewear I love and where to find equipment, if you're looking to freshen those up too. I know there's a lot of pressure to be making lockdown time productive or to come out with a six-pack and this is not what this blog post is about. For me and many others I know, exercise is a great way to maintain good mental health and get some outside time at the moment, so I thought I'd put together some resources for if you're struggling to find something you like or want more of a connection right now. Some of the programs, like Keep It Cleaner, Centr and Blogilates have fantastic communities that you can join and be a part of.
Apps and programs:
This is an absolutely fantastic program and community to be a part of, whether you're an exercise newbie or just looking for some new motivation, this is a really great place to start. Steph Claire Miller and Laura Henshaw are the founders and faces of this incredible community. The app and website are so easy to use, with everything set out so you don't even need to think about each day. There's a whole variety of workouts - HIIT, strength, boxing, running - plus a wellness section for Pilates, yoga and meditations. The recipes are so yummy and easy and can be changed for a vegetarian or pescatarian diets or easily made vegan. It's only $20 AUD a month or cheaper if you buy an annual membership and more than worth it in my opinion.
Chris Hemsworth is the face of this program that he brought a team of experts together to help develop a very functional training focused, well-rounded routine. I joined up online while they were running a promo with the first 6 weeks free and have thoroughly enjoyed the workouts and meals that I've done because of the plan. Each of the workouts have three levels - beginner, intermediate and advanced - and I've only done the beginner and they're pretty intense, but so worth it for a good sweat. There's a full meal plan with amazing recipes that you can specify for all dietary requirements and has been put together by qualified chefs and dietitians, plus meditations and fantastic advice for supporting mental health. An annual subscription costs $120 AUD and I'm still not quite sure whether I want to go ahead with renewing mine. It is a great program just not sure it's going to help me hit some specific fitness goals.
Map My Run (just search Map My Run on the App Store)
This is my favourite app to track and improve my running - it gives you all the stats you need on distance, pace and split times. You can use it free or pay to use the training programs, which I do so that I don't have to think about what distances to run or when. I'm currently working towards 10km and find it really useful that although there's a plan to follow, it adjusts training sessions to allow for recent times I've recorded. I really like this approach because then if I'm not building my pace as quickly as first planned, it gives me more time to get there whilst still challenging me, instead of me feeling like I'm not hitting targets. Can be used free or $9 AUD per month.
For the last month this has been my favourite way to find a workout that isn't running. There's all kind of HIIT, barre, Pilates and boxing style workouts that you can filter by workout type or area of focus, so you can find exactly what you feel like. most of them are less than 20 minutes long and can be combined together for a full body challenge or to really narrow in on burning one area.
Youtube:
Cassey does an amazing job of turning what looks like easy Pilates moves into workouts that really makes you sweat and burn. There's so many to choose from, whether you want to pick your own based on what you feel or you can follow the workout calendar and not have to think about what to pick. I love Blogilates when I need a challenge or want to really work on toning up.
There are some super fun and easy workouts to follow on this channel! Basically any part of the body has a dedicated quick workout that's easy to follow along. My favourites are the workouts set to songs, because you can get really into the beat and I swear it makes it easier. Do a couple of these back to back to get an all over workout!
Activewear:
My all time favourite brand for workout gear, First Base have nailed basic colours and minimal details like no other. Whilst they can be a bit pricey, they do hold regular sales and the gear itself is made to last. I highly recommend their leggings, which look fucking good on and perform so well. With a strong focus on transparent, ethical and sustainable production, it's guilt free shopping that supports an Aussie business. They have an entire Culture section on their site describing their commitment to ethical and sustainable business, which is really worth a read.
I have gone through quite a few sets of workout gear from Cotton On and have found them to be such great value for money, as well as very cute. They have some great, more sustainable options and it's a really great place if you need to replenish your active wardrobe but are also budget conscious. They're particularly great for seasonal changes in colours or prints (no judgment if you just really want leopard print leggings and only want to pay $30 because you know you'll be over them next year).
Nike have been my go to brand for running and training shoes for years now and they never fail to be fantastic. Super durable, cute colours available, beyond comfortable and su'pportive when you run, they're everything I want in a sneaker. I love a cheeky deal and have bought pretty much all my pairs at the outlet store, because $200 shoes for $70 is music to my ears.
Jaggad make good workout gear that's squat proof, made to last and keeps you looking good. Whilst I don't own a lot from them, I would definitely purchase more in the future. They have great seasonal releases that are super functional - I could happily buy a sweater each time they release a new design - as well as collabs with beautiful people like Laura Henshaw. They also currently have the Jaggad Studio, which is a portal to online workouts and meditation sessions. For me, Jaggad feels like a more luxe workout brand, but still quite accessible. They also have commitments to sustainable practice, including ranges made from organic cotton and recycled polyester.
If I won lotto tomorrow I would buy everything P.E. Nation makes. I'm kidding, but I have recently become obsessed with their bold branding and even bolder colour blocking designs. It's luxe, it's fun, the pieces look like they really perform the way you need them too and tbh it's just such a cool brand. Again, I know they're on the pricey end of the spectrum but that's for good reason; they are another brand leading the way in transparency around their sourcing and manufacturing, as well as taking great strides towards sustainability. There's easy to find and understand information on their site, that clearly states they're not here to hide how their product is made or where it comes from, as well as the causes they're committed to helping (Restore the Land, Bushfire Relief and Restore the Reef). So, yeah, you can treat yourself to cute tights and feel good about it.
Equipment:
I find it really useful to have a pair of light dumbbells, a skipping rope and booty bands in my little home workout kit. You can source these from pretty much any fitness store or from the links above if you just need a cheap option for now. I don't need a full selection of equipment at home because I don't use weights all that much, but having a few pieces does help to change up workouts or make them more challenging.
This post ended up quite a bit longer than I intended but I wanted to create a really thorough list of recommendations and break down what I think of each one + point out what's different. Hit me up any time if you have more questions about any of these or are looking for a workout buddy! I can always do with someone to share workouts and challenger each other to be better.
Until next time!
Morgan xx
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