If there was ever a time to have a home gym, it’s now. The COVID-19 pandemic has shut down gyms across the country, and while some may be using this as the ultimate excuse for skipping workouts, others are looking for ways to maintain fitness and not lose the gains they made at the beginning of 2020.
While not going to the gym may take some of the wind out of your sails temporarily, the good news is, this is only temporary, and there are plenty of fitness resources that will help you stay fit at home, whether you have a home gym or not.
YouTube
It probably goes without saying, but YouTube is teeming with videos for workouts of all varieties. Whether you’re trying to see an example of a specific exercise, learn how to master a motion, or follow along with an entire 30-minute workout, you’ll find what you’re looking for on YouTube.
The best way to find YouTube videos with workouts that do not require equipment is to search the word calisthenics. Calisthenics is a form of resistance training that uses the weight of your body to build muscle. Learn more about calisthenics by watching the video Calisthenics Explained.
YouTube is a great place to begin your dive into working out at home without equipment, but you may eventually get tired of sorting through videos on YouTube and filtering out workouts or instructors that don’t fit your taste. When that happens, it’s time to check out our next two suggestions.
CompTrain
CompTrain posts daily CrossFit workouts that you can do at home, either with or without equipment. There’s a tab on their home page called Home Gym, where you can view the workouts. Every weekday, you’ll find two workouts posted — one for using equipment such as dumbbells and then an alternative workout that does not require equipment.
The great thing about CompTrain is that it takes the decision making out of your workout routines. Instead of creating your workout plan from scratch or browsing YouTube, you can simply see what’s already been posted, and go for it.
While there’s not an app for CompTrain, you can access it through another app called SugarWOD. CompTrain is an extension of SugarWOD, but if you prefer to forgo the apps, you can access CompTrain directly through their website.
Thenx
Thenx, derived from the word calisthenics, is an app dedicated to calisthenics. There are paid versions of this app as well as free versions. The free version provides plenty of workouts for beginner, intermediate, and advanced fitness levels, but over time, you may decide you’re ready to unlock more workouts and pay for a membership.
Thenx includes a comprehensive workout library that lists 100+ calisthenic exercises and shows them in video format. You can filter these exercises by difficulty level, muscle group, or equipment versus no equipment in case you’re looking to target or accomplish something specific. Since the app only posts one new workout per week, the workout library is an especially helpful resource for creating your own workouts.
Final Tip: Own your warmup
Something that’s easy to neglect when you’re doing your own workouts is to warm up. When you meet with a trainer or attend a fitness class, warmups are built into the workout. However, if you’re getting your workouts from an app, you’ll need to work in your own warmups and cooldowns. Don’t cheat yourself either. The warmer your muscles are before you start your workout, the further you’ll be able to push them and challenge yourself without risking injury.
Good luck with your home workouts for now. We’ll see you back at the gym before you know it!
