4 Stress-Relieving Ways To Work Out At Home (Without Having To Go To The Gym)
Life is stressful as heck. Try these 4 exercises at home to ease your anxiety and save you gym time.
Leonardo Quatrocchi from Pexels If you’re reading this article, I have a feeling you might be a little stressed — maybe it’s work, a relationship, or that new job that is causing you to freak out a little. One of the ultimate ways to relieve your stress is working up a quick sweat sesh right at home.
Did you know that seven out of ten adults in The United States exercise daily to lower their stress levels? While a lot of us view working out as a chore, it can be really beneficial when it comes to maintaining not only a healthy body, but also a healthy mind.
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You’re probably wondering how doing a few squats will take away all the stress in your life — the fastest response is that while exercising won’t take away all your worries, it will help naturally relieve them.
Working out releases endorphins, which are chemicals in the brain that help fight off stress and even increase sleep.
No equipment or experience required – all you need is the willingness to set aside a few minutes of your day and the confidence to make it work. Here are some quick at home workouts you can do to start your day off right:
1. Yoga
Known for promoting a peaceful body and mind, yoga is a more chilled out and relaxed form of exercise. Yoga is great to start out with because it focuses in on stretching out the body and keeping the mind focused on deep breathing and self-awareness.
The art of yoga focuses in on connecting ones whole self in order to maintain a healthy and fulfilled mind, body, and spirit.
There are a lot of stereotypes out there when it comes to yoga: Flowy pants, praying, and the need to be flexible are a few that come to mind. However, yoga can be whatever you want it to be; whether that is focusing in on breathing, strengthening the core muscles, or practicing balance.
There are many apps available to download right on your phone or laptop that can guide you through different yoga positions and mindful meditation. Some of the best positions to help combat stress are the side stretch, standing forward bend, and the rabbit pose.
If you don’t really feel like getting into the whole guided meditation style of yoga, just simply sitting in silence and taking a few deep breaths every morning can help promote relaxation in the body and mind.
2. H.I.I.T. (High Intensity Interval Training)
High Intensity Interval Training will make you feel the burn and also make you forget about your stressors within minutes.
The workout consists of thirty seconds of a high intensity workout: jump squats, mountain climbers, or sprinting in place are a few examples. Then, you take thirty seconds off to catch your breath and drink some water.
An easy way to keep track of your time when doing a H.I.I.T. workout is to download a timer app or an app designed to track H.I.T.T. circuits. This type of workout may be the fastest, but it will also make you burn some calories on top of sweating out all those negative thoughts.
There are many different kinds of H.I.T.T. circuits available — some focus on abs or glutes while others focus on the whole body. It is important to find the one that works for you.
Remember that H.I.I.T. is exactly that — high intensity! Take it slow at first and remember that exercising is supposed to take your mind off stress, not add to it.
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3. Dancing
Now is the time to blast your throwback '90s pop playlist and dance around your living room. Move your body like no one is watching and throw all the negativity aside.
Zumba is a form of dance that can be beneficial in both burning extra calories and focusing the mind on something a little challenging. Pull up a Zumba class up on YouTube and follow along with the instructor — you’ll probably get way more into it than you think! Having your friends join in on the fun can also help make the class more enjoyable.
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4. Pilates
Pilates can sometimes have a bad rep for being on the difficult side, but there are plenty of beginner friendly moves that will get you on the road to becoming a Pilates guru.
The exercise consists of core and muscle strengthening moves along with breathing techniques that help stimulate physical and mental awareness.
Pilates can give you the confidence you need to build a strong and mentally stimulated frame. This workout consistently challenges your body to push itself a little harder with each move. After practicing Pilates a few times, you'll feel more energized and ready to tackle the day ahead.
Keep in mind that stress is completely normal.
Everyone gets stressed out from time to time, but it is important to remember to take care of your body and mind when the stress starts to take control. Simply moving your body and focusing your mind on something other than your crappy boss or that rude customer will combat all that pent up stress.
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Carlie Fox is a writer who covers astrology, pop culture and relationship topics.