How to be active, healthy in your apartment

How many times have you promised yourself you will join a health club and make fitness a part of your life? Sometimes you need only to look as close to your own unit and apartment community to get into a workout regimen.

Working out around your apartment community may seem limiting at first, but all it takes is a little creativity and rearranging to make room for a fulfilling training session in your new at-home “mini” gym.

Fortunately, we are living in a very digital world, so there are many free exercise classes available online that are easy to follow from the comfort of your apartment.

First, find a spot for your exercise routine. You may need to rearrange some furniture to assure you have plenty of space. Make sure you’re able to extend your arms and legs fully both standing and laying down without bumping into any furniture to ensure an accident-free workout. Lay down a yoga mat as well to make provide yourself with a more stable, safe and comfortable foundation for your routine.

Although there is an abundance of at-home workouts that require no weights or equipment at all, investing in a set of dumbbells or resistance bands is an affordable and effective way to push your training session to the next level.

If you’re strategic in the workout equipment you invest in, you can easily avoid unnecessary clutter or hassle.

If you prefer a group workout setting, consider reaching out to family, friends or even neighbors in your apartment community to do a virtual workout with you via video chat such as Zoom.

Although we are just weeks away from Arizona’s summer heat, you can seek a change of scenery by moving your workout to your patio or a shady spot in your apartment community’s grassy areas.

Change up your routine and get creative by incorporating outdoor sunrise yoga session into your week. Plus, picking times earlier in the morning or later in the evening allows for a workout in much cooler, pleasant temperatures.

If your apartment is near a park, you can transfer these outdoor workouts ideas to this area. Follow that up with walking paths, hiking trails or bring your bike along with you.

Make sure you pack enough water and healthy snacks such as fruit if you’re going to be outside or working out for an extended time. If you are hiking or biking, see if a small first-aid kit will fit in your backpack or bike bag in case there are emergencies. In order to avoid those emergencies, always stick to the path. With the warmer months here, unwanted critters are out and about.

If you’re having a hard time finding time to dedicate to an exercise routine, find simple and fun ways to incorporate fitness into your daily life. Instead of driving by the mail boxes on your way home, walk over from your apartment home after parking your car.

It’s easy once you set some goals to safely stay active and healthy.