5 Ways to Stay Fit During Quarantine
As we’re spending less time outside our homes, it’s more important than ever to prioritize physical health. Working out and staying active can boost your mood and reduce stress.
But how can you stay on top of home fitness without your local gym’s machines, weights and fitness instructors? Home fitness apps, online challenges, creative at-home swaps and the use of the outdoors can help.
Here are a few ways to stay active while staying home:
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Switch up your running/walking routines. Getting outside for exercise helps you connect with your mind, body and nature. Whether you’re a runner or walker, try and keep the routine fun by setting a schedule and goals. If you’re a walker, for example, map out a different route for each day of exercise. If you’re a runner, select a goal such as run a 5K and set up a training schedule to achieve it. During the COVID-19 situation, it’s important to take necessary safety precautions including social distancing, wearing a mask or face cover and washing your hands upon return.
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Try a bodyweight workout. You don’t need to grab weights to get a good workout. You will still feel the burn if you do a low impact cardio, bodyweight strength or a high intensity interval training circuit.
Check out this 30-minute low-impact workout from Silver&Fit®
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Try a fitness challenge. Want to build core strength? Flexibility? Arm tone? Find a fitness challenge online that targets this zone. You may be surprised how much stronger you can become in 30 days or less.
Active.com offers 30-day fitness challenge resources, including push-up challenges, ab challenges, lunge challenges and more.
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Download a fitness app. There are thousands of apps (including free options) that offer full workouts. Self.com shares 11 free apps that help you turn your living room into a gym.
HAP Medicare members have access to more than 250 on-demand exercise classes, informational videos and articles on Silver&Fit’s AshConnectTM app.
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Follow along with your favorite studio. Many gyms and studios offer existing members virtual classes with simple, at-home equipment swaps (like suitcases, bags of flour or books instead of weights). Although these workouts will be different than the in-studio sessions you’re used to, it’s a great way to break a sweat and re-connect with your fitness community.
Bonus tip: Add yoga to your routine to support your physical and mental health. This is an unprecedented and uncertain time. Yoga gives you a chance to take a deep breath, stretch and ground yourself.
Try a 35-minute easy going yoga flow from Silver&Fit.
Just because you can’t get to the gym doesn’t mean you can’t focus on your well-being from home. Take this time to push yourself and try different workout styles. You never know, you could end up finding a new favorite routine by the time your normal schedule resumes.
HAP is here, helping to keep members fit
Active&Fit Direct™
HAP members can choose from 10,000+ participating fitness centers nationwide for $25 a month (plus a $25 enrollment fee and taxes).
At this time, A&F members can enjoy online on-demand exercise classes. They can also get a $25 financial credit for each calendar month they don’t use an A&F participating fitness center through May 31, 2020.
Silver&Fit
HAP Medicare Advantage members have free access to a large network of fitness centers and workout classes. For those who like to work out at home, there’s more than 20 home fitness kits (including a DVD, booklet and a quick-start guide).
At this time, HAP Medicare Advantage members can enjoy three ways to work out:
- Free live virtual video workouts on the Silver&Fit Facebook page, Monday through Friday, at 1 p.m. ET. All videos are also available on the Silver&Fit YouTube page.
- Home fitness kits (two per year) can be sent as a substitution for a fitness facility.
- Silver&Fit’s ASHConnect mobile app, with more than 250 on-demand exercise classes, informational videos and articles.