Plus, get expert advice on how to make the most of beginner-friendly routines you can do at home.
It’s all too easy to experience “gymtimidation” while exercising in public, especially if you consider yourself a novice, thanks to fitness celebrities who video every squat and gym bros who dominate the weights. In fact, over half of those polled in 2019 said they felt frightened when working out in a gym with others.
One method to get into the habit of exercising without feeling like everyone is watching you is to use a treadmill. Don’t take your workout outside your home. If you work out in a place where you aren’t worried about being judged, such as your living room or garage, you’ll be more likely to persist with your fitness regimen, according to Jayne Gomez, an NSCA-certified personal trainer at FYT Personal Training in Los Angeles.
Shape enlisted the expertise of professional trainers to lay down the most important elements to bear in mind before embarking on an at-home fitness adventure. In addition, they’ve designed at-home exercises for novices that will leave your entire body trembling in a positive way.
At-Home Exercises for Beginners: How to Make It Work for You
Begin with the fundamentals.
If you’re a complete novice when it comes to working out, don’t expect to breeze through 45-minute HIIT sessions or squat 150 pounds straight away. At that in mind, Jennifer Fidder, a personal trainer with FYT Personal Training in Miami, Florida says you’ll need to focus on mastering the perfect technique for basic activities like squats, lunges, and wall push-ups using only your own body weight and gradually increasing your strength.
For beginners, Gomez suggests focusing on four or five distinct exercises and executing 12 to 15 repetitions of each for two or three sets of each. In her opinion, “some individuals try to do so much at once, and then they burn out extremely soon, and they’re not able to keep with their schedule for long,” she adds. “Start with an exercise that isn’t overly challenging.”
Focus on the shape.
Performing bicep curls with 20-pound dumbbells may make you feel tough, but poor technique can reduce the effectiveness of your workout and raise your risk of injury. The form will always be more essential than the amount of weight lifted or the length of time spent working out, according to Gomez. Even if you can hold a plank for two minutes, it doesn’t matter how long you can do it; if your form is completely incorrect, it’s not working the muscle that you are meant to be working…and you only may potentially be doing injury to your body.” If you’re trying out an at-home exercise for beginners, pay attention to the instructions and adjust your posture if you see your form faltering.
Remember to take a deep breath in and out.
Gomez believes it’s normal for novices to hold their breath unknowingly during workouts, despite the fact that it seems obvious. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a type of energy produced in the body when you breath oxygen from the air. ATP is necessary to keep your muscles functioning as you exercise. Thanu Jey, D.C., C.S.C.S. chiropractor and clinic director at Yorkville Sports Medicine Clinic in Toronto, recently told Shape that the amount of oxygen your body requires increases with the intensity of your activity. According to a Penn State University study, if you hold your breath while doing bicep curls or push-ups, you run the risk of not getting enough oxygen into your muscles, which can lead to higher blood pressure and faster exhaustion.
Proper breathing throughout your sweat session can help lessen the likelihood of damage. A study from the University of Delaware found that inhaling during the “lift” component of a weight lifting activity decreases abdominal pressure, reducing the likelihood of internal injuries such hernias or blood vessel strains. Exercise Will Never Be the Same Again If You Don’t Try These Breathing Techniques
Be aware of when to raise the tension.
Beginning at-home workouts for beginners should begin with bodyweight exercises to help you perfect your technique and become familiar with the action. She recommends adding a resistance band or light dumbbells if the workouts become too easy or if you’re no longer seeing improvement. “Let’s assume you began out with 15 repetitions and it was very, really tough,” Fidder explains. “It’s time to put up some resistance when you can accomplish 20 reps without any difficulty.”
Strength training and cardio should both be a part of your program.
Your exercise plan should include more than just strength training in order to keep you injury-free, build stronger bones, and burn calories. Health and Human Services suggests individuals engage in 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity (think: you can talk but not sing while movement) or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical exercise (meaning you can’t utter more than a few words at a time) per week. A moderate-intensity exercise quota helps reduce cardiovascular disease risk, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Fidder proposes creating a circuit composed of a few back-to-back exercises, a short rest, and then repeating the procedure two or three times to achieve these goals without getting bored with steady-state cardio. She recommends jumping jacks, lunge kicks, and mountain climbers. Doing your heart rate up and getting some aerobic exercise while at home, where you don’t have much room, may be accomplished with the help of “mountain climbers,” which beginners despise.
Remember to get some shut-eye
Even though it’s tempting, don’t skip the recommended rest periods during your exercise in an effort to get the most reps done faster. As long as you keep your heart rate up, you’ll be able to go through another round of workouts, according to a certified strength and conditioning specialist in San Diego, California, Ryan Rogers, who previously told Shape
When it comes to taking a break, Gomez recommends that you keep it to approximately 30 seconds, but Fidder suggests that you also consider your RPE. What she advises is to evaluate your weariness from zero to 10: “Zero is really relaxed; 10 is when my heart starts beating like it’s coming out of my chest.” “If we’re talking about a circuit exercise, then start over at a four or five.” To gauge the intensity of your workout at any given time, you can use the following method:
Consider a consultation with a professional trainer.
For individuals just starting out in the fitness world, Fidder recommends meeting with a professional trainer rather than relying only on self-taught training videos. A minimum of two sessions to acquire appropriate form, she believes, is usually beneficial. If you don’t have an appropriate technique when you begin to add weight, the danger of injury is really great.”
You might also benefit from working out with a trainer if you feel like you’ve plateaued in your progress, whether it be in terms of muscle development or weight reduction, adds Gomez. Personal trainers are delighted to hold your hand along the way if you need it, says Fidder. (Instagram fitness coaches could inspire you to get in shape.)
Self-love is a virtue
If you’re just getting started with fitness, you’re sure to make a mistake or two. Fidder believes it’s alright if you don’t have a perfect form or can’t complete all of your repetitions on your first few attempts at a plank. If you can keep in mind that you’re just learning as you go and being patient while doing your best, it will help you to have a more positive outlook and strive to improve yourself every single day. “Perfection isn’t required,” says the author.
Beginner-friendly workouts that can be done at home
It’s time to get started with at-home workouts for beginners now that you’ve learned all you need to know about getting in shape at home. Fidder recommends aiming for three workouts each week. If you’re already “very, very painful” after only one workout, “then maybe start with two times a week,” she advises.
The following routines are ideal for those just beginning their fitness adventure.
- Beginners’ Strength Training Workout of the Year
- Train Like A Fighter at Home with This Beginner Boxing Workout.
- The Home CrossFit Workout for Complete Newbies
- Emily Skye’s Beginner-Friendly Leg Workout Will Pump Up Your Lower Body!
- Starter HIIT Workout Will Make You Dripping With Sweat.
- Next, include Gomez’s and Fidder’s starting at-home workouts into your schedule.
Beginner’s 5-Move At-Home Workout
Mini loop resistance band (Buy It, $12, amazon.com) and light dumbbells (Buy It, $14, amazon.com) are all you need.
How it works: Perform the five exercises in the circuit according to the recommended number of repetitions or time. Repeat the circuit three times, resting for 30 seconds in between each round.
Glute Abduction Bridge with Resistance Band
A. Wrap the loop resistance band around your thighs, about two inches above your knees, and secure it with a belt. Your back should be flat on the ground as you rest in this position. Kneel on the ground with feet hip-width apart. Stay erect, palms down, with your arms outstretched at your sides.
As you exhale, slowly lift your hips off the floor by pushing with your heels. Take advantage of your core strength to elevate your hips to their highest point without arching your lower back. A straight line should be drawn from your legs to your shoulders.
3. Slowly press and then return back into center your knees as you reach your highest point in the action.
The hips should be lowered one vertebrae at a time on each inhalation, starting at the bottom of the spine.
Repeat 15 times.
Bicep Curls using Dumbbells
With your feet hip-width apart and your knees slightly bent, stand with your core engaged in a plank position. Hands facing up, dumbbells in front of legs, elbows by side. Straighten out your knuckle-to-elbow knuckle-to-elbow grip on the dumbbells.
Keeping your elbows close to your sides, squeeze your bicep and curl the dumbbells up toward your shoulders. After a little pause, carefully drop your arms back to where you began the curl.
Repeat 15 times.
Drilling the shoulders with a dumbbell
As you stand, keep your knees soft, your core engaged, and your feet hip-width apart. A dumbbell in each hand should be held slightly outside of the shoulders, palms facing front, elbows pointed downward.
The biceps should be adjacent to the ears and the wrists should be exactly above the shoulders when lifting weights overhead (not forward). A neutral spine and a tight core are the keys to staying focused and centered when exercising.
c. Reverse the action such that the dumbbells return to the starting position on the same route.
Repeat 15 times.
Plank with forearms extended out in front of you
Assume a table-top position on the floor, with hands, piled precisely beneath shoulders and legs bent.
To get into a high plank position on palms, step one leg back at a time and squeeze your glutes and heels together.
To get into a plank on forearms, lower one elbow at a time until your forearms are positioned precisely beneath your shoulders. Actively move the navel toward the spine.
For 30 seconds, hold.
Overhead Triceps Extensions With a Dumbbell
Place a dumbbell in each hand and hold them out in front of you with your elbows bent.
B. Lower your shoulders and engage your core. In order to keep your elbows pointing forward, bend them slightly less than 90 degrees and reduce the weight behind your head.
C. Pause, then extend your arms in order to bring the weight back up to your chest.
Repeat 15 times.
Beginner-Friendly Home Workout for the Whole Body
To get started, you’ll need a tube resistance band (Buy It, $22, amazon.com).
Perform each of the six exercises in the circuit in the amount of time or number of repetitions specified. Repeat the circuit three times for a total of three rounds of recovery.
Squat using your own weight
Toes turned slightly outward, stand with your feet somewhat wider than hip-width apart. Engage your core by bracing your abdominal muscles.
It is important that you lower yourself until your thighs are virtually parallel to the floor, your heels begin to rise off the floor, or your upper body begins to round and flex forward as you do this exercise. (The torso and shin bones should be parallel to each other in the lowest position.)
Exhale and press into the mid-foot to straighten legs, raising hips and the torso at the same time, so that you’re standing.
Repeat 15 times.
Jacks in the Box
Stand with your feet together and arms outstretched to the sides While simultaneously raising arms laterally and then overhead with palms facing ahead, perform an airborne squat with your feet spread wide.
When you land, bring your feet together and your arms down to your sides.
Repeat 15 times.
Rowing with a Resistance Band
With your legs out in front of you and knees bent, sit up tall and lean back slightly. Rearrange your body by wrapping the band over your ankles and extending your arms out wide.
Pull the ends of the band into your ribcage until your elbows are slightly behind your body while maintaining a tight core, shoulders down and away from the ears, and hands towards the floor.
C. Begin by slowly extending your arms backwards.
Repeat 15 times.
Do a Reverse Lunge
With feet together and hands clasped in front of or resting on the hips, you may stand.
Step backward with your right foot, maintaining your hips square and your pelvis neutral. Keep your chest tall and your core engaged as you lower yourself until your legs are at a 90-degree angle.
Taking a stride forward with the right foot, bring it up to meet the left as you stand.
Alternate between the left and right for a total of 20 repetitions.
Do a push-up against a wall.
A. Stand with your feet together about two to three feet away from a wall. At chest level, place your hands shoulder-width apart on the wall.
Keep your elbows at a 45-degree angle out from your ribs and gently bend your elbows to lower your upper body toward the wall while maintaining this position.
C. Return to the starting position by pushing through the palms when the nose is nearly in contact with the wall.
Repeat 15 times.
Plank with forearms extended out in front of you
Assume a table-top position on the floor, with hands piled precisely beneath shoulders and legs bent.
To get into a high plank position on palms, step one leg back at a time and squeeze your glutes and heels together.
To get into a plank on forearms, lower one elbow at a time until your forearms are positioned precisely beneath your shoulders. Actively move the navel toward the spine.
For 30 seconds, hold.