Keeping yourself in shape can be difficult when you live in a smaller apartment in an urban space. The parks nearby are small, the gym is always busy, and your apartment has limited space for training.
Here’s how to make the most of your space and keep yourself in shape when outdoor fitness options aren’t on the menu.
An exercise bike is an excellent investment. It takes up a small section of your apartment, and it can be placed in your bedroom, living room, or even on the landing. It also requires no jumping or running, so your downstairs neighbors won’t complain.
High-quality products such as the Bowflex C6 Bike provide you with a range of exercises, from simple calorie-burning cardio to intensive leg training. This helps you keep your body in top condition even if you live on the 8th floor of a small building.
Don’t let the city win. Keep yourself healthy with high-quality equipment that suits every type of exercise regimen.
Your body weighs more than almost any weight you’re likely to lift. If you weigh a fairly average 75kg, that’s likely much more than you’d contest with on a barbell. This means bodyweight exercises are one of the best ways to build your strength.
Furthermore, it’s a natural type of exercise. Weight training is excellent, but moving the weight of your body uses so many more muscles than the very particular strain you apply when weight training.
Let’s take push-ups as an example. You’re working so many muscles in your arms, primarily your triceps (if your technique is good!). You’re also working your pectorals and abdominal muscles, and your legs are taking some strain. This is why you can lift such a vast weight repeatedly – most of us couldn’t lift our body weight over our heads. It’s also what makes it such a great form of exercise.
If your apartment complex has a swimming pool nearby, that’s another excellent form of bodyweight exercise. Have you noticed how your whole body feels tired after swimming and not just the specific muscles you worked? But even without the pool, exercises using your body weight at home are a fantastic replacement.
There’s also so much to be said for weight training using barbells. Whether it’s super-heavy lifts or simple curls, you can build muscle daily with tools that take up minimal space in your apartment.
Remember not to fall into lazy habits – you should focus on feeling each muscle with every curl and maintain proper form. Don’t just lift and drop unthinkingly. Exercise is at its most effective when it’s meditative.
Speaking of meditative exercise, yoga requires very little floor space but can also be practiced in any local park. It’s a great way to keep your body toned and supple when living in pretty small quarters.
Yoga helps you to develop the relationship between your body and mind. Our muscles move at a command from our brain because of nerve signals that we’re too slow to follow. However, taking the time to follow these commands and feel how your conscious mind can influence the power of your muscles is so worthwhile.
A punching bag can be hung from a pull-bar (a great bodyweight piece of apparatus). It takes up almost no space except when in use. It can help you build powerful arms in a way that the gym never could. It’s also great for stress relief.
It’s always worth keeping your body and mind in shape. Don’t use your location as an excuse – there’s always a way to reach the top. It’s up to you to find it. Take these tips as a starting point and see what works for you.
