American Heart Month: Apartment-Friendly Workout Methods to Keep Your Heart Healthy

Living in the fast-paced environment of the 21^st century leaves many of us short on time. However, when it comes to taking care of ourselves, there should be no compromise. The rise in popularity of fitness led to a surge in the number of buildings with an exercise-oriented amenity, yet even those who don’t have gyms in their buildings can workout at home.

Even if you’re renting a small apartment, you can fit full routines in a minimum amount of space. These include Pilates, strength training, stretching and yoga, and even cardio workouts. With so many resources now available to everyone, there’s no shortage of ways to find out what you can do to keep yourself healthy. Here are just a few of the apartment-friendly workout methods you can find online and get started on right now.

Pilates Workout

Pilates is a workout method that focuses on strengthening your core. The main muscles engaged in these exercises are abdominals and the extensor, flexor, and oblique back muscles. Exercises frequently appearing in this method rely on stretching, and they include crunches, roll-ups, and reclined twists.

Workouts in this category can range from 10 minutes to 60 minutes, the longer ones being more effective for building up core strength and resistance. As for materials, you can do well with just a mat; professional classes might have you working on specialized equipment as well.

Before each routine, make sure to include at least five minutes of warm-up exercises and stretches to prevent any injury; the same applies for after a workout, when you should do at least five minutes of cool-down exercises and stretches, to make sure your muscles aren’t too engaged when you resume your activity.

Strength Training

Just like Pilates, some of the routines of strength training focus on your core, because that’s what will protect your back from other injuries, and will help with your resistance during other exercises. Quick routines can last for 15 minutes and include intense exercises like Jackknife getups, windshield wipers, cross crunches, and side hip raises.

Because these are usually intense workouts, you should leave plenty of time in-between sessions, since training your core to such a degree might increase your risk of injury. Find a routine that fits you and your schedule and plan on doing that regularly, once or twice a week.

Yoga

Yoga sessions are very effective ways to calm yourself down and stretch your muscles. Practicing yoga regularly will increase your flexibility and help boost your mood. These routines are more about practicing mindfulness and creating an environment in which you can relax, so make sure you have a nice spot to lay out your yoga mat.

The exercises in yoga routines are flexible as well, so adapt any workout you find to what makes you feel best. You should have balance in the routine, and practice breathing as well as the stretches themselves.

When it comes to packing a quick workout into a small apartment, the benefits are much bigger than the sweat you get out. Regular workouts can help improve blood flow and heart function for improved health overall. For more information on how cardiovascular health plays a role in your life, and the importance of finding ways to look after it, check out this informational graphic from hims.

Remember to take care of yourself. It can take as little as 10 minutes per day, no equipment, and simply a proper mindset. Incorporate a small workout into your everyday routine and soon it will become a habit that makes you healthier.