Exercising
is among the best ways to enhance your physical and mental health. It protects you from many diseases as well. While there are many options to choose from – like cardio and strength training, you need to customise it according to what suits your body. And so, rather than getting confused, here are a few workouts that can easily be done at home and provide you with ultimate fitness. According to fitness experts, you can combine them into a routine for a workout that’s simple but powerful and sure to keep you in shape for the rest of your life.
Squats
Squats are among the best at-home workouts that help build lower body and core strength, improve flexibility, and can also aid in weight loss by burning calories and boosting metabolism. To do squats, stand with your feet as wide as your hips. Pull the abs in and bend the knees to sit back as if you’re trying to sit into a chair. Then step your right foot to the right into a wide leg squat and bring your left foot a step to the right to the starting squat position.
Lunges
Lunges are the best resistance exercises that can be a part of any kind of fitness routine. They promote functional movement while also increasing strength in your legs. Experts say you can perform this exercise by standing tall, stepping forward with one leg, and lowering your hips until both knees bend at 90 degrees, keeping your front knee over your ankle and your torso upright; then pushing back to start.
Push-ups
Push-ups are super versatile, equipment-free exercise that helps build upper body strength and core stability, while also boosting cardiovascular health, improving posture, enhancing muscle endurance, and even supporting bone density and mental focus, making them great for overall fitness, functional strength, and discipline. To do a push-up, start in a high plank with hands shoulder-width apart, body in a straight line from head to heels, core tight, and glutes squeezed; lower your chest to about 90 degrees by bending elbows, keeping your body as one unit, then powerfully push back up to the start.
Burpees
Burpees are a whole-body exercise that strengthens your cardiovascular endurance and provides muscle strength. Doing burpees every day helps improve your heart rate and provides a high-intensity workout that conditions your muscles. Start with standing and then drop into a squat, place hands down, jump feet back to a plank, do an optional push-up, then jump feet forward, and explode up into a jump, landing softly to repeat. It is a full-body move combining a squat, plank, push-up, and jump.
Planks
Planks strengthen your muscles, which makes them a great addition to a bodyweight workout. Planks target both your abdominal muscles and your whole body, apart from stabilising your core without straining your back the way situps or crunches might. Being an isometric exercise, planks do require you to hold a position so your muscles contract without changing length to help build strength and endurance.
Shoulder taps
Shoulder taps are great for core strength, stability, and posture by engaging the abs, obliques, and lower back muscles. They are also great for shoulder strength, balance, and coordination, while reducing injury risk. For proper shoulder tap form, start in a high plank with hands under shoulders, core tight, and hips level; then, lift one hand to tap the opposite shoulder, return it, and alternate sides, keeping your body stable and avoiding excessive hip sway for a strong core workout.
Crunches
Crunches strengthen your core, improve posture, balance, and stability for daily activities while reducing back pain. However, doing it properly is the key to targeting muscles effectively. To do a crunch, lie on your back with bent knees, feet flat, and hands crossed on your chest or behind your head. Then exhale as you lift your head, shoulders, and upper back off the floor using your abs, holding briefly before inhaling to slowly lower back down, keeping your lower back pressed into the mat for a proper, core-focused movement.
Deadlifts
Deadlifts are strength-training exercises that can easily be added to your daily workout routine to emphasize certain muscle groups. They are great for building full-body strength, boosting muscle growth, burning fat, and improving functional fitness for daily tasks. To do a deadlift, stand with feet hip-width apart, mid-foot under the barbell, grab it just outside your shins with a shoulder-width grip, and pull by driving through your feet while keeping a flat back and neutral spine, lifting the bar with your legs and hips, not your arms, and squeezing glutes at the top before lowering in a controlled reverse motion.
Step-ups
Step-ups help burn your lower half and are great for working on balance and stability, too. To do a step-up, stand in front of a sturdy bench or step, place one foot fully on it, drive up using your heel, bring your other foot up to meet it, pause, then step down with control, focusing on the front leg to lift and lower, keeping your chest up and core tight for strong glutes, hamstrings, and quads.
Mountain climbers
Mountain climbers support your own body weight and can be done in combination with the knee drive, putting your muscles and lungs on fire. Begin with a high plank position with hands under shoulders, core tight, then rapidly alternate, bringing one knee towards your chest in a running motion, keeping hips low and back flat, returning each foot to plank before switching. Focus on core engagement and controlled, quick movements for a full-body cardio and strength workout, avoiding high hips or arching your back.