Photo: Zen Bear Yoga at Unsplash
Have you mastered working out from home yet? If not, there’s never been a better time to. Having worked with the likes of Meghan Markle, Kim Kardashian, Briney Spears, Calvin Harris, Chrissy Teigen, Rihanna, Jennifer Aniston, and Michelle Obama just to name a few, Sebastien Lagree is one of Hollywoods most popular trainers. Here, he unveils his steps for ensuring you’re effective and remain motivated.
Get Creative
You can accomplish a highly effective workout at home without any equipment at all. If you do have anything – like rubber bands, sliding discs, or small weights – certainly use them. But you can also take this time to get creative.
Try using a skateboard, towels, even a broomstick will work. I actually did a broomstick workout years ago, and it got my heart racing and I felt a good burn. I like using accessories that allow the body to “slide,” as this helps to stimulate your core. I am not a big fan of just a floor workout – take advantage of everything you have that may help you achieve your goals, and think outside of the box. There are also a ton of guided home workout videos, but the challenge is finding the motivation. If you make your sweat sessions exciting, creative and customized to your liking, you’ll be more driven to complete them.
Find Space
Although there are lots of space limitations for workouts due to the lockdown, it’s still possible to focus and designate a space in your home or apartment for fitness. I think the living room makes the most sense because it’s easier to shift things around and create a space to move your body in different ways.
Some people might be lucky enough to have a garage, which they can transform into a make-shift gym. If you like having fresh air in your workout, go on the balcony and get your heart racing with movements like jumping jacks, burpees, and planking. Planking is so simple but highly effective because it works your core better than most exercises.
You can even work out in your bedroom. If push-ups are challenging for you to do on the floor with your full-body weight, make some adjustments by using your bed for support. Put your arms on the bed and do a push-up at a 45-degree angle. You’ll still be working your body in a dynamic way.
Sebastien Lagree. Photo: Nadi Moss
Always Schedule
No matter where you choose to work out or what you prefer to do, it’s important to schedule a workout every day, especially when most of us are sitting all day working, watching TV, or relaxing. Hold yourself accountable. Try committing to a certain time every day that you workout. It takes two weeks for something to become a habit, so if you stay committed to timing your workouts and sticking by this schedule, it will become a natural part of your routine in a short period of time.
It’s also great to have a workout buddy to stay accountable. Maybe Zoom a friend while you exercise, FaceTime a colleague, or have someone text you when it’s that time of the day to do your workout. Stay goal-driven and you’ll notice results. You don’t have to do the same workout every day. Mix it up and give yourself something to look forward to so you don’t get bored. Mix things up by switching off between resistance training, cardio, and stretching.
Working from Home
While working at a desk all day, I recommend people set a timer to ring every 45 to 60 minutes. When that timer goes off, it’s time to do 1 minute of exercises. 1 minute of jumping jacks, 1 minute of push-ups or abs, or hold a plank for 1 minute. Do something to get your heart rate up.
It’s also important to try not to sit all day. You can create a makeshift standing desk by piling books together, putting your laptop on a tissue box, anything that will allow you to stand for a while when you work. Sitting too long and standing too long can have the same consequences, so it’s important to do a little bit of both.
Switch Things Up
Additionally, I would recommend switching up your workouts to make sure you are hitting every area of your body. Try and do at least three days of resistance training, and three days of cardio. If you do the resistance workout with a full range of motion, you don’t need to stretch. Otherwise, stretching should be incorporated.
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