Free Ways You Can Exercise in and Around Your Home

From signing up for gym memberships to buying sporting equipment, exercising has the potential to cost a lot of money. In fact, there’s a whole industry built around selling workout regimes and gear to people who are interested in getting exercise. However, staying fit doesn’t have to be a costly experience. In fact, there are many different ways individuals can raise their heart rates without spending a single penny.

Depending on where you live, there may be free exercise classes in your community that you can join. Usually, these are yoga or dance classes. However, if you live outside of a major city, these types of activities may be harder to find. If you want to exercise but don’t have the budget to join a gym or class, the following activities are free ways you can get a good workout in and around your home.

Do Chores Around the House

Exercise comes in many different forms. One of the easiest ways to break a sweat is by doing simple chores around your house. The following activities are great muscle-building and cardio workouts that may also be doubling as items cluttering your to-do list:

• Mowing the lawn – No matter how big your yard is, you’ll probably break a sweat if push a lawnmower for more than a few minutes. If you use a tractor, though, you won’t get the same physical benefits.
• Raking leaves – If you have a bunch of leaves to rake this fall, think of this chore as a workout opportunity. You can also get a good shoulder and arm workout if you bag the leaves once you’re done.
• Shoveling snow – Shoveling your sidewalk or driveway is an excellent way to combine important chores with physical exercise. The more snow you have to shovel, the greater your workout will be.

Yoga at Home

Thanks to the internet, you don’t need to go anywhere to learn different yoga poses. Many different yoga instructors offer videos online that you can stream, which walk you through all the moves you would find in an in-person yoga class.

Another reason yoga is such a great low-cost option is because you don’t need any specific equipment to do it. If you don’t have a yoga mat to lie on for floor poses, you can use a towel or blanket. Some moves require you to have an exercise ball or band, but you can skip or modify those positions based on the equipment you have available.

Go Carless for a Day

Depending on where you live, you might not really need your car to run errands. If you live within a few miles of your local bank, post office or market, you can walk there instead of driving. This will also save you gas money.

If you don’t live close enough to these destinations to reach them on foot, you can also explore your neighborhood by walking around. This is a great way to exercise, get fresh air and learn more about where you live.

Make the Most of Commercial Breaks

If you watch TV, commercial breaks are a built-in opportunity for you to get a few minutes of exercise. This is an especially useful option if you have a busy schedule and don’t have half-hour blocks of time you can devote to fitness. Some of the best exercises you can do during commercial breaks are:

• Stretches.
• Push-ups.
• Sit-ups.
• Jumping jacks.
• Squats.