We have arrived at the toughest letter of this challenge- X. My 4-year-old is being taught alphabets phonetically at school, i.e. not the traditional “A-B-C” method, but through sounds that are grouped together. “X” is taught as “ksssss” and the examples provided are words beginning with the phonetic sound ‘ex’, so I’m employing creative license and using that strategy for my alliterative title today.
I must admit that I was much more physically active when lockdown began in March. My workouts were religiously scheduled and followed, every morning 6 days a week, with a break on Sundays. Then the A to Z Challenge began, and my strict regime was sadly hit. I still manage to work out 3-4 times a week, but not nearly the amount and duration as earlier. Anyhow, now with only four days to go before the challenge ends, I’m looking forward to getting back on track.
Exercise is important for one’s overall well-being in general times, but it has become even more important after coronavirus. Here’s why:
- Exercise helps build immunity
- The stronger you are, the more likely you are to recover from the coronavirus, if you contract it
- Exercise helps keep your weight and unhealthy food consumption in check, since you’re less likely to willingly waste the effort you put in to exercising
- Exercise releases happy hormones into your body, which keep a check on your mental health
- Exercise gives you a boost of productivity and energy to help you tackle other daily tasks
Now that you’re convinced of the merits of exercising during lockdown, here are some simple ways you can do it from home:
- CONTACT YOUR GYM INSTRUCTORS
If you have a gym membership that is currently being wasted due to the lockdown, contact your gym instructor/ personal trainer to guide you through easy home workouts. This situation is ideal since your existing instructor knows your physique best, including your strengths and weaknesses. Talk to them about curating a diet along with a workout schedule, and agree on a minimal fee if required.
- FREE ONLINE WORKOUTS
If you don’t have a gym membership, or don’t want to pay for workouts, there are thousands of free workouts available online. Here are some avenues to try:
- Youtube– my favourites are Blogilates and Melissa Bender, but there are hundreds of others to choose from
- Adidas Runtastic App
- Cult.Fit
- Zoe Modgill on Instagram
- Kriyabydiya live yoga sessions on Instagram
- Craftfitness2019 on Instagram
- Wellness.Switch on Instagram
- Crushfitnessindia on Facebook
- Random searches on Instagram and/or Facebook to find a workout you enjoy
- HOUSEHOLD CHORES
Let’s be real, many of us simply don’t have the time to follow an exercise regime on top of our numerous daily tasks. Your household chores that involve cleaning are fantastic forms of exercise. Just supplement your jhadu/pochha duty with 10-15 minutes of any cardio of your choice.
- EMAIL NEWSLETTERS
I’ve previously written an entire post dedicated to email newsletters. You can access a plethora of resources on exercise plans and ideas to work out at home, if you subscribe to some of these.
- DANCE
You don’t need a guided class for this. Just put on your favourite beats and dance to your heart’s desire. Make sure to do this for at least half an hour every day, if this is the only exercise you’re getting.
- PARTNER WORKOUTS
Get someone to join you in your workout. Not only will the process be more fun, you will also motivate each other to continue exercising every day. This could be your spouse, a parent, siblings or even your children!
- USE WHAT YOU HAVE AT HOME
Stair running is the quickest way to work up a phenomenal sweat and burn calories fast. Start with 5-10 rounds of running up and down the stairs of your home or apartment complex, and increase the number of rounds every couple of days. This can be a wonderful addition to your regular household chores.
If you’d like to experiment with strength training but don’t have access to weights at home, be innovative! Use water bottles, heavy books, bags filled with atta or lentils in place of traditional weights.
- YOGA AND MEDITATION
For people who are not used to exercise, or have other health conditions, yoga is the best form of exercise. Look online for easy yoga workouts or check out Kriyabydiya’s daily live sessions.
Apart from physical health, you must also take care of your mental health. Try and meditate for as little as 10-15 minutes in a day. There are plenty of free apps that you can use, including “Mindspace”, “Calm” or you can access Dilip Shankar’s meditation podcast here.
- TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEALTH THROUGH ONLINE DOCTOR’S APPOINTMENTS
Since there is no supervision by a trained professional, you are more prone to injury while working out at home. Know your options of healthcare professionals that can guide you online, so you can avoid going to clinics or hospitals. Many physiotherapists offer online consultations which you can do on your own, but I trust my acupuncturist Dr. Adil Khan most. He offers online consultations as well.
Have I missed out on any form of exercise that you’ve been doing at home? If so, please share that in the comments below for my benefit and that of others.
This is also my tip to beat the lockdown blues today:
Break out a sweat. Whether it’s simply from dancing or walking around the house. Release those exercise endorphins into your system and you will instantly feel happier.
The TV show recommendation is an obvious one:
“The X-Files” was a science fiction TV show that I thoroughly enjoyed during my teenage years. It dealt with cases involving paranormal activities or those related to aliens. Sadly, the show isn’t available for streaming in India, but select episodes are available on Youtube.
Unfortunately, I haven’t read a single book that begins or contains a word beginning with the letter X in the title, so I’m recommending another book with the letter W instead:
“What the Body Remembers” by Shauna Singh Baldwin is a love triangle set in the partition of India. The author beautifully recreates the culture and life of that period, making this a definitive work on this subject.
That’s all for today folks!
Please check out my daily update videos on Instagram Stories for #LockdownWithTheLadyLawyer and follow me there to stay better connected. Also tell me your favourite TV Shows/ movies/ books/ bloggers with the letter X?
(e)Xiting today, I’ll see you tomorrow!
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This post has been written for the #AtoZChallenge 2020. My theme this year is #LockdownWithTheLadyLawyer, where I’m journaling my thoughts during the coronavirus lockdown, and sharing numerous recommendations that will help keep your spirits up. Read my other posts here:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W
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