I haven’t paid for a gym membership in years (please don’t tell me it shows, haha.) I signed up for a few in the past, but it always ended the same: I’d go a handful of times before letting my pass go unused while still paying for it for months. Which is actually what many gyms count on, by the way – they sell way more passes than they have the capacity for, knowing that some people buy them and are not likely to go at all.
These days, I like to get my workouts in at home, and I’ve tried several different ones over the years. But there are four specific types of exercise that have stuck with me and that I find really easy yet effective to do from my living room. They’re totally free and don’t require any equipment aside from maybe a yoga mat and a YouTube account. In today’s article, I wanted to share these simple home workouts with you and also tell you a little bit about Organic Basics’ new SilverTech Active Yoga Shorts, which were kindly gifted to me. I also have a discount code for you if you’re interested, which you can find at the end of this article. So, let’s jump right into it!
1. Yoga
The first home workout that I absolutely love is yoga. I started doing yoga classes back in university, and while I loved in-person classes, they were just way too expensive to continue doing long-term. So instead, I do it for free from the comfort of my living room! All you need is a mat and a pair of sustainably-made yoga shorts like these ones from Organic Basics (okay, those are optional, but having a cute workout set has always been a good motivator for me to get my exercise in!)
The great thing about yoga is that you can really choose what kind of workout you get – whether it’s a beginner or intermediate level, or something involving more strength training versus a relaxing session that maybe focuses more on flexibility or simply meditation. Whatever your level or needs are for that day, you can choose a session that works for you.
One of my favourites to watch on YouTube is Yoga with Adriene. I just love her personality and she has a wide range of one-off videos as well as 30-day themed programs that you can follow along with. But, there are so many out there to choose from that it’s really up to you!
2. Pilates
Okay, let’s step it up a little! The next workout I love to do from home is pilates. It’s a little less relaxing than yoga, but it’s a great workout that gets results. It was almost addictive once I got started – it’s challenging, but I also notice myself improving every time I do it which encourages me to keep going!
Two of my favourite YouTube channels for pilates are Blogilates and Boho Beautiful if you’re looking for something a little more challenging.
3. HIIT Cardio (High Intensity Interval Training)
The fact that HIIT exists is proof that you really don’t need a gym membership or to tire yourself out on the treadmill for an hour to get a good workout. HIIT can sometimes involve equipment such as dumbells or a weighted vest, but there are plenty of options for doing it with your bodyweight alone (and to be honest, that’s where I’m at most of the time anyway).
HIIT involves things like squats and lunges, but takes the intensity up a notch (if you’re able) by making it high-impact – so instead of squats, think jumping squats (also known as plyometric exercises). If you really give it your all, you can get the same workout doing HIIT for ten minutes as you can running on the treadmill for way longer – so it’s really easy to squeeze in a good workout if you have a tight schedule!
My favourite YouTube channel to follow for HIIT (and probably my favourite free workout channel ever) is Fitness Blender. A lot of their videos do involve equipment, but if you search for HIIT cardio or bodyweight only they have plenty of options (and believe me, it’s still tough!)
4. Bodyweight Strength Training
The last workout that I like to do at home is simple bodyweight strength training – things like push ups, crunches, squats, et cetera. They are low impact, but in my opinion building strength is just as important as getting your cardio in for overall health and well-being. It just goes to show that you don’t need any equipment to get a good workout, especially if you are focused on creating resistance and working those muscles. And, a lot of the time you can use what you already have around the house if you need to – think milk jugs or a bag of books in place of dumbbells, or a table to do your tricep dips on. If you get creative, you can get as good of a workout as you could at the gym right from your own home.
Review of Active Wear from Organic Basics
So, now to tell you all about these Yoga Shorts from Organic Basics! I had actually been looking for a pair of shorts like this for a while, so when OB reached out to me asking if I wanted to try them, I was super excited. It’s my first time trying anything from their active wear line, and since I love their underwear and bralettes so much, it came as no surprise that I find these pretty great as well.
They’re super soft and have a lot of stretch, so I don’t feel like I’m being compressed into anything like I do with some of my leggings from other brands. That said, I went for a size M/L and I probably could have gone for a S/M in these (I’m regularly a size M or US 6). But, I like the fact that they aren’t too tight for once, as all of my other gym kits seem to be.
Sustainability-wise, they’re made of 96% recycled nylon which is pretty neat! As with all of Organic Basics’ line, they’re made with sustainability top of mind, which means reducing carbon emissions, water usage, and waste throughout the entire production process. All of the products in their SilverTech Active line are given a special treatment so that they stay fresh longer, meaning you can wear them more between washes, which saves water and energy. When you do go to wash them, ensure you use a bag that gathers microplastics (like the Guppyfriend bag) and keeps them out of our oceans because they are made using synthetic materials.
If you’re interested in trying any of Organic Basics‘ active wear for yourself (or any of the great products from their other lines), you can use the code EMLOBC3 to get 10% off your order (valid through Dec 15, 2019).
I hope you enjoyed this article and that it gave you some good resources for getting in a simple and free workout at home. What’s your favourite way to work out? Let me know in the comments below!
Thanks for reading,
Note: This post is not sponsored. The SilverTech Active Yoga Shorts were kindly gifted to me by Organic Basics to review for you. This page contains affiliate links which means I make a small commission off purchases made through these links. Thanks for your support!