Two recent Smart Bite blogs talked about the importance of exercise. Cardio training is especially important to help our bodies age better at the cellular level. Strength training is key to maintain muscle mass, bone strength and functional movement. We all know about the importance – but who has more time in the day to exercise?
Here are a few tips from the broader Zing community on exercise options for people who travel, don’t have access to equipment, have hectic jobs or are just plain busy!
Nike Training Club. Andrea, a biotech executive in San Francisco, likes the Nike Training Club app pictured above. You can get it free in the App store. There are over 180 workouts, in short duration, for all levels. (Choose Browse + Equipment + No Equipment for workouts you can do at home or on the road.)
Fitness Blender on YouTube. Caprice in Portland is a dedicated grandmother caring for two children under age 3! To get in a workout, she’ll access the YouTube channel from her TV or iPad, and will choose the Fitness Blender. She’s tried a number of YouTube exercise routines but likes Fitness Blender because it is no nonsense, with many different choices and workout lengths, and a wide variety of cardio and strength training.
Planks. Got a minute (or even 30 seconds)? Do a plank – they work every part of your body, and you don’t need special equipment to do them. Try this seven day Planksgiving Challenge created by Zing team member, Teresa Maldono Marchek. Teresa is a physical therapist and former dancer, and the founder of BoneSmart Pilates®.
Just Dance. There is nothing Zumba or U-Jam to get the heart rate up, but a 60 minute class plus travel time can be prohibitive. Instead, put together your favorite playlist and get up and dance when you take a stretch break from your computer. Granted – this is better if you’re working at home than in the office, but who knows – you could start a new craze! I gave this suggestion to Zing client Lauren from Sunnyvale, and she took it to a new level. She created several different Zumba routines and now teaches her own mini-classes with her mom or colleagues when she travels for business.
Pace. I got this tip from Theresa, a financial services executive in Silicon Valley. She is in an office all-day wearing grown-up clothes and shoes and has limited time to exercise. So, she turns any meetings with colleagues into a walk and talk, even if it’s just around the building. She uses phone time to get in extra steps by pacing.
The top-takeaway is this: there is always an opportunity to add movement to your day. What could you do in 20 minutes? How about 5 minutes? I’d love to hear your tips!