Exercising my right to a minimalist workout

Photo by Burst at Pexels 

I don’t think I’ll ever get used to being somebody who needs exercise. I got through my teens and much of my twenties without ever breaking a sweat. Really. My exertions in PE were lacklustre at best as I hovered on the edges of the school basketball court, hoping that a ball wouldn’t come my way.

In my late 30s and early 40s, I flirted with running… until my joints decided for me that running was not my friend.

For the past couple of years, I’ve dragged myself to the gym where I would spend 10 minutes on the treadmill, 10 minutes on the elliptical machine and then stretch to a few sun salutations. And then in March, the gym shut down. Just like gyms nearly everywhere.

And like people everywhere, my daily walk around the neighbourhood has become my lifeline. I look forward to putting on my trainers, grabbing my keys, selecting a good podcast to listen to, and pulling the front door closed after me.

However, as an exercise regimen, the evening walk has its limitations. The low-impact nature of walking is perfect for my dodgy left knee and the sensitive vertebrae of my lower back. But it doesn’t do much to elevate my heart rate or burn calories.

Which is why I’ve been looking into exercise routines that can be done here in my living room, with the minimum of equipment.

Photo by Tirachard Kumtanom at Pexels 

So these days, the first half hour after getting up will be spent practising push-ups, trying to maintain the plank, and negotiating a radically modified version of the burpee.

I can’t honestly say that I’ve noticed my abs becoming rock hard, or greater definition in my upper arms, but I like that feeling of pushing my body (a little), of my heart rate quickening a little, my core temperature increasing as the workout goes on, and the sensation of working up a light sweat before I’ve even sat down to breakfast.

What I’ve also noticed is that my skin is clearer and I’m standing a little straighter as I become more aware of my body.

In any case, it’s fun plunging into this brave new world of online personal trainers.

Family members have already taken Joe Wicks to their hearts, so he seemed a good place to start. His hotel room routine is far too challenging for me, but his enthusiasm is irresistible and I like to think that I may be able for it some day. File this one under ‘aspirational’.

The personal trainer who is far more my scene is Pahla B, a tiny perky Canadian whose YouTube videos are pitched at women of a certain age. If you want to ‘get sweaty and then get on with your day’, check out her videos here. This video, tagged ‘quiet barefoot cardio’, has been pressed into service A LOT in recent days.

Photo by Pixabay from Pexels

I first heard fitness instructor and journalist Julia Buckley  on the podcast Freelance Feels. She spoke so passionately about how much she had gained from incorporating exercise into her life that I had to check her out. She takes a common-sense approach to exercise, and explains routines and individual moves extremely well.

So, they are my current picks. I’m lucky in that I don’t have any underlying conditions, and I’m careful to protect my dodgy knee and my slightly sore back by tailoring the workouts as they are set out.

How have you been keeping fit during the lockdown? Do you miss the gym? Or do you find it empowering to create your own workouts away from the structure of classes?