If there’s one thing the last few months have taught us is that the ‘new normal’ will be keeping us company indefinitely. Work from home has caught on, social distancing is the way ahead, reunions are now on Zoom calls and content-driven OTT platforms are a saviour. Fitness enthusiasts like me are sorely missing our gym sessions but, thanks to some easy home props for workout, our plans are right on track.
Sometimes even the best meaning fitness goals hit a roadblock due to time and accessibility constraints. Treadmill, dumbbells, plates, medical balls and other types of fancy gym equipment aren’t always available and seem like a huge investment too. During such times it’s prudent to turn to some humble home props for workout that are just as, if not more, effective. Let me show you how.
Books
You might’ve despised lugging heavy bags in school and college but they’re one of the best home props for workout. You can tie same sized books together and use them as support blocks during Yoga. Heavy coffee table books, encyclopaedias and even newspaper stacks can suffice for plates and help in abs and weight training. Hold one each on your shoulder to replace dumbbells and perform squats. There’s a lot you can do with them.
Couch and Chairs
Your reason to invest in a couch must be to ‘veg out’ on it but do include it in some heavy to intense workout. Mountain climbers performed while keeping your hands on the couch are a great cardio workout. It can be a great support for side planks and glute bridges. Lie down half on the couch and use it as a bench for chest presses. My favourite are triceps dips and am also working on incline and decline push-ups. Chairs can be used for step-ups.
Wall
The wall is a friend you can rely on, literally. Wall push-ups are a great way for beginners to develop upper body strength before going for half or full push-ups. Many Yoga poses like Shirshasan, Chakrasan, etc use the wall for achieving balance until you can perform them without aid. Want to mix and match? Try using filled water bottles, milk or soup cans for dumbbells and perform them along with wall-sit. This works on your core too.
Grains for ankle and wrist weights
Grains stuffed in socks or tightly wrapped in any kind of cloth that can be tied around your wrist or ankle is a potential weight. Cardio workouts like running, walking or cycling with ankle weights are intense and need lot more effort. Wrist weights are great for arm and shoulder exercises. Personally, I like air punches and perform them in addition to jumps or squats or both.
Basketball/Football
Honestly, I used to be confused with the different kinds of balls used in a gym. While they do have specific uses, you cannot rule out the killer workout a simple basketball can give you. Borrow your kids’ ball (or buy one or use a spare, whatever) and use it for lower body workout. Hold the ball over your head or squeeze it between your knees and do squats. You can also use it for couple workouts by standing back-facing and passing it over to each other with a semicircle round. Try anything that works for you.
I’ve managed to lose 3 kgs during the lockdown after hitting a plateau for more than 6 months. Where there is a will, there is indeed a way. Try indoor running if you can’t go out to jog. Stairs workout is one of the best ways to burn calories. Skipping, like I’ve mentioned earlier, improves co-ordination as well as balance. These are easily available home props for workout, right?
Let your hair down with your kids and dance the blues away while also getting fit. So you see, you can work hard and still have fun. Isn’t that awesome?
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Congratulations on breaking the weight plateau, i know how hard you have worked to reach there. You don’t need a fancy gym to stick to your fitness goals, just determination and innovative thinking will do. Great tips to exercise at home!
I often use food cans for dumbbells and many of my work outs include wall, chair and couch. Sometimes kitchen counter too.
Indoor workouts which i was really looking for thank you for sharing this definitely I am going to try out during
this lockdown period…
I agree.. Where there is a will there way.. Skipping is one of the best good exercise and fun too. I do it with my kids with a challenge
Wow Varsh, thats really amazing. I love how craete you have gotten with workout that to at home. This is ispiring me to exercise everyday despite being confied indoors
I am using all these props for my home workouts. I even use water bottles as dumbbells but walls are the best.
Wow I have never thought about it. For belly dance we take support of the door frame but that’s about it. Rest is all us. Good to know basket ball uses… Heheh
Loved all the home props ideas indoor workout. Using grains in socks is really new and innovative. And losing of 3 kg weight..indeed inspiring.
Binge watching and eating is making me a couch potato, now i know the right way of using the couch. Thanks. I am going to practice upon your suggestions.
I did the same, try to use home props to do exercises. Wall and chairs are my favourite one. Before COVID I used the same props.
I’ve only used walls for doing wall sit in workout session at home. Never thought books or sofa can be used. Will now utlise sofa for doing mountain climbers.
It’s been a week that I started working out at home and I could not agree with your blog any more these are the things I use to do my homework out since I don’t have any equipments
Even I use chairs while working out. Also I recently came to know how one can use football for hand workout which is easy to do. Thanks for other suggestions.
This is so awesome. Now we can’t go out nor buy new fitness stuffs. But all these things present at home already can make the workout procedure smoothly.
These are some great tips Varsh, with restricted movement we should definitely good for easy home workout option and using props like couch and balls is fun too
Walls and doors and sofas are the easiest and most convenient ones for home workouts. My husband keeps doing all these stuffs – sofa push ups, weight training with chairs!! You have listed really good pointers here.
Your blogs are a delight to read. Easy, non-sponsored and always helpful. You make cooking/fitness and everything under the sun look so easy. Love you xx
This pretty much proves that one doesn’t need expensive gym tools or gym membership to stay fit. Right attitude and consistency is the key, loved reading this blog and creative options we can use to keep our exercise routine intact.
I always like how easy to follow all your tips are! I surely would love to try the book & basketball hack that you have pointed out
You gave some wonderful props for workout but unfortunately none suits me for my slip disc problems. I insist if you can give some ideas in regards to workout keeping in mind my health factor. Will be grateful. Much love
Firstly, I am partial towards people who work hard to keep themselves healthy n fit… so i already like you more. The quote uv used is so so true Varsha… ‘The act of getting strong doesn’t start in the gym, it stars in you head’… love it💖
I am also a health n fitness enthusiast and during the first lockdown my coach used to come up with makeshift equipments for our online sessions. One was 1ltr packaged drinking water bottles to be used as dumbells. It really worked. The tips uv mentioned in your post are easily doable and the stuff that we need are around the house… so no excuses anyone… get set n go!
I completely agree. You don’t always need fancy equipment. Household items also work really well.
We often feel that we need fitness gadgets for a workout however, these home props really do the trick.
Its surprising with things available in your house you can do so muchfor your body, awesome post, very useful.
These are simple and easy props for workouts at home, Varsha. Your journey has been amazing. My daughter bloated up to 100+ because of PCOD and work stress. This past year I have been living with her and seeing to her food intake. She has been coming daily and has lost 45+ kgs. Hats off to you and to strong-willed workers.
Loved the post, Varsha. I have used books as weights quite a few times. Got to try using a ball, though.
Wow… So many things to do… But I can’t lift weight because my hand is injured and I’m suggested not to…
Loved all the home props ideas for indoor workouts. Exercise with balls and grains is best suited for me. Now no need for fitness gadgets for home exercise. Thanks for sharing these tricks.
Great article! This only proves that you don’t need anything much if you want to improve your body and become fit. There’s a lot of things you can improvise to use. My personal favourite thought is using our liquid laundry detergent bottles as weights.
Very useful post especially for someone like me who hates the gym. My usual exercises are restricted to walks only & some little yoga. This will definitely help me tone up.
Apart from wall and chairs I use water bottles too. Very insightful info for those who love doing workout at home.
I have always believed in home workout. Walls, couches and chairs have been my preferred props. But I have not tried with books though.
Oof! When I hit a plateau I usually give up. You have inspired me to persist and get to my weight loss goal. Thanks!
These are some really good options for home workout specially for mothers who can’t get time to go gym and these would be easy to do exercise at home
I love these kind of posts where we don’t have to buy anything specific but, simply use what we have already at home, We use ball, wall, furniture, stairs, old bottles filled with small stones collected from park. And we dance & do yoga together to keep ourselves fit and be happy. Wonderful post 🙂
I feel the wall is an excellent prop for workout. I had used filled 2 ltr bottles in the place of dumbbells when I didn’t have them.
I am planning from long time to do workout..but not able to do so.thankbu for sharing u made me to think again on it and do it consistently
You have utilised all the household items so well for workout. Such simple items such as books can also help in working out at home. I will use your tips as during rain season it is difficult to go out for walks. I have tried using the wall when i do my stretches.