By Jane Hamann
As the days start to get shorter and colder, and the holidays are fast approaching it becomes harder and harder for people to fit exercise into their daily schedule. The main reason people tell me they don’t exercise regularly is they don’t have time. They don’t have time to go to a gym, 
they don’t want to get up earlier in the morning to go workout, and they are too tired to go when they come home. What I want to remind people is you do not need to go to a gym to workout. Nor do you have to spend hours and hours working out. You can workout in the comfort and convenience of your own home or office because you have the best and only machine you will ever need, your body and all you need is 20 minutes.
Bodyweight exercises are perfect for everyone. They can be done just about anywhere with no additional equipment required. There are tons of different exercises so you can change up the exercises you do and don’t have to worry about becoming bored with your workouts. Below are several other reasons you should start doing bodyweight exercises and why I enjoy them and incorporate them in my client’s routines.
- It is easy to combine strength and cardio exercises
- With bodyweight exercises you don’t have to drive to a gym, and once you get there, waste time adjusting machines and loading barbells.
- With just 15-20 minutes of moderate to high intensity exercise, your metabolic rate increases which allows your body to burn more calories throughout the day.
- People of all ages and level of abilities can do the exercises.
- When doing bodyweight exercises, you are engaging all of the muscles of your core, improving core strength and stability.
- When doing bodyweight exercises your muscles will go through full range of motion, allowing the joints to stay flexible.
- Convenience. You can do bodyweight exercises just about anywhere at anytime.
- You will have better balance. When doing bodyweight exercises you use your body to balance yourself by engaging your core muscles.
- You can never get bored. There are so many different exercises you can do you can literally do a different workout everyday.
- It’s cheap. No need for big clunky equipment No need for gym memberships.
Body weight training is a perfect way for beginning exercisers to get started and become comfortable with movement and their body. It is a great way to challenge yourself without frustration. Twenty minutes of jumping jacks, pushups, squats, lunges, pull-ups, curls, etc. and you will be well on your way to a healthy, strong and toned body. And who doesn’t want that.
So the next time you are looking for a quick and easy workout, look no further than your own home and your own body.