Although we are spending more time at home these days, it doesn’t mean we have to be sitting on the couch with a bag of chips in our hands, glued to Netflix. In fact, now more than ever, it is important that we pay attention to both our physical and mental health by staying active.
“I feel balance is the most important thing,” said Nicole Lacoursiere, owner of Body By Nic Personal Training.
“Move your body, eat healthy food and get the sleep needed to restore and rejuvenate.”
She said if you didn’t work out or train before the COVID-19 pandemic, now may not be the time to pick up a rigorous regime.
“If you weren’t working out before this, then start slow. Exercise should not be adding more stress to an already stressful time,” she said.
“Exercise is a very good stress reliever. Now more than ever, I am recommending that people walk every single day. It’s good for the body and the mind.”
She emphasized that the key to knowing what you should be doing to stay active at home is taking stock of what you were doing before social distancing.
“I always recommend that people start with body weight exercises as there is a smaller risk of hurting themselves,” Lacoursiere said.
“I would recommend that people don’t do anything where they are unsure of good form.”
There is no doubt that working out from home has its benefits:
- It takes less time as there is no travel back and forth to a gym
- You can make it a family event, inviting the kids to take part in yoga or go for a walk
- It is budget friendly
- Germs aren’t a concern
- You can do it your way by choosing the music, temperature, virtual instructor, type of work out etc
“Plus, nobody will judge you for working out in your pjs,” joked Lacoursiere.
Body By Nic is posting daily workouts on their Facebook page for clients as well as regularly checking in with them to answer any questions.
Lacoursiere added that exercise can also be used to implement a sense of normalcy and routine into these uncertain times.
“People function better with scheduling in their lives, so schedule your fitness into your day,” Lacoursiere.
“Consistency is the only rule. Thirty minutes a day is enough. Just make sure you move your body each day. Allow yourself grace and patience.”
