How to Exercise in a Small Space

Finding room to exercise can be hard when you have a small apartment or house. Jamming an outstretched hand or foot into a wall can interrupt the flow of your workout and leave you battered and bruised instead of energized. It may be a little more challenging, but it is possible to get a good workout with a few adjustments to your routine.

Instructions

Exercise in a Small Space

1. Decide which room in your house has the most free floor space. You want to be able to move around without hitting anything. If furniture can easily be moved, your living room might work, but often living and dining rooms are filled with heavy furniture and are not the best choices for your workout. The room with the most open floor space could be a kitchen or entryway. Working out in the kitchen may seem a little strange at first, but it certainly will make getting a glass of water much easier.

2. Buy exercise equipment that folds up when not in use and is lightweight. Be realistic about what kind of equipment will fit in your space. While you might not have room for a weight bench, you can get at least some of the benefits of lifting weights by using hand weights and resistance bands instead. Exercise balls take up little space and can be used for a variety of exercises.

3. If you are using an exercise tape, make your own modifications if you don’t have enough room to perform all of the moves. Repeat an earlier move while the instructor performs a potentially dangerous move or make up your own move until the routine allows you to join in again.

4. Use what you have. Make your steps your own stair-stepping machine. Perform modified push ups by pushing off the wall.

Tips & Warnings

• When you exercise in your home, you are in control of your environment. You can put on music that inspires you, wear what you want and exercise in short spurts throughout the day if it is more convenient for you. Since you don’t have an audience at home, you can make up your own exercise routine. It doesn’t matter if it looks nothing like any exercise routine you’ve ever seen, as long as you’re moving and keeping your heart rate up, you will benefit.

• Pain is a warning sign and not an indication that you are working hard. If you start feeling pain, stop exercising immediately. If you continue to exercise through the pain, you may develop a muscle or ligament injury. If the pain persists, see your doctor.