How to Incorporate Strength Training into Your Routine

Creating a fitness routine is important when thinking about living a healthy lifestyle. Having a routine helps us stay consistent and accountable to ourselves. However, everyone’s routine looks different. Attending a fitness class, walking on a treadmill, doing yoga, or swimming in the pool may all be a part of different people’s regimen.

One thing that should be a staple in everyone’s routine is strength training. While this may look different for everyone it involves using resistance against a muscular contraction. Here are a couple of different ways to begin strength training:

Body weight – Use movements like squats, pushups, bridges, or planks to build muscle in both your lower and upper body. The great thing about these exercises is that they require no equipment and can be done anywhere!

Resistance bands – Tension increases as the bands are stretched making a particular movement more difficult. They are very affordable, take up a small amount of space, and can be used in many different ways.

Free weights – These include barbells, dumbbells, and medicine balls to name a few.  They can come in a variety of weights allowing for intensity to be increased or decreased. Common products around the house can even be used such as milk jugs filled with water or soup cans.

Weight machines – While you can buy machines for your home, there are many found at your local fitness center. They often include great picture guides right on the machine that show you exactly how to use them.

For more information or help getting started with incorporating a strength training program into your routine, contact i’move and we’ll be happy to help!