January 2021 | Page 49

7 Household Items that Double as Exercise Equipment

You ’ d be surprised with just how many workouts you can do in the comfort of your own home .
BY EMMA BARTLETT
Be Well Rhody
Whether your gym membership has expired or you ’ re unmotivated to leave home on a chilly winter day , this list of makeshift workout equipment will help you feel the burn in your living room .
ATHLETIC BALL Locate your nearest soccer ball or basketball and use it in place of a medicine ball . Although this sports equipment does not hold the same weight as a medicine ball , it can still be used to perform Russian twists , lunges with a twist and overhead raises that all strengthen your core .
TOWEL Instead of a resistance band , use a towel for numerous arm and back strengthening exercises including push and pull chest presses , triceps pulls and rows . There are many towel workout tutorials on YouTube that you can use to help tone your body .
HEAVY BOOK Find a cumbersome book on your shelves and use it for weighted sit-ups to strengthen your core , plus cross-body wood chops that target your abs and obliques .
GETTY IMAGES .
PAPER PLATES It ’ s time to work those legs ! With paper plates and a wooden floor , you can do mountain climbers , inner thigh slides and reverse slide lunges . These exercises help with agility , hip flexibility and knee stability .
LAUNDRY DETERGENT A great substitute for a kettle bell is laundry detergent . Whether it ’ s a new bottle or an old one that you ’ ve filled with water , the detergent can serve as a weight in your workout . Exercises include goblet squats , two-handed swings and side bends .
FOLDING CHAIR Not only are folding chairs great for helping maximize storage , they ’ re also perfect for at-home workouts . Set your chair in an open room on a sturdy surface and use it for tricep dips , inclining push-ups and declining push-ups . These exercises engage your arm and back muscles .
ROPE Battling ropes are commonly seen in gyms to increase full-body strength . If you have long , weighted ropes at your house , you can create your own battling ropes station . Try some alternating wide circles , alternating jump waves and side plank waves .
Virtual Classes
Join the company of others while working out in your own home with these virtual workout classes .
PILATES WEST BAY Pilates Power Hour pilateswestbay . com
CHRISTINA RONDEAU KICKBOXING Kickboxing and cross training rkblive . com
BARRE AND SOUL Barre , vinyasa yoga , cardio barresoul . com
INTEGRATIVE WELLNESS RI Self-care and functional fitness integrativewellnessri . com
RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l JANUARY 2021 47