Working out at home can help you save money and time. Gym memberships are expensive, and it takes time just to get to the gym. If you’re thinking about beginning to workout at home, but aren’t sure where to start, we’ve got some tips for you!

You don’t need a lot, but get some equipment 

You don’t necessarily need a treadmill or other expensive machines to workout at home. That being said, it’s best to invest in some basic equipment. You should get a yoga mat or other exercise mat that you can do your workouts on. Any exercise routine should involve stretching, so it’s a good idea to get some resistance bands and foam rollers.

Many types of workouts incorporate small weights into them, so it’s good to get a pair of light dumbbells. If you’re interested in weight lifting and strength training, you’ll need more than a small pair of dumbells. Instead, you might want to get a pair of adjustable dumbbells or a set of them in various sizes. Some other items you might want to consider getting are an exercise ball and a balance disk. 

If you have the space, set up a dedicated workout area 

Most people living in Japan probably won’t have enough space in their home to have a room just for working out. However, you can still designate a part of your home as a workout space. You might be able to use some of your living room or home office as a workout place. However, if your apartment is tiny, you might have to be a bit more flexible. For instance, if you sleep on a futon in a room with tatami flooring, you can put away your bedding and use your bedroom as a workout space during the day. Whatever you do, make sure to set aside some space for working out. One of the biggest barriers to working out at home is feeling like you don’t have enough space to do so. 

Find fitness videos you like

There are lots of great fitness videos out there that you can use to guide your workouts. Many of them are free. Check out popular fitness YouTubers like Yoga with Adriene, Blogilates, POPSUGAR Fitness, MattDoesFitness, The Fitness Marshall, and Kayla Itsines. If you don’t care for YouTube fitness videos, take a look at sites like Muscle and Fitness, Chloe Ting, Fitness Blender, or Hasfit. With the plethora of fitness videos on the Internet, you’re sure to find a few that meet your needs, whether you’re a beginner or a dedicated gym rat. Even if you have a disability, there may still be home workout videos you can exercise along with. Some sites, like Hasfit, have fitness videos designed for people with limited mobility. Just check with your healthcare provider to make sure the routines are safe for you to complete. 

Or sign up for a virtual fitness class 

You might enjoy getting to work out with other people, but don’t want to bother with the hassle of going to the gym. If that’s the case, you’ll probably enjoy virtual fitness classes. Although they’ve existed for some time, virtual fitness classes have recently become popular because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The best part about virtual fitness classes is that you don’t have to live anywhere near the gym hosting them to take part in them. Feel free to try a barre class in New York or a strength training class in Los Angeles. Your workout schedule might become a little strange (time zones!) but you’ll be able to take classes that aren’t offered at your local gym. 

Look for apartment-friendly workout routines 

There are certain types of workouts that shouldn’t be done in apartments. Some fitness routines can be pretty noisy. As important as exercising is, it shouldn’t be done at the expense of your neighbors’ sanity. Unless you live on the ground floor, avoid workout routines that involve jumping. Your downstairs neighbor doesn’t want to hear you bouncing up and down. Similarly, you shouldn’t do any strength training exercises that involve throwing or bouncing a medicine ball against a wall. It’s just as important to be careful that you don’t accidentally damage anything in your apartment while working out. You want to burn some calories, not pay for repairs! When searching for a fitness routine, try typing the words “apartment-friendly workout” into YouTube.