Whether the gym isn’t really your thing, or you simply prefer doing at-home exercises to tone up, here are five ways you can get fit in the comfort of your own space – we’re talking virtual fitness classes, at-home personal training and other home workout ideas.
#1 Sign up for virtual personal training at home
Ultimate Performance Singapore
Ultimate Performance Singapore (U.P.) in the CBD is known for its tailored, holistic approach to helping clients achieve physical and lifestyle transformations. But, if you’d prefer to achieve results from the safety of your own home, you can still reap the benefits of the gym’s no-nonsense approach with U.P. online personal training programmes. After auditing every part of your lifestyle – from sleep and eating habits to movement patterns and health history – they’ll build a personalised online training and nutrition programme tailored to you; and the virtual trainers will provide the tools, accountability and guidance you need to achieve maximum results. This includes weekly check-ins, progress photos and access to the U.P. app, which contains exercises to tone up and get fit, and the capability to track every metric of health, performance and progress just as you would in person – so, no excuses!
Manulife Tower, 8 Cross Street 6536 8649 | upfitness.com.sg
#2 Give virtual fitness classes a go
UFIT virtual fitness classes
UFIT With expertise in face-to-face and online services, UFIT has been a leading integrated health and fitness provider in Singapore for over a decade now. In addition to indoor and outdoor personal training, physiotherapy, osteopathy and other holistic health offerings at their four hubs around town (Club Street, One-North and Orchard and Fairmont Hotel, Raffles City), UFIT’s got some great virtual fitness classes you can stream straight from your living room for the ultimate home workout. The 30-to-60-minute virtual fitness classes on Zoom include Yoga, Pilates, HIIT and also Burn, which is designed to get your heart rate up and keep it there over the course of the session.
Psst … Head to UFIT’s website to sign up for a free trial class!
Virtual fitness classes with Advantage Pilates
Whether you’re a total beginner or something of a seasoned Pilates practitioner, there’s a class here for you. In addition to in-studio private and group reformer and mat Pilates classes, Advantage Pilates offers weekly virtual classes; you simply book the class you want to attend through the studio website. Online class offerings include Pilates Introduction, Pilates Intermediate, HIIT Pilates, and also Pilates with Props for those who have these props at their homes.
8831 8599 | advantagepilates.sg
#3 Invest in a private instructor who comes to you
At-home personal training with Fitness Functions
Fitness Functions offers in-person training programmes for all ages and fitness levels, along with a popular online training programme where the team even provides you with the equipment to use at home! Specialising in weight loss, exercises to tone up, fat percent reduction, core stability, flexibility, rehabilitation, stamina building, youth training and nutritional guidance, the trainers are certified and equipped with the knowledge and experience to guide clients through their fitness journeys – whether it be at the client’s home gym or via Skype.
9654 7064 | fitness-functions.com
Yoga With Lishan
There are tons of yoga exercises to tone up and get fit! If yoga is your workout of choice, you’re in luck! Lishan is a private yoga instructor who can come to you. Offering bespoke yoga classes tailored to each client’s needs, her yoga classes are based on Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin and Restorative yoga styles. In addition, she teaches pre- and postnatal yoga, partner yoga, chair yoga for seniors, meditation courses, relaxation techniques, specialty group workshops and live classes on social media.
9734 4313 | facebook.com/lishantheyogi
#4 Specialised at-home personal training for mums
Health2mama
If you’re a mum or mum-to-be, you’ll want to know about Health2mama, which offers physiotherapy, personal training and wellness services for mums and babies, during and after pregnancy. Health2mama’s trainers are physiotherapists who specialise in seeing mums, so they’re experienced in dealing with prenatal and postnatal bodies, healing diastasis recti (abdominal separation) and helping women strengthen their pelvic floors. Whether you want to meet at home or the park, they can come to you, making your life as a busy mama just a wee bit easier (and safer!).
Bex from Health2mama has also launched a great app with online “do-it-yourself” home workouts and physio support. These programmes include Diastasis Healing, Pelvic Floor Rehab, Ease Into Pregnancy Exercise and Ease Into Postnatal Exercise, plus special sections for treating problems such as symphysis pubis dysfunction (symptoms that cause pelvic pain), round ligament pain and back pain. In addition, the app includes PDFs and videos on how to work your pelvic floor and core muscles correctly, guides on how to ensure exercises are done safely, and easy-to-follow home workout videos that are viewable on your TV, smartphone, tablet or desktop. Oh, and Health2mama’s nutritionist can work with you through the same app!
6255 5250 | health2u.sg/health2mama
#5 Combine in-gym with at-home training
ATP Fitness
If you’re looking to mix things up, ATP Fitness is now offering a hybrid programme that incorporates in-gym training with virtual sessions over Zoom. So, you can still have the flexibility of working out at home, while taking advantage of ATP’s winning combination of cutting-edge science, time-proven coaching strategies and a big dose of accountability.
The gym uses its proprietary “D.N.A.” process to analyse your daily routine, nutrition habits and activity before providing a tailored approach based around your individual lifestyle.
You can also check out ATP Fitness’s Metabolic Health Programme, which includes regularly updated workouts to do two to four times a week, exercises to tone up, nutrition advice (in person, by email and via WhatsApp) and constant encouragement to stay on track (even when you’re not in the gym!).
Top tips for getting motivated
It can be really hard to get motivated to work out at home. Here’s what PETER FISHER, director of ATP Fitness, suggests:
Minimise the commitment
“Break it down to the smallest possible task and commit simply to that. For instance, it might be to just get on the spin bike. By setting the bar low, you maximise the opportunity to win. Of course, once you’re there, you’ll probably do more than that.”
Graze on exercise through the day
“Break down your typical workout routine into smaller bite-size pieces and scatter these throughout the day. Chances are, this will be more beneficial than simply completing an hour of exercise per day and sitting down for the rest of the day.”
Schedule your exercise sessions
“Block your exercise sessions into your diary and create an expectation that they will be done.” Create a designated exercise space in your home “Assigning a specific room, or part of a room, as your fitness space is a great way to make sure you get the most out of your at-home workouts.” Pick a spot where you can keep your equipment all in one place, and an area with limited distractions – somewhere your family members can let you do your thing!
Plan ahead
“Plan your home workouts ahead of time. If you’re training with a personal trainer or at a commercial gym, then use these times to hit bigger lifts that require more specialised equipment; then programme accessory lifts for your home workouts.”
ATP Fitness #01-01 The Octagon, 105 Cecil Street 8189 1789 | atp.fitness
This article first appeared in the November 2020 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe, so you never miss a copy!
