How to Turn Household Chores Into a Workout

Sometimes between a busy schedule, work and other daily activities, making time for exercise can sometimes feel impossible. On top of that, hitting the gym can sometimes be a turn-off, whether due to a lack of time, motivation or just a lack of interest. The good news? Exercise can easily be incorporated into many parts of your day-to-day, like household chores. According to a study conducted by McMaster University, doing household chores for 20 to 30 minutes per day is just as effective as going to the gym and hitting your weekly exercise goals.  

Grab your workout shoes and some cleaning supplies, and get ready to break a sweat. The infographic below highlights six household chores to replace the weights and get you moving, as well as how to add exercise to your cleaning routine. 

6 Tips to Decorate Yoga Room at Home

Peace of mind means a relaxed body and soul. When relaxed, you are capable of getting a lot done. Yoga is one of the oldest body and mind practices currently practiced across the world, designed to help the body relax. There are various yoga postures any person can try out to help with meditation and relaxation. Just the way people have been investing in home gyms, others are designing their homes with space yoga. Previously people depended on yoga instructors to fully benefit from this ancient practice. However, due to tech advancement, people can find various tutorials and publications on yoga for beginners, as well as the basic requirements for a yoga room. Here are a few decorative features you can consider for your yoga room to get it in shape for yoga practice.

1. Carefully Select the Yoga Room Essentials.

The most basic thing you will need for the room is a yoga mat. Choose a mat that fits your needs and complements the décor of your choice, from the paint on the walls to the curtain on the window. Other things you can consider adding include yoga blocks that will help lengthen your reach when working on flexibility. For yoga wear, you can go for yoga straps to increase the challenge when you take on certain postures. Fit in a bolster to help with restorative poses while transforming the room into a meditation haven.

2. Set the Mood with Warm Lighting and Soothing Hues

Yoga combines various methods such as meditation, physical postures, and breathing techniques to bring out the best results. All these are practices that need to de practice in a safe space with the right lighting and toning to support peace of mind. Most yoga spaces are bathed in the soft cream shade to bring out a calm and comforting feeling with a subtle and warm feeling to rule out a dullness. Install dimming bulbs that can be controlled either through a switch or control panel to your specific lighting needs.

3. Plants and Terrariums

Being close to nature is one of the most calming experiences, according to various therapists and experts. Getting an indoor plant you can nurture to grow good for emotional stability and mental health, things you need to maximize your yoga routine. A yoga room is definitely a safe space. You need to make it purposeful, a place where you can relate and unwind. If natural plants are a no-go for you, opt for the plastic ones.

4. Install Mirrors

Aside from complementing the beauty of your space, mirrors are a practical addition when you are trying out yoga for beginners. Yoga, most of the time, aims to increase your self-esteem, make you feel comfortable in your skin. However, it does not hurt to look at yourself as you do your routines. Other people may find full-size mirrors distracting when practicing. When you find yourself in this position, go for a smaller and decorative option that appeals to your taste.

5. Crystals

There is a lot of chatter when it comes to crystals and yoga practice. In yoga, people use crystals to control the energies in them, amplify their intentions and promote their inner strength. At least, that is what most people in the yoga community believe. Regardless of your opinion on crystals, these gems are beautiful and decorative and could just be what you need to boost the ambiance of your yoga room. Set them strategically across the room to complement the rest of the décor and bring your desired look.

6. Inspirational and Educational Posters

Like any other exercise or workout routine, practicing yoga needs a little boost of confidence and words of encouragement. Seeing the right words at the right moment can give just enough push to get to where you want to be. A few words of encouragement on the walls can help remind you and inspire you to concentrate and believe in your efforts.

Aside from inspiration, the educational posters can help with a guideline on how to do some moves or techniques to get the best out of practice. They also come in handy when you forget a few moves, especially if you’re at the beginner level.

One thing you should keep in mind is less can be more. You do not have to fill the room with decorations to get the best out of it. Keep the room simple with a few essential decorations that help set the mood.

Interview - Fit4Mom of Fairfield

Many of our clients come to House to Home because they not only want to take back control of their space, but they often want to take back control of their lives. Exercise and staying healthy can be hard for busy people and when you add kids to the equation forget about it. We spoke with Courtney at Fit4Mom for one possible solution to finding the right balance.

For the busy parent, what is Fit4Mom?

FIT4MOM is one stop shopping for the mom looking for a workout, a network of friends for her and her little ones and a supportive village to lean on through all stages of motherhood. As the nation’s leading provider of fitness programs for Moms (Fit4Baby, Stroller Strides, Stroller Barre, Body Back and Run Club) we are dedicated to Strength in Motherhood. Here, women have the opportunity to have a workout and support that is flexible around motherhood! 

How did you get started with company?

I discovered FIT4MOM right after I had my first child in 2011. As a brand new (and slightly terrified) mom, a colleague of mine encouraged me to meet her one morning at the Stamford Town Center for a class for moms and their babies called Stroller Strides. Being slightly skeptical and very nervous, I ventured out with my then 6 week old son. I mean was I really going to get a workout? What if my baby cried or was hungry? Do I need a jogging stroller? I had ALL the questions. And no sooner than the first five minutes of class did I know I found my lifeline as a new mom!

The women were kind, engaging, approachable, knowledgeable, authentic. There were moms with brand new babies like me, pregnant moms and veteran moms who had two or more children. The moms were of all fitness levels (and the workout was accessible for everyone) but most importantly, they were a wealth of mom knowledge and an instant village that I needed as a new mom! Our days and routines began to revolve around getting to Stroller Strides. It gave my baby and I a routine, something to look forward to, a great way to stay active without leaving my him and a place for me to connect with other women.  Four months into this whole motherhood gig, an opportunity to get certified and start teaching Stroller Strides classes arose and I knew I had found a way to extend my maternity leave from my teaching and coaching career.

Fast forward to my son’s first birthday and we moved from Stamford to Fairfield and my biggest concern, “what was I going to do without Stroller Strides down the street?" For a while, I continued to drive down to Greenwich, Stamford and Norwalk (during rush hour) to attend and teach classes and then I got pregnant with my second. As much as I loved my village down in Stamford and Greenwich, I knew I needed one in my own town. We loved Fairfield but the one thing that was missing was Stroller Strides. So at 8 months pregnant with baby #2, I took a huge leap and purchased a FIT4MOM franchise. And this Spring, we are celebrating our 4 Year Anniversary!

Where are the classes held?

We currently have classes 6 days a week at various locations in Fairfield and Trumbull. During the warmer months (typically mid-April through mid-November) you can spot us at Veterans Park or Owen Fish Park in Fairfield and Twin Brooks park in Trumbull. During the colder weather months we hold classes at the Trumbull Mall before it opens (9am – 10am) and the Field House at Sportsplex in Fairfield. 

How does it work with the babies and kids?

During our Stroller Strides and Stroller Barre classes, the babies and kids (ranging anywhere from 6 weeks to typically 4 or 5 years of age) are buckled into their strollers. Each 60-minute workout is comprised of strength training, cardio and core restoration, all while entertaining little ones with songs, activities and fun! You will see the moms lunging and tickling toes, sprinting towards excited little ones ready to give high 5’s and kisses, planking for the duration of “Brown Bear, Brown Bear”, moms singing nursery rhymes as they use their resistance bands and more! Our instructors arrive each day with a functional, total-body conditioning workout designed for moms with kids in tow which means an arsenal of puppets, bubbles, games and songs which allow the moms to leave class feeling connected, successful and energized! No more mama guilt! This class is all about self care in a supportive and encouraging environment. After all of our classes it’s the kids turn to play!  We host weekly themed playgroups for the little ones and when we are outside the kids head to the playground. The moms with little ones get to hang out on the mats and blankets and connect and really make it a full outing each morning.

Which class is the most popular?

Our Stroller Strides and Stroller Barre classes are definitely the most popular as they are the backbone to FIT4MOM.  However, our Body Back program which is our moms only 8 week results based high intensity interval program and our Run Club provide great opportunities for moms who have returned to work or no longer have stroller aged children to take their fitness level to the next level and stay connected to our FIT4MOM Village!

Any interesting tales from the trenches mixing young ones and exercise?

I love this question because no class is ever the same, just like parenting young kiddos! A Stroller Strides or Stroller Barre class is never complete without spilled snacks, a fussy baby, a tired toddler, a sleep deprived mama, a mom who needs to pause their workout to nurse or feed their baby, some spit up or the occasional tears, you name it, we’ve seen it. Beyond the tough moments, you will see kids imitating the exercises and stretches that we did in class, an instructor rocking a fussy baby so that mama can get her workout in, little ones cheering their moms on (or telling them to run faster), little ones meeting and looking forward to seeing their best buddy, and some genuine mom and baby bonding! That’s what makes our classes so unique and special! Motherhood is hard! We are all moms (instructors included) and we get it! We pride ourselves on creating a safe space for all moms and their little ones to come together, support one another and truly provide the strength for motherhood all while knowing that #themotherhoodisreal.