Family Fitness: Working Out From Home
Here at The Corner Studio, many of us were just gaining momentum in our fitness routines before everything came to a startling halt. With spring sports canceled, our kids are missing their previously scheduled exercise, too. As we adjust to the increasingly long-term practice of social distancing, families are resolving how to work—and work out—from home.
From what we’ve seen these last couple weeks, mainly through your Instagram posts and stories that allow us to keep so closely in touch, no one has stopped moving! We are thrilled to report that our “See 10, Do 10” Lunge Challenge raised over $1,350 in donations to Detroit EMS. So many of your videos showed the whole family (even pets!) getting in on the action. And that’s what The Corner Studio has always been about: family and community.
Need more inspiration to get moving? We checked in with two Corner Studio instructors for tips on how to make the best of working out from home.
“The number one excuse of not having time is out the window,” says personal trainer Tyler Vivian. “We all have time now!” But even with an abundance of time, we still need motivation. The energy that fuels group fitness classes and the hands-on instruction of a personal training session is hard to match. Tyler, like other trainers and fitness studios, has gone virtual. “People might be resistant right now,” he says, “but the simplest approach is to get out of the rut of your old routine.”
Aside from exercise, Tyler suggests something to focus on right now is what you’re eating. With nowhere to go, “snacking all day” can quickly become a bad habit. (Tyler admits he’s done it, too!)
As coach for Grosse Pointe South HS JV football and strength and conditioning trainer for girls’ and boys’ basketball, he tells his athletes to get outside and start sprinting. With today’s kids being tied to highly organized activity, Tyler sees the benefit of this break in pattern. “It’s actually good for them,” he offers. “This can be a time to let them figure out their own movement strategies and practice problem solving.”
For parents with young kids, play time can be synonymous with working out. Jo Kutchey, a personal trainer and mother of three (ages five, four, and 10 months), seizes any opportunity in the day to squeeze in exercise. “While the kids are playing, I’ll do squats or lunges or pushups next to them,” she says. Jo and fellow Corner Studio instructors have served up easy-to-follow routines, motivating us to break a sweat at some point in the day. “Anyone can do body weight stuff and you don’t need anything extra. Just keep moving.”
Like many of us, Jo is navigating the new normal of two parents working from home while also keeping their children schooled and entertained. Fresh air can be a game-changer. That’s why she and her husband like to start the day outside with their children. “It sets the tone for the day,” says Jo. “We’ll get up in the morning, bundle up the kids, and head out for a run. My five-year-old likes to ride her bike.” Getting a workout in first thing has its benefits, especially now. Jo says, “It’s a reason to get up and change out of your pajamas. Do it before you hop on that conference call or before it’s time to feed the kids.”
A yogi at heart, Jo recommends Cosmic Kids Yoga (you can find free episodes on YouTube), 20-minute yoga sessions that keep even her young children’s attention and something the whole family can do together.
Family fitness can come in any form. Now is a perfect time to embrace free movement and play. “Get outside and play tag,” says Tyler. “Or set up an obstacle course—the floor is lava!” Anything works.
Stay Home, Stay Safe, AND Keep Moving! See You at The Corner Soon!