Missing the Gym? Here's 5 Ways to Use Your Furniture to Break a Sweat

data-open-modal example

This modal can be opened by clicking the window icon in the pre-header. Because the link uses data-open-modal (instead of an href anchor) nothing appears in the address bar. You also can't use the back/forward buttons to close or reopen the modal. However, if you know the ID of the modal, you can still manually type the anchor link in your address bar and it will open (handy for client previews).

To simulate an extremely long modal and show how modals scroll, here's a ton of lorem ipsum:

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit. Rerum fugit, aperiam qui ducimus incidunt quis ad saepe at! Quis pariatur id nemo iusto. Delectus doloremque, voluptates dicta ab ullam quibusdam!

Illo debitis nihil, labore impedit voluptates soluta asperiores dignissimos dolorem cupiditate optio possimus, accusamus sit libero magni saepe quae explicabo obcaecati laboriosam! Veniam nobis incidunt nam cum a quasi voluptas commodi voluptates rerum dolore nulla nihil numquam perspiciatis at blanditiis odio similique, consequuntur et.

Consequuntur doloremque distinctio quis aperiam quidem labore nisi aspernatur necessitatibus, perspiciatis quas nulla exercitationem voluptate cupiditate natus? Aperiam cum unde ut doloribus! Aliquid omnis aperiam, magni iure exercitationem numquam quas blanditiis repellendus. Debitis error reprehenderit, laboriosam praesentium neque porro placeat dignissimos dicta natus adipisci!

Ipsam blanditiis neque rerum, saepe nam assumenda odio sed nostrum dolorum sint exercitationem repellat necessitatibus provident aliquam quod tenetur voluptatibus sapiente perspiciatis! Maxime, consectetur quae. Repellendus vitae minima distinctio, esse, iste ut quibusdam nemo doloremque iure eum ex deserunt illum at voluptatum quisquam aperiam?

Dolorem facilis aspernatur explicabo deserunt a provident iste consequuntur, earum, odit iusto cupiditate odio. Molestias aspernatur quo reprehenderit voluptatem accusamus tenetur natus. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Illo magnam, totam omnis pariatur voluptatum ullam in, cumque error unde cupiditate molestias nihil accusantium dolorum accusamus quo odit. Nulla, nostrum ex.

Eum vel natus iusto provident atque quis officia, adipisci quibusdam. Esse, officia doloribus corporis eius optio accusamus natus error iure ducimus sed? Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit. Eius libero sequi quis sint reprehenderit accusantium laudantium nam eos delectus blanditiis, recusandae consectetur qui sed totam beatae et ratione dolorum quae?

Isolation has us all thinking back to the things we maybe took for granted. If I had to choose one thing I could get back right now, it would be the gym. The routine, the hour break from reality, and the endorphins are all things that helped me to stay sane on a daily basis. But with this new normal (whatever that is), we’ve all had to get creative with many things. For me, that’s been exercise, and I’ve been able to turn my own furniture into gym equipment. Here’s what I’ve been doing at home to break a sweat.

Video clip via @parkeryorksmith | Taylor Plush 4pc Modular Sofa and Ottoman CREAM/PECAN | Julius Area Rug SILVER

Dining Table

I use the dining table to do inverted rows. It mimics the idea of pull-ups since I don’t have a pull-up bar. Lay on the ground and grab the dining table edge and pull yourself up and release down slowly. This is a great workout for your back and biceps so I’ll usually do 4 sets of 10 reps each but try to do a set and see how you do, and then manage accordingly.

Dining Chair

Chairs are actually super reliable for home workouts. My favorite thing to do is use them for tricep dips. Extend your legs so your heels are on the ground and grab the chair edge to do dips. Do as many as you can the first set and then do 4 sets of that. For me, I do 25 but push yourself to see where you can get.

Bench

The handiest piece I’ve found so far, I use the bench at the end of my bed to do bench presses, chest flies, and bent over rows with my set of dumbbells. For presses and flies, just lie on your back on the bench with your feet planted on the ground and press up with your dumbbells. For the rows, put one knee on the bench, lean over, and with your opposite arm, pull straight up working your back muscles.

Sofa

If you have a sofa that has an open base (like our best-selling Delilah Sofa), you can use it to hook your feet under and do both ab work and hamstring work. For abs, lay on your back (you’ll probably have to move your coffee table), hook your feet under the sofa frame and do crunches. When your core starts burning, push through it as that’s the time you’ll get the best results. To work your hamstrings, you can do Nordic curls by hooking your heels under your sofa (again, this only works if you have an open base), and facing away. Starting on your knees, the idea is that you “fall” forward slowly with control until you can no longer hold it, then you carefully collapse on your hands. I started doing these recently and they really work!

Coffee Table

I like to use the coffee table to mix things up with my arm routine. I do inverted push-ups when I’m tired of normal push-ups. Here’s how you do it: Put your knees and feet (no shoes on the furniture, please!) on the coffee table and your arms on the floor (you can also make it more challenging by just putting your feet on the edge of the table and extending out from there). Do a push in that position. Up the ante by putting your hands in a diamond shape to really feel the burn. Like all of my workouts, I like to do 3-4 sets of these.

For home workouts, I’ve learned that you have to push yourself. Set aside some time and really focus on working out. It’s easy to let yourself off the hook even if you’re “working out” so make sure you are really going for it. You’ll feel better after, sleep better, and make your furniture work harder in the process!