This isn’t a post about how to get in a great workout while fitness centers in South Jersey remain closed due to the COVID-19 crisis. You most likely have developed your own at-home exercise routine that’s helping you sweat away stress while you do your part to “flatten the curve.” 

In fact, if you’re a member of Kennedy Fitness: A Jefferson Health affiliate, you’ve probably made a habit of joining our free online workout programs on Facebook or YouTube over the past few months.

You’re aware that you need to keep moving your body. But did you know that there are other ways you can improve your overall fitness outside the gym that have nothing to do with your actual workout?

Here are three examples.

Improve Flexibility 

There are five main components of fitness: cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance, muscular strength, body composition, and flexibility. They all mesh together in building a body that can handle the rigors of life, especially as the body ages. 

Working on flexibility can help you perform better in all other areas. You can start working on your flexibility right now, using the tips in this video as a jumping-off point.

Discover the Benefits Of Rest

Have you had more time to sleep in since you began working from home and your social calendar was wiped clean? That’s good news if you’re trying to stay fit!

Sleep is underrated in our society in general, but you should never underestimate its impact on your fitness — particularly when it comes to weight management. You might work out hard every day and eat a balanced diet, but in order for your body to fully respond to those healthy habits, you need to give it plenty of restorative sleep. In fact, experts say that insufficient sleep (less than seven hours a night) can actually undo a good diet by making you hungrier and causing you to crave sweets. On top of that, a tired body and a stressed-out mind is a dangerous combination that could lead to back, neck, and shoulder pain — not to mention injuries during a workout. 

Be Kinder to Yourself

Times of crisis tend to provide us with perspective on life and remind us what’s most important. It’s good to remember that you’re doing the best you can, and falling out of your old fitness habits isn’t the end of the world. It also isn’t a permanent situation! If you have your health and your family, then you have everything, and your strength, endurance, flexibility, and body composition are just icing on the cake.

The team here at Kennedy Fitness wishes all of our members and their loved ones the best of health. We hope you’re all staying safe, and we hope to see you back in the gym as soon as possible!