Have you ever stressed about going to a gym and being worried about the effects on your wallet, or perhaps been confused with how to navigate all the equipment in front of strangers? Well, have no fear. There are hundreds of workouts you can opt for without needing any form of equipment, either in the gym or from the comfort of your home.
Running is one of the best and most convenient forms of exercise. You don’t need any fancy equipment such as a treadmill – you can simply jog up and down stairs, across the block or at a nearby park. Other similarly effective forms of cardio include jumping jacks, jump ropes, or if you move beyond beginner levels of fitness, you can opt for high-intensity interval training (HIIT). While relatively difficult, this involves easy at-home workouts such as sprints and jumping lunges that are alternated in short bursts.

Getty Images / Moment / Oleg Breslavtsev
There are many strength-focused exercises that can be done without any equipment. For example, planks provide full-body benefits, especially tightening the abdominal core. Mountain climbers, which are performed from a plank position, involve alternating each knee to your chest, essentially “running” against the floor. Exercises such as step-ups can be performed using surfaces such as the staircase, or low tables. You can also utilize chairs as a bench for tricep dips or towels for yoga mats. If you are feeling particularly creative, you can use things lying around the house as a substitute for the equipment generally found at a gym. For example, filled water bottles or hefty rice packets can be used as weights.
To maximize strength, practice your routine around two to three times per week. Even though it may seem like you are not doing much, the combination of cardio and bodyweight exercise are sure to instill confidence and work you incredibly hard.