6 exercises you can do without going to the gym.

At some of our student accommodation you’ll find an onsite gym. Here you can build up a sweat on the treadmill or tone up at the weights station. But for those who don’t have access to a gym – or perhaps the gym isn’t your thing, then how about some simple exercises and activities you can do every day to burn a few calories? Here are our top picks…

1. Take the stairs

Whether you’re in one of our halls, at university or out in town shopping, the next time you head straight for the lift, think again. Why not take the stairs? It’s a great form of cardio exercise which will get your heart rate going and stretch those leg muscles. And if you’re feeling extra energetic, take a few minutes to do some calf raises on the stairs as well.

2. The wall sit

Sit back, relax and take a seat… against the wall. Sounds easy, right? Think again. This simple exercise can be painful; but it’s a great way to test and build your strength and endurance in the lower body muscles. Slide your back down a blank wall until your hips and knees bend at a 90 degrees angle. Keeping your shoulders, upper back and the back of your head against the wall, hold the position for the required time – or until you can’t hold it anymore!

3. Star jumps

If you’ve got a few minutes spare while your dinner cooks or while you wait for your favourite TV programme to start, do some star jumps. Star jumps are a great way to exercise your legs and shoulders and you’ll definitely get your heart beat racing. Just make sure you give yourself enough room – you don’t want to knock the dishes off the table!

4. Party

Burning calories doesn’t have to be painful or boring. The next time you’re out for the night, be sure to hit the dance floor and bust some moves. The longer you spend on the dancefloor having a good boogie, the more calories you’ll burn. And while you’re there, don’t forget to sing at the top of your voice too – that’ll help burn even more calories!

5. Play a game

At many of our halls, you’ll find a games area where you can play games such as pool, table tennis, foosball and air hockey. While playing these won’t be as physically exhausting as a game of football or a run, you’ll still be exerting energy and movement in your upper body muscles.

6. Laugh

You might not know it, but you can actually burn calories just by laughing! Research conducted by Vanderbilt University Medical Center revealed that laughing for 10 to 15 minutes burns between 10 and 40 calories. So, get together with your friends or watch a funny film – whatever you do, just remember to have a good giggle in the process!

If you would like to find out more about the facilities available at Host, visit our website or contact any of our sites directly.