Creating Your Own Circuit-Style Workout at Home

By: Logan-Ann Bruce, ACSM EP & CIFT

How many times have you found yourself saying, “I can’t find the motivation to workout at home” or “My workout is less effective if I am outside the gym.” Typically, barriers to exercising at home are more closely related to innovation rather than motivation. It can be challenging to keep a workout fresh, time sensitive and applicable using basic equipment at home. However, we often forget that bodyweight is all we need for strength training and endurance as long as appropriate intensities are utilized.

A popular form of exercise where body weight can easily be incorporated is circuit training! It’s time sensitive and a great way to utilize all major muscle groups, increase your heart rate and keep your home workout fresh. Below are some guidelines, recommendations and considerations for creating a circuit-style workout at home. I will also provide a sample circuit workout at the end.

Considerations before beginning

  • As with all exercise programs, medical clearance by your physician is recommended.
  • Pick an area in your home or outside where adequate space is available.
  • Remove any items off of the ground that could be tripping hazards.
  • Stay within the limits of your current physical ability.
  • Practice proper techniques and stay mindful of your form.
  • Stop exercising if you experience any lightheadedness, unusual pain or discomfort.
  • Avoid the Valsalva maneuver.

Exercise selection

  1. Incorporate all major muscle groups. This will affect your resistance and intensity throughout the workout.
  2. Create balance. For example, alternate between lower body, upper body and core exercises.
  3. Modify and adapt the exercise to fit YOU and your abilities (e.g. sit to stand versus a squat).
  4. Create safety in your workout (e.g. holding on to stable furniture or a countertop for balance).
  5. Use what you already have at home (e.g. stairs, walls, countertops, chairs).
  6. Create easy transitions to minimize breaks.

Number of exercises and length of time

  1. The goal is to pick a number between 9-12 exercises. For better conditioned individuals, choose a number closer to 12. For less conditioned, start with nine or it may be less than nine, and work your way up to more exercises.
  2. Pick an amount of time that allows you to accomplish about 15 repetitions of an exercise (e.g. 30, 45 or 60 seconds).
  3. Choose an amount of rest time between exercises (e.g. 15, 30 or 45 seconds). Again, personalize it to fit you. For better conditioned individuals, try 15-30 seconds of rest or less. For less conditioned, start with 45 seconds if needed.
  4. Total time should be personalized to fit you and your current physical conditioning! Better conditioned individuals can repeat their circuit multiple times for a longer workout. Less conditioned individuals may need to repeat their circuit once to start. Keep in mind the American College of Sports Medicine’s guidelines of 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week – that’s a goal of 30 minutes, 5 days per week. You can always break that 30 minutes in to three 10-minute sessions.

Sample circuit

The following workout is nine-station circuit. Plenty of variations can be added to tailor this example to your individual needs. All exercises are done with body weight only and can be completed in most homes or outside. For this example, I performed each exercise for 30 seconds with 15 seconds of rest in between exercises for a total circuit time of about seven minutes. This circuit can be repeated two to three times.

Marching in place
Wall push ups
ab-crunch
Abdominal crunch
squat-to-toe-raise
Squat to toe raise
tricep-chair-dips
Tricep dips
mountain-climbers
Mountain climbers
hip-abduction
Hip abduction
t-rotation
T rotation
glute-bridge
Glute bridge

Share This Post:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
RehaBlog

More Posts

How to Safely Exercise in the Summer Heat: 4 Essential Tips

Exercise is an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, but during hot summers it can pose a health risk. If you are someone who prefers to exercise outdoors, it is important to follow precautions and know your risk. As we exercise, our muscles work and our core body temperature rises. Our circulatory system is responsible for transporting heat to the skin surface, which causes us to sweat. When it is hot and humid outside, our bodies cannot evaporate sweat as easily, trapping more heat in the body.

Connected Pain: How Your Neck May Be Causing Your Headaches

If you have ever dealt with nagging neck pain, you are far from alone. In fact, research shows that roughly half of us will experience a significant episode of neck pain at some point in our lives. Whether it stems from a sudden whiplash injury, age-related changes like arthritis, a pinched nerve, or simply the daily muscle strain of looking down at our phones or computer screens, neck pain is incredibly disruptive. It can present as a dull ache or a sharp, catching pain, and it often robs you of your ability to turn your head comfortably. But there is another common symptom of neck stiffness that surprises many people: headaches.

Occupational Therapy vs. Physical Therapy: What’s the Difference?

Occupational Therapy (OT) and Physical Therapy (PT) are distinct, separate professions, each requiring its own specialized education, licensing, and expertise. Because both fields share the ultimate goal of improving a patient’s independence and quality of life, their roles can sometimes seem to overlap.

Aphasia

Aphasia and the Role of the Speech-Language Pathologist

Aphasia (pronounced uh-FEY-zhuh) is the medical term used to describe difficulty with the production and comprehension of language. This can occur after a stroke or other injury to the brain. In addition to speaking, aphasia can also affect listening, reading, and writing. Individuals with aphasia may experience trouble finding the right words and producing intact sentences, which can impact their ability to express themselves as well as having trouble understanding what others are saying to them. In the most severe cases, a person with aphasia may be non-verbal, meaning they are not able to speak at all.

Reframing Your Outlook on Aging

May is Older Americans Month—a time dedicated to encouraging older adults to take an active role in their well-being through prevention, wellness, and self-management. Yet despite these empowering goals, aging is still often framed negatively in our society. By shifting how we think about getting older, and about ability more broadly, we can create a more positive, inclusive experience for everyone.

Start your Journey

Learn more about Sheltering Arms Institute

Contact a specialist at Sheltering Arms Institute to learn more about how you can gain more freedom in your everyday life.