By: Lauren McRae

Do you find yourself sitting on the couch more than usual because the gyms are closed during COVID-19? If you're usually a workout warrior, but you've been putting off your routine because you miss your exercise equipment, we've got your back.

Beat the "Quarantine 15" and get your blood pumping with these at-home workouts led by the instructors at the Galter Life Center. To help keep their members in shape, they created various videos featuring all kinds of at-home workouts to try. Workouts range from HIIT (high-intensity interval training) and total body workouts to pilates and meditation. 

Browse through their YouTube playlist, grab a family member or two, and make working out fun! Try a different video for every day of the week. 

So what are you waiting for? Get up and start moving while you're at home! 

Before starting any new-to-you exercises, check with your physician for safety tips! Evan Plowgian, MD, Sports Medicine offers these options:

1. Body-weight exercises at home. You don’t need to own weights to build your strength, just use your body! Calisthenics is a form of exercise consisting of a variety of movements that exercise large muscle groups, such as running, standing, grasping, pushing, etc. These exercises are often performed rhythmically and with minimal equipment, as bodyweight exercises. Try this total-body strength workout! 
2. Run or bike in the forest preserve. Just remember social distancing. You can still enjoy the beautiful trails of the Chicagoland area, just remember to keep 6 feet away from others, wear a face mask and gloves when you're on the run. 
3. Yoga at home. Stream a workout online, look up YouTube videos, browse your Roku or Netflix for at-home yoga workouts. If you've never tried Yoga before, it’s an efficient way to stretch your muscles from being inside all day. 
4. Not into yoga? Try this chair-stretching workout. 
5. Workout apps. Just do a quick search in your app store to see what best fits your interests.
6. Improve your stability. Galter Life Center offers this video to help improve your balance. Just grab a stability ball and you're ready to go! 
7. Try pilates. Pilates offers plenty of benefits to your body, no matter your fitness background. You’ll improve your posture, focus on bodily alignment, and get a core workout. If you're new to it, watch this video here using paper plates as gliders to workout your upper and lower body.

WARNING! Don’t overexert yourself. Consult your doctor before beginning any exercise routine or fitness regimen. Please use common sense and discontinue any exercise if you experience fatigue, nausea, shortness of breath, chest tightness, dizziness, discomfort or pain. Make sure your balance and physical abilities are sufficient for all movements while exercising.