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7 home workouts you don’t need a gym membership for

Stay home, get fit — it’s a win-win

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Finding the right gym is tough. Many things factor in: distance, traffic, exercise crowd, costs, exercise specialties, available equipment — my concerns could go on. But, these shouldn’t stop you from exercising! (Girl, they’re not valid reasons to slack off and you know it!)

What if I told you that it’s possible to get a good workout, even in the comfort of your own home? Yep, it’s possible.

Whether it be a lazy day, or just because you’re not into working out in public, here are some moves to get you going. All for a healthier you!

Home HIIT

What you’ll need: An interval timer app and the resolve to push yourself to the limit during high intervals

Simply put, High-Intensity Interval Training is a method of working out that calls for intervals of rest and high energy which allow for effective exercise. Don’t believe me? Here’s a quick explanation:

That being said, you can actually design your own work out based on your preferences, so long as you exert enough effort during the high interval period.

Personally, I go for full fifteen minutes of home HIIT sessions with one-minute high-intensity activities and 50-second rest intervals. I usually do a combination of high knees, jumping jacks, and jump squats to get my heart going. Every now and then, I just change it around to keep myself from getting bored. Of course, you can’t expect me to time while I’m exerting so much physical effort, so I always have the Interval Timer app (Android, iOS) and my workout playlist going every time I do this.

Resistance band training

What you’ll need: Resistance bands and the whole world as your playground (or yeah, your house).

Think giant rubber bands you stretch and pull around to get your heart going. You use the bands as resistance for each movement which eliminates the need for weights or big gym machinery. It may sound simple enough but it’s real exercise, I swear!

Of all the workouts I’ve tried, I found resistance bands to be the most convenient. Not only are they cheap and easy to use, you can also bring them anywhere without a fuss (ideal for people who travel a lot, too). You can buy a variety of types and colors online. I got mine off Amazon for around US$ 10 — a legitimately small price to pay for fitness!

If you have no idea how these bands work, I gotchu:

More good news is that most resistant band brands also offer guides and videos. For example, Fit Simply has a curated list of moves you can do here. Another brand, Belus Active (which are bands that come in pink!), has a roster of personal trainers with exercise demos here and their Instagram account is updated with more mini-workouts you can do with their bands.

Speaking of Instagram…

Self-curated Instagram exercise routine

What you’ll need: A lot of random Instagram browsing time and will power to actually do the exercises

So let me tell you something you probably already know: There are a lot of fitness people on IG. That’s actually a great thing! There are so many mini-workout posts and all you need to do is try them.

When mindlessly browsing through Instagram (yes, I know you do this, too), keep an eye out for these mini-workout posts. When you see one you’d like to try, save it in a special “Workout” Instagram folder and just go back to it later on.

Just one of my workout folders

It helps to follow certain Fitness IG people. My personal favorites are @shona_vertue, @carlyrowena, @stef_fit, and @kayla_itsines. Following hashtags like #homeexercises or #homeworkout also give you more options.

Home Zumba

What you’ll need: Loud speakers on your phone or computer and a lot of dancing attitude

For those who have moves, Zumba is the way to go. This fitness routine burns a lot of calories without you even noticing. A combination of aerobics and Latin dance, this is definitely a fun way to get your blood pumping without even realizing you’re putting in effort to exercise.

Zumba itself has a number of routines online that you can learn. Time to get dancing!

Exercise app workout

What you’ll need: Chosen exercise app and the patience to find the workout sessions you want to try

These days, there are a number of great apps that can guide you through different workouts. From variation HIIT exercises and body weight exercises to weight training, there’s an app for that! My favorite one remains to be Nike+ Training Club. It not only gives a number of different exercise sets for varying fitness levels, it also walks you through each routine. Workouts are classified by specific fitness goals to make it easier for you to find your routine of preference.

Other notable free apps to check out are Workout for Women, Swortkit, and Johnson & Johnson 7 Minute Workout.

Wearables’ built-in workouts 

What you’ll need: A snazzy fitness wearable that has this function

These days, even sports watches have full exercise programs built in, and all you need to do is wear the thing, start the program, and do what it tells you.

Exercise coaching on the Fitbit Ionic

Even if you’re clueless, these wearables will show you how to do each movement on their tiny screens; some would even vibrate to signal the end of an exercise. It’s literally a training coach on your wrist! Watches like the Samsung Gear Sport, Fitbit Ionic, and Fitbit Versa are equipped with this function.

Home Yoga

What you’ll need: A yoga mat, yoga pants, and YouTube

Aside from being meditative, Yoga is a great workout for those who prefer something more calming and less high energy. Not only does it improve muscle strength, flexibility (which is great for people with scoliosis, like me), and balance, it’s even proven to decrease stress.

There are tons of videos online that walk you through a session; all you really need is to follow along. Here’s one for newbies like me:

If you want more control over your Yoga practice, you can download any of these free apps, depending on what suits your needs: Simply Yoga, Yoga Studio, Fitstar Yoga, or Daily Yoga.

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Genshin Impact DualSense controller coming in January

Sony, HoYoverse partner for better PlayStation 5 experience

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Sony and HoYoverse have partnered for the Genshin Impact Limited Edition DualSense Wireless Controller.

The timing couldn’t have been better as Genshin Impact Version Luna III approaches PlayStation 5. There is a new 5-Star Pyro character in Durin, and a new story chapter set to take place in Nod-Krai.

The specially-designed controller features the popular open world RPG’s classic elements. It has an ethereal white, gold, and green palette.

It is also adorned with arcane glyphs of a fantasy realm, including emblems of Traveler Twins Aether and Lumine. Trusted companion guide, Paimon, is also present in the peripheral.

The controller will be available in these markets, with preorders now available in select retailers:

  • Singapore: SG$ 119
  • Malaysia: MYR 419
  • Philippines: PhP 4,890
  • Indonesia: IDR 1,549,000

Naturally, players can expect an immersive experience with the PlayStation 5 and DualSene controller combo.

There’s haptic feedback, support for 4K visuals, and lightning-fast load times, allowing players to continue exploring Teyvat and uncover its secrets.

For Sony, the collaboration is the latest in a long list of partnerships that more recently include the Ghost of Yōtei PS5 bundle, as well as the God of War, Death Stranding, and Fortnite edition controllers.

Meanwhile, for Genshin Impact, the controller succeeds recent tie-ups with Duolingo and UGREEN.

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Kingston launches Dual Portable SSD with up to 2TB storage

Supports high-speed transfer between USB-A and USB-C devices

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Kingston has announced its first cable-free solid state drive (SSD), the Dual Portable SSD, for those in need of an affordable, reliable, and portable solution for data back-up and transfers.

The new offering has the sleek look of a traditional flash drive in a compact and durable casing. It’s simple and cable-free, fitting pockets and purses and also lightweight for users to carry with them anywhere.

With both USB-A and USB-C connectors, it can easily transfer files between devices, including laptops, desktops, and mobile devices.

Moreover, the product can support USB 3.2 Gen 2 speeds of up to 1,050MB/s read and 950MB/s write. There are also various storage capacities for large files like high-res photos and 4K videos.

The new Kingston Dual Portable SSD is available in these configurations and prices:

  • 512GB: US$ 133.99
  • 1TB: US$ 155.39
  • 2TB: US$ 329.99

Just a month ago, Kingston also added an 8TB storage option for its FURY Renegade G5 SSD. This is ideal for high-power uses, including video editing, 3D rendering, gaming, and more.

For another pocket-sized backup solution, customers can also consider the XS1000 External SSD. This storage includes a black, silver, and red colorway.

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VOLTME opens 1st kiosk in Manila

Power banks, chargers, cables, and more products made more accessible

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VOLTME continues to expand their retail presence in the Philippines, opening their first-ever physical kiosk at SM City North EDSA.

The store is located at the 5th Level, The Annex of the supermall in Quezon City, Metro Manila. It features some of the global brand’s innovative and powerful charging products.

Furthermore, the kiosk is giving mallgoers the chance to check VOLTME’s newest products, including the Hyper Rollz 10K Powerbank and GaNZero 5K Hybrid Power Charger.

The 10000mAh power bank includes is own retractable cable, so users won’t have to purchase another separate USB cable.

Meanwhile, the hybrid power charger acts as both a wall charger and power bank. Users can plug it to power outlets for a quick 30W charge.

But when they have to bring the accessory with them, it also stores 5000mAh power to keep devices charged.

Aside from the two new offerings, customers can also enjoy VOLTME’s full lineup of fast chargers, power banks, cables, and mobile accessories.

The HAKO series power supply, which is capable of charging up to nine devices at once and with a 600W total output, is also in display at the VOLTME kiosk.

Customers can also check VOLTME’s offerings via Lazada, Shopee, and the TikTok Shop, aside from their physical store.

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