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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.

Accessories

Acer has an eco-friendly mesh Wi-Fi 6E router

The Acer Connect Vero W6m

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Connect Vero

Acer isn’t just about computers. The company just unveiled its first ever eco-friendly Wi-Fi 6E router, the Connect Vero W6m. It promises enhanced connectivity, coverage, and security features.

Made with PCR materials on its chassis and an Eco mode for efficient energy consumption, the compact Connect Vero W6m is powered by a quad-core 2Ghz processor.

It supports Wi-Fi 6E Tri-Band AXE7800 while being cyber security compliant. It is also the first Wi-Fi 6E mesh router to pass EU EN 303 645 (RED) cyber security standards.

When it comes to performance, the Wi-Fi mesh router provides speeds of up to 7.8gps to deliver fast and stable internet connections online. It also has a dedicated WPS button for network security setups.

The router can also be paired with up to four units for an incredible network coverage area of up to 465 square meters on a dual mesh system and 930 square meters on a quad mesh system, effectively eliminating dead spots in the process.

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Garmin Edge 540, 840 series: Price, availability in the Philippines

Cyclists, PSA! There’s a new bike computer for you~

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Cyclists, let’s go!

Garmin has just unveiled the Edge 540 and Edge 840 series in the Philippines, the company’s new state-of-the-art devices for cyclists. The new bike computers were unveiled during an exhilarating breakfast ride around the Taktak C6 loop, together with a group of 60 cyclist attendees.

With the new lineup of devices, cyclists can expect performance-based training metrics, personalized coaching, advanced navigational support, and more — packed in a lightweight, sleek, yet rugged design.

Cutting-edge features for cyclists

The Edge 540 and 840 series come with new, innovative features. Cyclists can now identify their strengths and weaknesses, and prepare for the demands of a specific course by focusing training in the right areas.

There’s a Targeted Adaptive Coaching feature, encouraging riders to follow daily suggested workouts and training prompts. Personalized coaching also adapts based on training load, recovery, and the demands of upcoming events.

With real-time stamina, cyclists can also monitor and track exertion levels during a ride to see how to maintain their current pace. Along with Power Guide, cyclists can manage their efforts with power targets throughout the course.

On certain routes, the ClimbPro ascent planner feature can help cyclists with each climb, offering a preview of the remaining ascent and grade through the Edge or the Garmin Connect smartphone app.

There’s also the multi-band GNSS technology for enhanced positioning accuracy. Moreover, the solar models from the Edge series use Power Glass solar charging lens, extending the battery life to up to 60 hours in battery saver.

Advanced training metrics

Aside from the new features, the Edge 540 and 840 series are packed with advanced training metrics. Insights from Firstbeast Analytics showcase the VO2 max, training status and training load, recovery time, and more.

When cyclists are wearing a compatible Garmin smartwatch, they can also receive a more holistic view of their overall health and wellness. During a ride, Edge 540 and 840 series allow riders to see how their body holds up in different environments with heat and altitude acclimation. The bike computers also set up in-ride notifications when it’s time to refuel or rehydrate.

Stay safe and connected

Get peace of mind through built-in safety and tracking features like LiveTrack, group messaging, and incident detection for all cycling activities.

The Edge 540 and 840 series are also compatible with the Varia line of cycling radars and headlights, as well as inReach devices with SOS capabilities and communication when off-the-grid.

When training indoors, the Edge 540 and 840 series easily pair with Tacx indoor smart trainers, too. The bike computers can also be paired with the Garmin Connect app to create and send courses, view all the technical details from a ride, log personal achievements, and more.

Price and availability

The Garmin Edge 540 Solar and Edge 840 Solar are priced at PhP 27,990 and PhP 34,490 respectively. The non-solar Edge 540 currently retails for PhP 21,970, while the non-solar Edge 840 retails for PhP 27,990. Sensor bundles for each device are also available.

Visit Garmin Philippines’ website or Facebook page for more information about the new Edge Series.

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Sony unveils new headphone, microphone for pros

The MDR-MV1 and C-80

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MDR-MV1

Sony is introducing the MDR-MV1 Reference Monitor headphones and the C-80 microphone for professionals’ audio needs.

The MDR-MV1 is designed for professional sound engineers and music creators. Best used for mixing and mastering, the headphones have an open back design which enables accurate reproduction of a wide sound field.

The headphones offer extended spatial sound reproduction and accurate positioning within a 360-degree space.

Design-wise, the lightweight MDR-MV1 comes with breathable earpads and includes a detachable cable and a stereo mini-jack adapter for ease of use.

On the other hand, the C-80 microphone is ideal for home studios and for both voice and instrument recording, as well as vlogging or podcasting.

The microphone inherits the technology from Sony’s C-800G and C-100 microphones, promising users high-quality sound.

It has a noise elimination construction, preventing vibration for lower noise and clearer sound. 

The C-80’s dual diaphragm configuration suppresses changes with distance and allows for a more stable vocal recording process.

Price, availability

The MDR-MV1 and C-80 will be available at select Sony authorized dealers beginning May 12.

The MDR-MV1 is priced at PhP 23,999 while the C-80 retails for PhP 34,999.

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