It had so much natural light (!
), a huge living room (!!
), and was a five-minute walk to mybarrestudio (!!!).
Adrian Vidal/Adobe Stock
My landlord would be living below me, sleeping in the room directly under mine.
But after weighing the pros and cons with my roommates, we took the space.
Some slight tip-toeing aside, the situation was pretty manageable for the first year or so.
These issues were only exacerbated by the closings of gyms and fitness studios.
Its something everyone living in an apartment building probably thinks about, albeit to slightly lower stakes.
Thats where the trouble started.
Heres what I learned about creating at-home, quiet workout routines that are both effective and apartment-friendly.
Modify, modify, modify.
Low-impact moves can still bring similar benefits, she says.
These moves are still going to get your heart rate up and youll feel the burn in your muscles.
For example, if the workout calls for burpees, Clayton suggests doing a walkout plank or mountain climbers.
For jump squats, it’s possible for you to instead stay low and pulse it out.
She suggests researching switches for louder moves before your workout and incorporating them into your favorite routines.
I dont think you should limit yourself, Clayton says.
Do I think you should be doing dance cardio?
But as far as HIIT workout, totally.
Use your modifications and then you could do anything you want, really.
The options are endless.
(In fact, check out theseslider exercisesfor more ideas.)
Its an aspect of control you have to have; otherwise, you could slide out of control.
Plus, you dont necessarily have to purchase a set of sliders.
Build a cushioned workout space.
It will cover more space than a yoga matideal for kickboxingand can be relatively inexpensive.
But depending on the age of your building, noise can still seep through even with the proper padding.
I jump in my apartment and my apartment shakesand I’m on the ground floor.
But that doesnt mean padding wont doanything.
If youre thinking of investing in cardio equipment at home, its important to think about your living situation.
Some equipment is just more conducive to at-home use than others.
(Bikes with friction resistance can be a little noisier.)
Another quiet cardio machine?
Arowing machine, suggests Clayton, which she says wont rattle the ground while using it.
There are even some unique models out there that fold to slip under your bed for easy storage.
If youre prone to dropping or slamming down your weights while you workout (hi!
But it was worth it for me to not potentially get evicted.
I found that my landlord often left in the afternoons until late at night to babysit her grandchildren.
Its a fine balance.
If the weather permits, try taking things outside.
This was my go-to before it got too chilly.
Find resources to make creating a quieter routine less daunting.
you could also findvirtual versions of your favorite classesand even reputableYouTube videosthat will makeworking out at homeseem less daunting.
But here we are.
The whole point of working out is to feel strong and to feel good in your body.
It should be an hour of joy instead of feeling like you have to do it.
