After reading this list of exercise tips, you might realize that our ancestors were more creative than we are today. They would probably look at our modern gyms and think we were a bit crazy. Use their wisdom to avoid paying for a pricey gym and to stay in shape without having to portion out exercise time!

1. Walking

My grandmother never knew how to drive and didn’t even know how to ride a bicycle, but she literally walked everywhere! She carried bags of groceries to and from the store, had a pharmacy down the street, and walked to visit her children by walking there. Get a pedometer and aim for 10,000 steps every single day.

2. Sunlight

Everything from hanging laundry in the sun to picking vegetables, our ancestors knew and appreciated the sun. Exposure to natural sunlight (in reasonable amounts) strengthens the bones, uplifts the spirits, and gives you a healthy-looking glow.

Some studies even suggest that higher levels of vitamin D can prevent some types of cancer.

3. Outdoor fun

Some of my best memories are times when my grandmother, my brothers, and I would play games of hide and seek or Red Rover, Red Rover out in the backyard. Find ways to play with your children or grandchildren that involve moving and motion, not screens and sitting.

4. Standing, not sitting

My mother never sat if she could stand. She was known to pace the floor for an hour, talking to my grandmother, on the phone. I realize now that she was getting exercise and keeping her metabolism revved up.

5. Doing things by hand

Follow your grandparents’ lifestyle and hang laundry outside whenever possible, wash those few dishes by hand, walk to the store rather than order online, wash your car yourself, cook from scratch, rather than order delivery service, and don’t forget to walk the dog!

6. Cleaning one room each day

This is a trick passed down from my great grandmother. Every day, clean at least one room. My mother used to do two rooms: the bathroom and one other room. Sweeping, vacuuming, mopping, dusting, changing sheets and other types of housework equals a good workout!

7. Grow a garden

Many families had gardens to help cut their grocery bills. Even a few pots of vegetables on your patio will help increase the amount of nutrition at your table, while burning a few calories as you pull weeds, water the vegetables, and pinch off excess flowers.

8. Sports and fun

My father would have NEVER considered going walking for “exercise,” but he would walk all day in hopes of catching a pheasant. Both of my parents loved to dance, and we used to dance to the music on the radio either on the patio or in the living room.

9. Old-fashioned calisthenics

My mother would often spend 30 minutes out of her day with a kitchen chair and Jack LaLanne on the TV. Plain old isometric exercises, occasionally a few books to use as weights, and a chair for balance was all it took.

10. Don’t say no

No matter if we wanted to walk to the store to get a popsicle or play hide and seek, or if a friend called and they wanted her to walk over and have coffee, my grandmother almost always said yes.

Have you tried any of these ways to stay in shape without the gym?

Article Source: Off The Grid News