Working out does not have to be expensive. There are many affordable items you can add to your home gym. It is not necessary to have an entire room for working out. Small or portable items are available. With a little education and creativity, you can turn any room or outdoor area into a gym. Cones work with a variety of workout programs. If you have kids in sports, you may already own a few. Head to your local sporting goods store or dig your cones out of the garage for a new workout adventure.
I Wanna Have Some Fun
It is easy to get into a serious mindset when you are trying to get stronger or lose weight. We often forget that working out should also be fun. Kids usually get this part right, as they run and play games together. A few traditional cones can make you feel like a kid again as you set up your exercise course. Cone exercises can be fun for the entire family. Get out in the backyard or go to the park with your kids. Set up a mini-course for you kids and sneak in your workout while they are having fun too!
Benefits
Cone drills are popular with sports teams because they help with coordination and speed. You don’t have to rely on a coach, however, to benefit from a cone workout. When you learn to move in different ways and move quickly, you can be more successful with other parts of your workout.
Strong Mind
Exercising is not only for your body. It can immensely help your mood. Your body releases endorphins, often improving the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Cone workouts take this a step further by improving the way your mind and body work together. You must respond quickly to do intense drills. You can acquire better response times as you practice with cones.
Coordination
Cone drills often consist of repetitive moves. This helps you work on muscle memory. When you do the same drills over and over, you can eventually do them without thinking as much. You also build strength that helps you be more coordinated when doing other tasks. Cone workouts may help individuals that are naturally clumsy.
Decreased Risk of Injury
As you get older you are at risk for injuries related to fall. You are not as agile as you used to be. But have no fear. You can improve you agility with cone drillings. A lot of injuries happen due to improper form and weakness. Cone exercises helps with agility so can quickly hop over or dodge an object that suddenly appears out of nowhere.
Increased Muscle Involvement
Cone routines count for both cardio and strength training. Try a couple of different routines to keep things interesting and to use different muscles. Cone workouts give you a thorough workout in less time. For example, if you go for a run in a straight line, you limit the number of areas that build strength. When you run in your cone routine, you run in many different directions and put your body in several different positions.
Helps with Motivation
Doing the same routine over and over again become boring. Adding cones to your routine can change it up. You can create games with the cones and involve your family for healthy and fun competition.
Equipment
You can choose any type of cone to set up your course. Most cones come in bright colors so you can see them easily from a distance; this allows you to hit each mark on time. Cones are one of the most affordable pieces of a home gym, and you may have some classic orange cones around your house that you can use. While all cones are stacked together, some are more like raised disks. These take up minimal space, and you can easily throw them into your backpack for a trip to the park. There are even some weighted versions in different shapes. These work without anchors, even on a windy day. Do a little research online to find drills that you like before you go shopping. This way, you know how many sets of cones to purchase.
Beginner Tips
It is important to build up your strength and resistance with simple moves. You can also do easier versions of detailed courses. One drill involves weaving in and out of cones that are set in a straight line. You can set the cones far apart until you build up better strength, coordination, and speed. When cones are close together, you must make more intricate and quick movements. Gradually decrease the distance between the cones. You can also focus on forward movements until you feel comfortable. Later, you can go backward, sideways, and diagonal. Modify your workouts so you can move slowly while learning new moves. Work with a trainer or experienced individual to learn proper body positions.
Popular Moves
Cone drills are interesting because they involve so many different positions. You are not just running back and forth. You must lean from side to side and even lunge, at times. How you move depends on the formation of your course and what you want to accomplish.
•Sprinting– Sprinting is the best way to fit cardio into your cone routine. You can go to several cones and back to the first one each time. The distance of the sprint increases throughout the routine. Set your cones further apart to keep going in one direction longer.
•Side and Diagonal Movement– You can step sideways or diagonal between certain cones and sprint forward between others. Set up the cones so you can go in many different directions. Look at some videos for inspiration on different patterns.
•Backward – For a bigger challenge, you can also run backward from one cone to the other. Once you reach your destination, go forward again.
•Lunges and Touches– When you reach each cone on your course, you can go into a lunge position and touch the cone. Pay attention to your body formation when doing these to avoid injury. Do them slowly until you learn the proper posture.
•Weaving– Weaving in and out of cones works different parts of your legs and buttocks. It is important to build up strength in your ankles and lower legs before you move the cones too close together. Weaving movements build great coordination over time.
Cones work great for both beginner and advanced workouts. If you play sports, you may already be familiar with popular drills. They are incredibly affordable and store easily in small spaces. You can use them in your own backyard with your family or take them to the park. You can easily accomplish your cardio and strength workout with cones. Consider a set of cones for a convenient workout without going to the gym.