Quiet Office Workouts

January 6, 2023 9:59 AM

I'm searching for quiet-ish office workouts I can do during my lunch break that last 20-30 minutes. I've been walking outside some days, but during the coldest days, the hottest days and the rainiest days, I need an indoors alternative.

My office has a door, so no one will see me while working out. I don't want the workout to be loud because the walls are pretty thin. I've got good earbuds and can use YouTube or another app if necessary. I like Yoga with Adriene, but my hair tends to be a mess after I do yoga at home. (Maybe I just need post-workout hair advice..?)

Variety is somewhat important to keep me interested for the long haul. Help me be more active!

posted by allison00 to Health & Fitness (10 answers total)

Is your office in a building with stairs? I used to walk down and back up to the 6th floor to get a workout.
posted by theora55 at 10:05 AM on January 6, 2023 [6 favorites]

I like variety and that turned into me scrolling youtube workouts for 15 minutes and then only having 15 minutes to work out. I now use the DownDog Yoga/HIIT apps for my workout. They offer a few tries for free before asking you to sign up, and there are frequent $20/year specials.

I like it because I can set a few toggles and customize my workout. The options include "Low impact" and "standing only" which would be quiet and not jumpy. It basically has a library of movements so you won't get the same workout twice.

If that doesn't appeal, resistance bands are small and quiet, you could look online for a new routine each week and follow along.
posted by Narrow Harbor at 10:11 AM on January 6, 2023 [1 favorite]

There’s a ton of stuff on YouTube under the tagline “no jumping.” My partner is on a different schedule and is often sleeping when I workout so I try to keep it quiet. My favourites are Group HIIT and growingannanas, but these might be too sweaty for you if you’re hoping to just go back to work after without showering.
posted by vanitas at 11:08 AM on January 6, 2023

Years ago when I was in a similar situation, I did five 12 week challenges, one for each workday. So Mondays I did a progressive plank challenge, Tuesday pushups, Wednesdays squats, etc etc. After those ten weeks, it was consistently warm enough to go back to walking outside. Quiet, only needed a mat and some bands, satisfying.
posted by minervous at 11:11 AM on January 6, 2023 [5 favorites]

MeFi favorite shovelglove! It's fun, cheap, customizable, whole body, combines core strengthening with aerobics, and you also then own a sledgehammer in case you need one.
posted by SaltySalticid at 12:29 PM on January 6, 2023

The Walk at Home youtube channel has a bunch of different videos, including 20 & 30 minute sessions. Some are just walking & others incorporate aerobic moves or light weights.
posted by belladonna at 1:08 PM on January 6, 2023

Searching "allblanc no jumping" on YTube finds workouts of a bunch of lengths and energetic-ness. Lots designed to be done in an apart without bothering other people. I find them easy to follow.
posted by clew at 2:13 PM on January 6, 2023

Kettlebells are cheap and small and don’t make noise! If money is no object, I’ve loved my Oculus VR headset + Supernatural (workout app with boxing, stretching, meditation, and “flow” which is another cardio thing more in line with dancing).
posted by music for skeletons at 3:40 PM on January 6, 2023

Jessica Smith has lots of “apartment-friendly” low-impact power-walking workouts on her channel, which might also suit this purpose. Here’s the one that made me fall in love. No floor work or bending over, so should be earbud-friendly. Plus her (late, great) French bulldog Peanut gets up to all sorts of goofy background antics.
posted by armeowda at 4:04 PM on January 6, 2023 [1 favorite]

I've been using this guy's work outs for about a year. I really like them and I'm seeing results. https://marklauren.com/apps/ The moderate level ones are about 30 min, all body weight, and you aren't doing much jumping or anything loud.
posted by Jungo at 8:40 PM on January 6, 2023 [1 favorite]