Alexa can be your personal trainer
Halloween kicks off what I secretly call “eating season.” Between leftover candy, pumpkin-flavored everything, holiday baking and general festivities, my diet always takes a hit this time of year.
But research has shown that micro-workouts are an effective way to burn calories, raise metabolism and increase your cardio health. Let Alexa help with a holiday gift to yourself: an easy workout you can do at home, at the park, while traveling. You don’t need weights or equipment, or even a big block of time.
- Say, “Alexa, open 7-Minute Workout.” On your first visit, she’ll ask you a few questions to customize it with things like fitness and music style, such as low-impact and chill or advanced and energetic.
- Then she’ll use prompts to take you through a series of 12 exercises—anything from jumping jacks to push-ups to knee lifts. They’re done back to back, so you can rotate through them quickly but they still make an impact.
- When you finish one exercise, she’ll ask if you’re ready to move on. Say nothing and she’ll go ahead or say “No” and she’ll give you an extra 10 seconds before moving on. The aim is to run through them quickly and efficiently, so you can get a health boost that doesn’t eat into your day.
If you don’t like that workout, Alexa has loads more to choose from.
- Go to the Alexa app and tap More on the bottom right.
- Tap Skills & Games, then tap Categories at the top.
- The Get Exercise category has an array of options. There’s a Five-Minute Core and Cardio, a Five-Minute Plank, the kid-focused Animal Workout, or meditation or yoga. I’m a big fan of the 6-Minute Stretch myself; it’s a great break when I’ve been sitting at my desk for too long.