With the 9-5, daily work days, 5-6 days a week being a norm for people, finding time to exercise on weekdays is practically impossible for people to do without experiencing burnout. There were the term weekend warriors comes into place. Exercising is vital for your health. It is the small weight that can tip your scale of health to extreme positions. Many doctors implore their patients to find time and workout to make sure they are not walking into an early grave, eating healthy is a huge part, but without working out, the journey may not have fruitful results.

Many studies have shown, that working out on the weekends has the same benefits as people who workout daily if you have the correct diet, follow a strict schedule and give your body ample rest. You Must remember that your body has to sustain for years, so to keep it functioning the right way, you must take proper care.

If you are feeling any sort of discomfort or shortness of breath after working out, make sure you rest and if the symptoms persist, make your way to a doctor and get checked out.

Exercises you can do

Before you do any exercises, make sure you take all the necessary precautions and warm up properly to avoid any injuries. Remember the basics, stretch and cool down afterwards.

Hiking

If you find solace in nature, you will enjoy hiking and trekking a lot! Many people take weekends to find new trails and explore the rocky terrains while enjoying the fresh air surrounding them. Explore nature while getting a great workout, hiking is a fantastic way to improve cardiovascular health, build strength, and enjoy the outdoors.

Swimming

Swimming is a full-body exercise that makes you workout each muscle of your body. This low-impact exercise is suitable for all ages and fitness levels there are levels from beginner to pro for you to try. Swimming is great for improving cardiovascular health, flexibility, and muscle strength.

Cycling

Whether you prefer indoor cycling or outdoor rides, cycling is a great way to burn calories and improve cardiovascular fitness. It is a great way to not only explore but get some fresh air and do something different in terms of exercising.

Yoga

Yoga is said to be an all-rounding improvement for your body. This mind-body practice combines physical postures with breathing exercises that teach you how to focus and also increase your endurance. Yoga helps improve flexibility, balance, and stress reduction.

Dancing

If doing organized sports or if the traditional gym is not your thing, then try shaking things up and joining a dance class to move your whole body! Dancing is a fun way to get a workout as it makes you burn calories while busting a move. It helps improve cardiovascular health, coordination, and mood.

Weightlifting

Many people believe strength training is only to build your muscles, but one of the quickest ways to lose weight is by lifting weights. Strength training is essential for building muscle and maintaining bone density, it turns your fat into energy and strength. Incorporate weightlifting exercises into your weekend routine.

Pilates

Pilates is a low-impact exercise that focuses on core strength, flexibility, and balance. It's a great option for people of all ages and fitness levels. While many people think it is not something that helps you stay fit, Pilates burns many calories with its focused workouts and all body movements.

Interval Walking Training (IWT), often referred to as “Japanese walking,” offers a safe and sustainable way to improve your fitness without stepping into a gym. Developed by Japanese researchers to target cardiometabolic health in older adults, IWT blends short bursts of brisk walking with periods of slower recovery walks — making it an ideal choice for people across age groups and fitness levels.

What Sets Interval Walking Apart?

Unlike traditional walking, which is usually done at a steady pace, IWT alternates between fast and slow intervals. The recommended protocol involves five sets of 3 minutes of brisk walking followed by 3 minutes of slower walking, totaling 30 minutes of exercise. This is typically done five days a week.

What makes IWT stand out is its ability to deliver significant improvements in physical and metabolic health markers without the strain often associated with high-intensity workouts like HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training). While HIIT focuses on intense bursts of activity and is popular for its efficiency, it can be too demanding or injury-prone for some, particularly beginners or older adults. IWT, in contrast, keeps the intensity manageable while still pushing the body enough to trigger measurable benefits.

The Evidence Behind the Benefits

The benefits of IWT are well-documented. A 2009 study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings tested the approach on over 200 adults with an average age of 63. The results were promising: participants experienced notable improvements in blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), blood glucose levels, aerobic capacity, and muscle strength. Importantly, these health gains were achieved without overtaxing the body, making IWT a realistic and maintainable option.

Adherence was also high—more than 95% of the participants stuck with the program throughout the study, suggesting that it’s not just effective but sustainable. This is particularly relevant given how often people abandon overly strenuous fitness programs.

A more recent 2024 review also reinforced these findings. The review confirmed that IWT benefits both healthy individuals and those with metabolic conditions, such as type 2 diabetes. Compared to continuous walking, it was found to be more effective in improving physical fitness, body composition, and glycemic control.

Starting Small and Building Consistency

One of the best parts about IWT is its adaptability. You don’t need to be an athlete to start. In fact, beginning at a comfortable pace is encouraged. Experts recommend a gradual approach: start with shorter intervals of brisk walking — even 20–30 seconds — followed by a few minutes of slower walking. Over time, as your endurance improves, you can increase the intensity or duration of the brisk segments.

To get the most out of IWT, certain practical tips can make a difference:

• Set realistic goals. Even 15–20 minutes is a good start.
• Monitor your intensity. If you’re breathless but still able to talk in short phrases during the fast intervals, you’re likely in the right zone.
• Choose proper footwear. Comfort is key for consistency.
• Listen to your body. If you feel dizzy or in pain, slow down.
• Track your progress. Whether through a fitness app or simple journaling, tracking helps you stay motivated.

IWT offers a balance between challenge and accessibility, making it an excellent long-term strategy for better health — one step at a time.

The benefits of yoga range from mental as well as physical benefits. People who do yoga often notice changes in their bodies, ranging from reduced body aches, supple movements as well as better strength and flexibility. However, there are also many passive benefits of yoga, like yoga that helps us get rid of chronic conditions or improve symptoms of these issues. One such issue is migraines. While many people believe that there are not many ways to improve migraines, many studies have shown that yoga can definitely help improve the symptoms and increase the quality-of-life people experience.

Migraine is a common and often painful condition, affecting many adults. It's a leading cause of disability worldwide, with some people experiencing severe headaches several times a week. While traditional medicine is important, practices like yoga can also help ease migraine symptoms and improve overall well-being.

How Yoga Can Help With Migraine

Yoga is an ancient practice from India that combines body poses, meditation, and breathing exercises. It's known to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression—all common triggers for migraines. By relaxing tense areas like the neck, head, and shoulders, where we often hold stress, yoga can help prevent migraines or make them less severe.

Yoga can also lower blood pressure and slow your heart rate, which helps your body recover from stressful events like migraine attacks. If you have migraines, it's best to avoid intense or hot yoga styles, such as Bikram yoga, and poses that put strain on your neck.

Simple Yoga Poses to Try

Studies have found these yoga poses can help reduce how often headaches happen and how bad they feel:

Sukshma Vyayama (Gentle Exercises)

This yoga focuses on relaxing your neck, face, and head to ease tension. Try Face Massage by gently rubbing your cheeks, Jaw Exercises by opening and closing your jaw, and Neck Circles by slowly rotating your head. These simple movements help release stress often linked to migraines.

Pada Sanchalanasana (Cycling Yoga Pose)

Lie on your back, then lift and bend one leg as if cycling. Extend it forward, then bend it back towards your chest, inhaling as you lift and exhaling as you pull it in. Keep your heel off the floor. Repeat 10 times forward and 10 backward for each leg to boost circulation and relieve tension.

Hand Stretch Breathing

Stand tall and interlace your fingers at your chest. As you breathe in, stretch your arms straight out in front, twisting your palms outwards. Breathe out as you bring them back. Repeat this 5 times, then repeat another 5 times stretching above your forehead, and finally 5 times stretching towards the ceiling.

Shashankasana (Rabbit Pose)

Sit on the floor with your legs bent back, resting on your feet. Breathe in and raise your hands, stretching upwards. As you breathe out, bend forward, stretching your arms out to touch the ground. Try to touch your nose or chin to the floor, keeping your arms stretched. Repeat 5 to 10 times for gentle relief.

Savasana with Yoga Nidra (Deep Relaxation)

Lie flat on your back, legs straight and arms relaxed. Yoga Nidra is a guided deep relaxation technique that helps you calm your mind and body. Slowly focus on relaxing each muscle, one by one. This practice is excellent for reducing overall stress and supporting recovery from migraine episodes.

Yoga can often seems challenging, but many stretches and regular exercises you may do, could also be part of yoga. Exercises like stretching or warm-up routine are an essential part of yoga that benefits your entire body as a whole. Not only do these benefit your muscles and joints, these yoga positions can also have a positive effect on your brain, heart and psychological health.

One such position is Paschimottanasana or the seated forward bend.

The 'Seated Forward Bend' might look like a simple yoga move, but it's often surprisingly challenging for many people. This is because activities like running and sitting for long periods can make our hips, the backs of our legs, and our lower backs really tight. This simple forward bend can help loosen those areas up, but it's important not to rush or push too hard.

Step-by-Step Guide To Do Paschimottanasana

• Bring both arms up beside your chest, bending your elbows so your forearms are parallel to the floor, palms down. Breathe normally.
• Exhale as you bend forward, arching your spine and drawing your abdomen in, reach your hands to hold your big toes.
• Gently lower your elbows towards the ground and bend your head, bringing your forehead towards your knees.
• Rest your forehead in the space between your knees and hold this final position, breathing normally with slow, rhythmic breaths.
• To return, lift your head, release your toes, gently straighten your back, and bring your hands back to your sides.

Benefits of Paschimottanasana

Getting into this pose takes time and being patient with your body. Instead of trying to look a certain way, focus on finding a version of the stretch that feels right for you. The mental focus on being gentle and patient can be as intense as the stretch itself, teaching us that yoga is about more than just physical effort. Here are some benefits of it.

Spinal Health and Circulation

When you do this deep stretch along your backside, it's like a gentle adjustment for your spine. It can help fix small curves that aren't quite right. Plus, this stretch encourages better blood flow all around your spine, which is good for keeping it healthy and working well.

Abdominal Organ Massage and Relief

The strong squeeze you feel in your belly area during this pose is like a gentle massage for your internal organs. This can really help if you have tummy troubles like constipation or if your digestion feels slow. It can also give a little boost to your liver if it's not feeling its best.

Stretching Key Muscle Groups

This pose is a great way to stretch out important muscles in your body. You'll feel it in the muscles that are closer to the surface and the ones that are deeper in your legs. It also gives a good stretch to your shoulders and all along your back, making them more flexible and less stiff.

Preventing Future Spinal Issues

Doing Paschimottanasana regularly can be like building a defense against future problems with your spine. By keeping it flexible and strong, you're less likely to have those aches and pains come back over and over again. It helps maintain good spinal health in the long run.

Relief from Sciatica and Lower Back Pain

If you've ever had that shooting pain down your leg called sciatica, or just regular lower back pain, this pose can offer some comfort. The stretch can help to ease the pressure on the nerves that cause these issues, bringing a bit of relief to those sore areas.

Cultivating Inner Qualities

Practicing this pose consistently isn't just about the physical stretch. It can also help you develop important inner feelings. Holding the pose can teach you to let go, to be more dedicated to your practice, and to commit to taking care of your body and mind.