Exercising in a second story apartment

kshama2001

shell1005 wrote: »

If it is during the daytime hours, it is fine. No one is expected to be silent 24/7. I live above my landlord and I just asked her if there were hours she preferred. Go for it. There is nothing even remotely inappropriate about it.

I too live above my landlord (and his fiancee.) We agreed on quiet hours from 11 PM - 7 AM. Sometimes he complains that me going down the stairs woke him up from daytime naps, and I remind him that I am happy to use the back stairs if he would just let me know when he is napping.

@kayla_who - if you want a vigorous yoga work out, look for something that says Power Yoga, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, or Jiva Mukti. Rodney Yee is a good instructor.

QueenKristine77

you can do Yoga or body weight exercises, push ups, planks, squats, lunges etc

sabrinacrandall

I live on the third floor, and honestly do some days feel bad for doing my HIIT videos in which jumping lunges and such are required. But then I figured that as long as it was during the day, and I didn't do it for huge periods of time, they'd learn to recognize that it would be a minor annoyance and then go away. I've never had a complaint, and I've been living there over a year with different tenants below me. Now that it's summer though, I do go out and run outside more than doing my videos. I also do my workouts on a carpeted floor to cut down on the noise. And try to land softly. But don't stop working out just because your neighbors don't understand. They can't make you stop. You deserve to generate just as much noise as they can on their first floor apartment, guilt free.

_incogNEATo_

Has anybody recommended running the stairs to your apartment? If you're on the second story and have neighbors above you (which you mentioned) then there are three sure flights of stairs you could run. It might get boring every day but maybe 2-3x a week. Of course you should probably add in some bodyweight resistance exercises to supplement but your legs will definitely get a workout running steps.

Laurenjenai

When I was living in an apartment I used fitnessblender in the early morning hours to not bother my neighbors, they have low impact and quiet cardio workouts and even ones that don't have jumping. I love their youtube channel, check it out. Tons of different routines and levels.

gothchiq

I'd be afraid to live downstairs from a hoarder for fear the ceiling would collapse in on me from the weight of their stuff! I should think a low impact workout during normal daylight hours would be considered normal, at least according to the management.

Laurenjenai

But also, most apartments have designated quiet times like 11 am to 7am and your neighbors just have to understand that noise like that cones along with apartment living.

Laurenjenai

Laurenjenai wrote: »

But also, most apartments have designated quiet times like 11 am to 7am and your neighbors just have to understand that noise like that cones along with apartment living.

sorry I meant 12 am to 7 am.

ElJefeChief

Laurenjenai wrote: »

Laurenjenai wrote: »

But also, most apartments have designated quiet times like 11 am to 7am and your neighbors just have to understand that noise like that cones along with apartment living.

sorry I meant 12 am to 7 am.

I'm jealous. I have to kowtow to a 7pm-7am schedule.

I'm counting the days when I can get my new place and can ditch this apartment life for good, and I can work out whenever the heck I want.

Liftng4Lis

Pfttt...I would just exercise and they can just move!

ElJefeChief

Liftng4Lis wrote: »

Pfttt...I would just exercise and they can just move!

That's my philosophy.

Laurenjenai

DrEnalg wrote: »

Laurenjenai wrote: »

Laurenjenai wrote: »

But also, most apartments have designated quiet times like 11 am to 7am and your neighbors just have to understand that noise like that cones along with apartment living.

sorry I meant 12am to 7 am.

I'm jealous. I have to kowtow to a 7pm-7am schedule.

I'm counting the days when I can get my new place and can ditch this apartment life for good, and I can work out whenever the heck I want.

Lol I don't know why I keep typing this wrong and not catching it, it was 11pm to 7 am... but yeah that seems pretty lenient.

kat_princess12

Unless the building's in such crappy condition that dust and plaster are falling on the neighbors every time you walk across the floor, they have no cause to complain. But some at-home workouts that have worked for me: Leslie Sansone at-home walking programs, Pilates or yoga DVDs (10-Minute Solution ones are FANTASTIC), or look on Pinterest for targeted workouts for arms, legs, etc.

jgnatca

I love the matting idea, which reminded me of a great traveller's hack; a foldable yoga mat. The article suggests only three items are needed to work out on the road; the runners, the mat, and the computer. He has a point.

http://www.nomadwallet.com/work-out-travel-carry-on/

This is on my wish list:
http://www.yogasportsclothing.com/Foldable-travel-yoga-mats

Katus130

I don't think doing high impact exercise during normal hours is unreasonable. I've lived in apartments for half of my life and part of living in an apartment is dealing with the noise from neighbors. For what it's worth, I'm a professional classical musician and practice at home in the late morning or early afternoon. I've never had an issue; probably because I'm considerate and don't do my thing at 1 am.

If it is really bothering them, they will let you know. Then you could find out when would be a better time for you to exercise. You never know, maybe you'll find a new work-out buddy.

MayaEmProject

Hat with a cap and go outside. Your not made out of sugar... and your immune system will be better if your not scared going and being outside in any weather condition.

FatFreeFrolicking

azulvioleta6 wrote: »

Anything that involves jumping up and down will not be considered reasonable use of your apartment. That is not a normal use. Eat, sleep, store your clothes--yes. Use the space as an exercise studio--no.

Other people may need to sleep during the day, work from home, etc. You may have neighbors who are elderly or ill. It's not OK for the OP to disrupt the lives of strangers.

Planet Fitness=$10/month.

You have totally unrealistic views- along with OP's neighbors.

If I pay $---- a month for rent, I WILL use my apartment in any way I like. It is MY space.

When you live in an apartment complex, there will be noise. Her neighbors chose to live in an apartment. If they didn't want to hear someone exercising for an hour a day, they should have bought their own home where they can control the noise.

Noise from exercise is not disruptive. Shouting, yelling, screaming, and objects being thrown is; however OP is not doing any of those.

Her neighbors can move if they find exercise to be so "disruptive."

demoiselle2014

I wait until after 8 am to do any exercise other than yoga. I exercise in the living room, which is not over a sleeping area. And I have a wall to wall carpet with an area rug over it. I try to land softly.

kk_inprogress

azulvioleta6 wrote: »

Anything that involves jumping up and down will not be considered reasonable use of your apartment. That is not a normal use. Eat, sleep, store your clothes--yes. Use the space as an exercise studio--no.

Other people may need to sleep during the day, work from home, etc. You may have neighbors who are elderly or ill. It's not OK for the OP to disrupt the lives of strangers.

Planet Fitness=$10/month.

I think the whole point of the OPs post was that she is trying to be respectful and there are PLENTY of decent exercise options being suggested that don't involve jumping up and down. You can't assume her neighbors are rigid and hate noise. Also, $10 for you is not the same as $10 for someone else. There are a lot of unfair assumptions in your post.

OP- try yoga or Pilates for strengthening. Jillian Michaels also has some workouts that don't involve any jumping if you prefer more cardio to strengthening. I also like just doing squat/push up/lunge/plank sets and those are silent. The other obvious point is chat with your neighbors- they probably know they live with a moving body above them and can suggest times they may be gone, or hours they just don't mind.

Good luck!

kayla_who

Thanks for all the suggestions!

And for those that suggest going out in the rain, I am not against that however yesterday was storming with tornado warnings, etc. Nope. haha

kk_inprogress

kayla_who wrote: »

Thanks for all the suggestions!

And for those that suggest going out in the rain, I am not against that however yesterday was storming with tornado warnings, etc. Nope. haha

Tornados? Slacker

spatulamom

kayla_who wrote: »

Thanks for all the suggestions!

And for those that suggest going out in the rain, I am not against that however yesterday was storming with tornado warnings, etc. Nope. haha

I used to tap dance on my wood floors in my apartment. Not that I'm recommending that in your case...(I also had a hair salon underneath me that liked to play bass until 2 AM. It was my revenge.)

sunshyncatra

Yoga on youtube or other stretching exercises.

47Jacqueline

Get a mat and don't drop your weights. How thin are your floors anyway? And isn't everyone else at work?

Body weight workouts: squats, push-ups, lunges. Resistance bands for strength. All quiet activities.

_Terrapin_

Couch?!? Books?!? Weights?!? Can you leg press the couch? Can you progressively add weight? Dead's using the couch?!? Just spitballing here people. Prop the couch up and slide under like you do at the gym on the machine. Who knows maybe you could start a you tube channel only using the stuff in your apartment.

micheledarley2012

My upstairs neighbor has all hardwood floors. She exercises loud, she cleans loud, and she walks loud. But she's a nice girl with a nice boyfriend and I would rather have that than some of the other neighbors I have had in the past. I exercise barefoot on carpet around 11am while my downstairs neighbor plays rock music very loud after he comes home from work. However he is a decent guy, and again good neighbors are hard to come by. He doesn't complain my upstairs neighbors don't complain and I don't complain. We're very civilized here lol!

kayla_who

kkenseth wrote: »

kayla_who wrote: »

Thanks for all the suggestions!

And for those that suggest going out in the rain, I am not against that however yesterday was storming with tornado warnings, etc. Nope. haha

Tornados? Slacker

Bahahaha

ThatMouse

I really like www.startbodyweight.com for its progressions - you really only need a pull up bar with a dip attachment (and even then, that's optional if you don't want to work those every day - but check Kijiji, I'm sure you'd find a ton for free).

A lot of bodyweight movements can be made much harder when you slow down - with an added benefit to neighbors in that (given you're not trying to do a slow negative on a pull up and fall off) it's even quieter.

You might just need to save any plyometric-type stuff for when you can get outside.

kbg027

TheChangeIsNow wrote: »

I usually do two things - either do the stairs (meaning first floor to the top) or I hop on my portable stair stepper. The stair stepper has been amazing! It's a great way to burn some calories all while catching up on all of my favorite shows! I place it in front of my tv and go to work! Takes your mind off of the exercising - before you know it, you've had a pretty decent workout.

Good luck!

What kind if stair stepper is it? I'm looking to get something like that.