So, I've been doing various bodyweight exercises (squats, push-ups, burpees, etc) based on recs I've gotten on another forum, in addition to my regular vinyasa yoga practice.  I don't think I've found the perfect mix yet though--I've read it's best to work out so hard (only a couple times a week) that you feel exhausted at the end--this is certainly not the case w/ me (I could probably keep going after I'm done), so I don't think I'm doing it right...

My husband is interested in starting to work out now.  I'd LOVE to organize my own workouts better, and to create a routine/workout plan that he can do as well.  We have a pair of 8 lb weights and our bodies for equipment.  I'd rather focus on things we can do w/out a gym or other stuff, just using our bodies.  Any ideas?  And recs for how to make sure we are working hard enough?  I'm still really new to all this working out stuff (was never my thing, although I've loved yoga for years--the strength training stuff is all new to me.) 

Thanks for any ideas/link/etc!

Continue doing what you are doing but do it in circuit fashion. Do you have a pull up bar or some way to do pullups and chinups?
Set an egg timer for 15min.
Do-
Super Burpees>Pullups>Squats>Hindu Pushups>Pushups>Super Burpees> Pullups> etc.... for the full time non-stop!

Know that Bodyweight training like Yoga has a limit to what you can accomplish in body recomposition due to the limited number of motor units you can recruit.

Something as simple as carrying heavy buckets of water for 5 sets of 100 steps can do a lot for you.

Find some heavy rocks. Pick them up to your chest and toss them as high and far as you can for 15min.

You don't need to go to a gym.

You guys totally rock.  This is more than enough to get us started. 

Any pull up modification ideas?  (a., I've NEVER done a pull up, always struggled w/ it, and b. don't have a pull up bar, although can think of some playgrounds w/ monkey bars we could use.  

Arthurb999 I can do single leg squats to a chair, not any lower, and I need to look up pike presses.  I'm sure we'll be modifying some/lots of this stuff for a while while building our strength!  (My husband does NOTHING as far as exercise goes, seriously, so we'll be starting slowly...)

And Wlfdg, I hear you on the limits of yoga for these purposes.  Everything I've done w/ bodyweight stuff has only helped my practice, and I LOVE my practice, but totally think this circuit style stuff will be a whole other ball game.  (I've actually always had trouble building muscle/strength, but am now stronger than I've ever been in my life.  But I've got LOTS of room to improve, and these recs will totally be helpful!)

Woo hoo!  Love that everything can be done at home.  Thanks for the input both of you!!!

So, I did 5 rounds of the circuits (prob. a total of 12 minutes, 10 reps each exercise per ciruit) using a blend of the stuff you both recommended (replaced a couple of things I couldn't do or didin't have access to doing) and it was awesome and definitely kicked my butt!

SO awesome!  Thank you guys!!  I'm REALLY excited about all this!

Wlfdg, would lifting heavy things--like the buckets of waters or rocks/rock throwing kind of stuff be considered strength training?  (Makes sense that it would--just wondering where that kind of stuff would fit in if I were trying to do some sort of a weekly system, like what arthur mentioned from day 1-day 7?)

Even just jump up and go down slow to get the negative effect... and just jump a littlle less each time

   
Thanks for the pull up mod recs!

You can buy bands that you loop around your knees and the bar so it takes some of your weight off.  Do a search for band assisted pull ups.

Your husband could hold your feet and take some of the weight off too...

Even just jump up and go down slow to get the negative effect... and just jump a littlle less each time

I've used the latter method with great success.  At my worst, I could barely do one pullup.  Doing negatives by gripping the bar at chest height, pulling your legs up and then lowering your body as slowly as possible is a great technique.  Once I could eke out a few at a time, I would do sets of 2 or 3 at a time, then 5, then 10.  After two months of slowly increasing my effort, I was able to do 25+ pullups.  Make sure you give your body plenty of time to recover in between workout days.

I would say the throwing rocks would be more of a plyometric excersise for explosive strength whereas lifiting heavy things would be for max strength.  both are "strength" training but target different qualities of strength...

You need both.

Agreed...  once you get the "basics" down we can add some of different stuff in there...

There are basically 4 objectives to hit:

max strength
explosive strength
strength endurance
general conditioning

 

I know! I've been doing this as a profession for 20yrs. Mostly working with elite level athletes.

Thanks again you guys--it's pretty sweet to have knowlegeable personal trainers online for free!! 

I'll keep you posted on my progress--I certainly have a lot to do for now!!! 

And phrakture, thanks for the shovelglove link.  I need to set a timer for 14 minutes and do some cleaning around here!     It's amazing how much you can get done in what feels like a very short amount of time once you set that timer for yourself...