Author: Rachel Tinius

Categories
Aerobics

Airplanes

Airplanes (Exercise classification: advanced)

Equipment: none

  • Start standing with feet together
  • Bend forward at the hips as you lift one leg behind you and bring your arms straight out to the sides as if making a “T”. Your hip bones should be facing the floor.
  • Exercise 1: If this is hard, try to hold this position for 20 to 30 seconds. To make it easier, stand with a wall or chair to one side of you for light finger tip touch support.
  • Exercise 2: If you can balance in this position, bring one arm down and in front of you with your fingertips facing the floor and elbow straight. Return that arm to the starting position. Now try the other arm. If alternating is too challenging, try a few repetitions on one side, rest, then try the other side.
  • Remember to breathe throughout the exercise.
  • Have some fun! Try this with your belly relaxed and with your belly muscles tightened at a 50% effort.
Categories
Aerobics

Half Kneeling Thoracic (Mid-Back) Rotation

Half Kneeling Thoracic (Mid-Back) Rotation (Exercise Classification: Beginner)

Equipment: none

  • Start in a half kneeling position with one knee on the ground and other foot on the ground (see video) and arms straight out in front of you.
  • Take a breath in through your nose then as you slowly and gently exhale, reach one arm behind you while twisting in your mid-back as far as you can (a) without pain and (b) without your pelvis moving. Imagine headlights on your hips bones…they should stay shining forwards the entire time.
  • Return to your starting position and go the other direction.
  • Good for: mid-back flexibility, balance, trunk control
Categories
Aerobics

Side or “Lateral” Lunge with a Trunk Twist

Lateral Lung with Trunk Rotation (exercise classification: intermediate)

Equipment: none

  • Start standing with your feet together and toes facing forward
  • Take a big step out to the side, keep your toes of both feet facing forward, and sit your hips down and back into a lunge position. To make this easier, take a smaller step. To make it harder, take a bigger step.
  • Once in the lunge, twist your mid back and try to touch the ground on the outside of the opposite foot.
  • Return to your starting position.
  • Remember to breathe during the movement.
  • Try 4 to 6 repetitions on one side and then switch to the other side.
  • Good for: hip and spine mobility; hip loading and strengthening
Categories
Aerobics

Standing Hip Rotation at the Wall

Standing Hip Rotation at Wall (exercise classification:advanced)

Equipment: none

  • Start by standing very close to wall
  • You can then either…
    • Keep your hip underneath you (neutral or not bent) and bend your knee that is closest to the wall to a 90 degree angle
    • Bend your hip and knee of the leg closest to the wall 90 degrees (HARDER)
  • IF you want to work on mobility & flexibility:
    • Keep your hip bones facing forwards and outside of your thigh touching the wall
    • Slowly move your foot away from the wall, moving from the hip socket (not your whole pelvis), then bring it back to touch the wall
  • IF you want to work on strength:
    • Push your foot and the outside of your lower leg into the wall as if you were trying to push “through” the wall as you stand tall and hold for 3-5 seconds then relax. The outside of your thigh should touch the wall the entire time.
    • Try not to let your back round or arch excessively as you do this.
    • Breathe throughout the entire hold.
Categories
Aerobics

Clamshell Variations for Hip Strength and Mobility

Side-Lying Clamshell with an End-Range Hold
Side-Lying Clamshell with Added Hip Internal Rotation

Clamshell Variations for hip strength and mobility (exercise classification: beginner/intermediate)

If clamshells are too easy or you want to mix your routine up a little, try one of these variations. In the first variation, you are lifting your leg as high as you can with good form and then using your bottom muscles to hold it there. Vary your hold times from 3-10 seconds, with longer holders making for a harder exercise. Lower your leg down slowly. In the second variation, you are working on hip rotation mobility into both directions instead of just one. Make sure you are breathing the entire time. If you want to get a little more out of the exercises, try one set with your belly relaxed and one set with your belly muscles tightened with a 50% effort.

Categories
Aerobics

Hip Rotation Progression

Exercise Classification: Beginner (video 1, 2, & 3), Intermediate (video 4), Advanced (video 5, 6, & 7)

Video 1: Prone Heel Press
Video 2: Prone Hip External and Internal Rotation Range of Motion Control
Video 3: Supine Hip External and Internal Rotation Range of Motion with 1 Leg
Video 4: Seated Hip External and Internal Rotation Range of Motion and Control
Video 5: Standing Hip Internal Rotation Isometric or External Rotation Range of Motion at the Wall with hip neutral and knee bend 90 degrees
Video 6: Standing Hip Internal Rotation Isometric Or External Rotation Range of Motion at the Wall with Hip Bent to 90 degrees
Video 7: Standing Side Lunge with a Trunk Twist (loaded hip rotation)

Categories
Weekly Tips

F.I.T.T.

F.I.T.T. Framework for Pregnancy

F.I.T.T. stands for frequency, intensity, time, and type of exercise. This framework can help you decide on exercise programming that works for YOU and YOUR schedule! The ultimate goal of using BumptUp is to hit 150min of moderate exercise per week. Use this framework to help you do that!

Frequency- aim for exercising at least 3-4 times per week (but work up to daily)

Intensity– Shoot for an intensity that makes your heart beat faster and breath harder, but keep it to where you can still carry on a conversation. This is called the “talk test” and can keep you at a level that is not going to overexert yourself. If you are a very active person and used to more intense activity, it is okay to work even harder!

Time– anywhere from 20-60 minutes. Note: it is okay to break this up into 10min sessions throughout the day!

Type– This part should be based purely on what YOU enjoy doing the most! If you love to walk, walk! If you like to run, run! If you like to cycle, cycle! If you like to play tennis, play tennis! If you like to dance, dance! Choose a mode that sets you up to be successful! And if you don’t know what you like to do, visit our full body workout section of the app!! We can help you pick safe and effective exercises to create your own workouts!

© WKU {2022} All rights reserved.

Categories
Aerobics Exercises

Squat Variations

Exercise Classification: Intermediate

Air Squat

Squat with Support

Goblet Squat

Categories
Exercises

Supine Knee and Arm Extension with Band

Supine Knee and Arm extension with Band (Exercise Classification: Advanced)

  • Lay on your back a comfortable surface with knees bent.
  • Grasp a resistance band between your hands and raise your arms up at shoulder height.
  • Bring your knees up to a 90-degree position.
  • At the same time, extend your right leg until parallel with the floor as you scissor your left arm overhead and right arm pulling down towards your left leg.
  • Switch sides and make the same motion.
  • Do this exercise slowly, using a count of three as you extend and return to the start position.
  • Remember to exhale as you extend and inhale as you return to the start position.

Modified Version

Easier:

You can rest one foot on the ground (shown below) or a couch (not shown) with your knee bent as you extend the opposite leg.

If you have a difficult time with the arm movements, lengthen the band’s distance between your hands.

Harder:

You can increase the difficulty of the exercise by shortening the band length to create more tension.

Slow the repetition to a count of five and hold for several seconds as the leg is extended.

Categories
Exercises

Seated Roll Back

Seated Roll Back (Exercise Classification: Intermediate/Advanced)

  • Sit on a comfortable surface with your knees bents, feet resting on the surface, and back straight.
  • Extend your arms out in front of you at shoulder height.
  • Take a breath and exhale as you slowly lean back until you feel your tummy tighten. Keep breathing normally as you hold for a count of five seconds.
  • Avoid leaning back to the point where you feel your tummy or back strain–you should feel a slight tightening or pulling-in sensation at the front of your abdomen as you do this exercise.
  • Slowly return to sitting position.
  • Repeat 5-10 repetitions.

MODIFICATION:

Place pillows or a thick rolled towel behind you to help limit how far you go down and support you at the hardest point in the movement.