(Difficulty: Beginner)
Description:
Lie flat on your back, with knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
Sit up just slightly, so that only your shoulders/upper back are off the ground.
Keep your core tight to reach your right arm to your right heel, and repeat on the opposite side.
Complete 10 reps on each side.
(Difficulty: Beginner)
Description:
Start in a seated position on the floor.
Reach both hands behind your shoulders, with arms straight and knees bent. Raise your hips slightly off the ground in a crab walk position.
From here, kick your right foot in the air, keeping your core tight. Return the foot on the ground, and then repeat on the opposite side.
Repeat for 10 reps on each side.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Start in a half kneeling position with one knee on the ground.
Holding a light weight or object in both hands, start with both arms straight near the leg that is down.
Lift the weight up above your head in a diagonal line, so that it finished above the knee that is in the air.
Lower back to the start.
Repeat 10 times on one side, then switch your knees and complete on the opposite side.
(Difficulty: Beginner)
Description:
Stand with feet just wider than shoulder width, hands positioned at the chest.
Bend your knees and sit your hips back, just like sitting in a chair. Keep your chest tall. Hold at the bottom of the squat for 1-2 seconds, and then stand all the way back up.
Use a countertop of chair for support if needed.
When standing up, extend all the way up on your toes to do a calf raise in between each squat.
Complete 10 reps of each.
(Difficulty: Advanced)
Description:
Start in a normal plank position. Keeping your back flat, slowly rock your shoulders forwards and back, just like your body is functioning as a jig saw.
Make small movements, and keep your core tight throughout the movement.
Complete 10 reps.
(Difficulty: Intermediate/Advanced)
Description:
Find a low step, and stand 2-3 feet behind it facing the step.
Just like a normal walking lunge, reach forward with one leg to take a longer step, with the front foot landing on the stair.
Lower the back knee down, and then push off of the step to bring the front foot back to starting position.
Repeat for 10 lunges each side.
(Difficulty: Beginner/Intermediate)
Description:
– Lie flat on your back with your legs straight, and your head and neck lifted slightly off the ground
– Place both hands behind your head or near the base of your neck
– Raise your right knee up, and rotate your left elbow to reach towards this leg.
– Switch sides by straightening the right leg, and then reaching towards the left side and bending your left knee up
– Repeat 10 reps on each side.
Starting in a tabletop position, alternate between completing one donkey kick and one fire hydrant. Do 10 reps of each on one side before switching to the opposite side.
(Difficulty: Beginner)
Donkey Kick: Start on your hands and knees, with your hands directly under your shoulders and back flat. Keeping your core tight, lift one foot off the ground and reach straight backwards. Reach as far as you can, squeezing your glutes at the top, and keep your knee bent throughout the movement. Lower it back down, bringing your knee all the way back underneath your hips
(Difficulty: Beginner)
Fire hydrant: From the same starting position, lift your knee out to the side, keeping your knee bent. Squeeze your glute at the top, and then return to the starting position. Similar to a dog peeing on a fire hydrant, this exercise is great for your hip and glute muscles!
Difficulty: Beginner
Description: Stand with feet shoulder width apart, and hold a light wieght such as a soup can or dumbell in each hand.
Keeping your arms straight, lift your hands away from your body. Make a T shape with your arms, and then lower back to your sides in a controlled motion.
Complete 10 reps
(Difficulty: Intermediate)
Description:
This exercise is best done with your hands on the edge of a counter top.
Step back with one leg to do a reverse lunge, dropping the back knee almost to the ground. Bring the back leg back to the starting position and stand all the way up.
Repeat on the opposite leg, completing a reverse lunge on each leg.
With the hands still on the counter top, do one Incline Pushup. Bend the elbows to lower your chest to the counter, and then press up.
Lung-Lunge-Pushup. This is one rep. Great total body exercise!
