Category: Exercises

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Exercises

Banded Pull Apart

Exercise Classification: Intermediate

Description:

Holding a towel or an exercise band straight in front of stretch it out several inches until you feel it in your upper back muscles. A towel will not have nearly as much stretch but can still be beneficial.

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Exercises

Good Mornings

Exercise Classification: Intermediate

This exercise is very similar to an RDL (Romanian Deadlift), as they both involve a great stretch of the hamstrings (back side of your thigh).

In the example, a band is used to add resistance, making the exercise more difficult. A small weight or milk jug could also be used to increase difficulty. This exercise can also be done using just body weight.

Position your hands behind your head, and push your hips straight back. Keep your knees almost straight, and back flat. Go down until you feel a stretch your hamstrings, and then squeeze your glutes (butt) to extend your hips on the way back up.

Complete 10 reps.

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Exercises

Banded Face Pull

Exercise Classification: Intermediate

Description:

After tying a towel or an exercise band to a sturdy material straighten in front of you until it is taught. Then make sure your arms are fully extended and pull the band towards your chest. You should feel it in your upper back muscles and arms. A towel will not have nearly as much stretch but can still be beneficial.

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Exercises

90/90 to Kneel

Exercise Classification: Intermediate

beginner pregnancy workouts (no equipment)

Seated on the ground, bend one knee in front of your body

Position yourself so your lower leg and knee are resting on the ground. Your leg should form a 90-degree angle, and your ankle should be neutral so your foot is pointing straight out behind you.

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Exercises

Wall Angel

Exercise Classification: Intermediate

Description:
Make sure ribs are down not flaring and out. Make sure your back, shoulders, elbows, wrists, and backs of hands are flat against the wall. Glide arms overhead in snow angel fashion keeping all points of contact with the wall. Go as far as your current mobility allows then return to start.

Categories
Aerobics

Step-Ups Lateral

Exercise Classification: Intermediate

Description:
Stand beside the step you will be stepping up onto. Instead of facing the step stand beside it and take a step up onto the step horizontally with the foot closest.

Categories
Aerobics

Bridging Variations

Exercise Classification: Intermediate

Frog Bridge
  • Start laying on your back with your feet together, knees apart, and arms resting at your sides.
  • Take a normal breathe in through your nose then, as you exhale normally through your nose or pursed lip, press your hips up towards the ceiling and the bottoms of your feet together. You can hold at the top for 3 to 5 seconds or come right back down.
  • Repeat.
  • To make this harder: bend the elbows so only the top of your arms are touching the group.
  • To make this even harder: straight your arms up towards the ceiling so they are not touching the floor at all.
Double Leg Bridge with Alternating Marching: Hip bend more than 90 degrees.
  • Start laying on your back with your arms resting at your sides and feet flat on the floor about hip distance apart.
  • Take a normal breathe in through your nose.
  • Squeeze your bottom as you push your hips towards the ceiling and gently exhale (through nose or pursed lips).
  • Hold the top position and march one knee and hip up past 90 degrees (closer to your chest). To make this harder, only lift to 90 degrees NOT PAST 90 degrees.
  • Put that foot down as you take a breathe in.
  • Repeat on the other leg as you exhale.
  • Return your bottom to the ground.
  • If you can easily do 10 of these without rest, try to string 4 or 6 marches together before letting your bottom touch back down to the ground.
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