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!
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.
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!
This exercise will use a weight such as a dumbell, or milk jug.
Start on your hands and knees in a table top position. Hold a weight in one hand, with the opposite hand and both knees on the ground.
Pull the weight up with one arm to your hip, keeping your elbow tight and back flat. Lower the weight in a controlled motion, completing all 10 reps on one side before switching to the next side.
Holding a plank position with hands under shoulders, keep the core tight and drive one knee towards the same side elbow.
Instead of rapidly switching foot position like a traditional mountain climber, this should be a controlled movement to target the core and hip flexor muscles.
The acronym RDL is a common term for any form of Romanian Deadlift. A key component to this exercise is the hinge, or bending at the hips, while the knees stay relatively straight. Keep the back flat, head looking forward.
Single leg RDL
Start with one foot slightly in front of the other, with the back foot elevated and toes in the ground.
As you hinge at the hips, keep the back leg extended behind you. Your back leg should raise in the air as your chest leans forward.
The front foot, or working leg, should feel this in the hamstrings (back of legs) and glutes (booty)!
hold a weight with arms straight, or hold one dumbell (or soup can!) in each hand
using a resistance band, stand on the center of the band, anchoring it with your midfoot. Reach down to grasp each end of the band firmly, so that the band increases tension throughout the movement.
The tricep is located on the back of your upper arm, and plays a big roll in any “pushing” motion of every day activities, such as pushing a stroller or closing a door.
Sit on the edge of a chair, hands gripping the seat’s front edge. Slide your hips forward off the chair, knees bent at 90 degrees. Lower your body by bending your elbows, keeping the elbow tight to your sides.
Push down to straighten the elbows and return to the starting position.
to increase difficulty: straighten the legs out in front.
Also referred to as a “Scap” Pushup, this movement is a great exercise to activate and mobilize the upper back and trap muscles.
Start in a tall plank position, with the back flat and hands underneath shoulders. Keeping the elbows locked, try to pinch your shoulder blades together, as if you are trying to “puff out” your chest. Then, pull your shoulders back towards the ground. Think about trying to rip the back of your shirt as you round your upper back.
A staple leg exercise in the BumptUp Pregnancy Program, this page serves as a comprehensive guide to explain the Split Squat, and its many variations. The split squat can be used in many ways throughout your training, and are a great way to strengthen the glutes, hamstrings, quads and core!
Difficulty: Beginner to Advanced
To perform a split squat,
Stand with one foot forward and the other foot back.
Lower your body by bending both knees.
Keep your front foot flat on the ground and your back heel lifted, keeping your toes in the ground.
Lower until your front thigh is parallel to the ground, and back knee is almost touching the ground.
Push through your front heel to return to the starting position.
Complete required reps without moving your feet, and then switch legs to complete the reps on the opposite side.
Other variations that may show up in the BumptUp Pregnancy program:
Isometric Hold
Difficulty: Beginner
Stop at the position at the bottom of the exercise! Bend both knees, and hold here with the back knee just a few inches above the ground. This simple exercise will get tough! It is a great way to work the muscles without adding more impact.
For this one, hold it for 30 seconds (if you can) vs doing a set number of reps.
Oscilating (BOUNCING)
Difficulty: Advanced
From the same starting position, drop the back knee down, and quickly come almost all the way up, then immediately back into the next rep. You never stand all the way up with this exercise, which adds a little “bounce”. You may want to do 30 seconds vs. a set number of reps for this one!
FRONT FOOT ELEVATED
Difficulty: Intermediate
Find a low step or box and place the front foot on it. Drop the back knee down. This will put less stress on your knees and will focus on the quads of the front leg.
REAR FOOT ELEVATED
Difficulty: Advanced
This variation puts much more load on the working leg, making the exercise more difficult. Assume the same starting position, however find a small stair or box to elevate the back foot. The higher the foot, the harder the exercise.
Any of the above variations can be made more difficult by adding weights (or soup cans!).
A Bear Crawl is a super versatile, super effective exercise. Similar to a plank, it can show up in your workout as a simple activation exercise, or used to target your core muscles. The BumptUp 36-week Program features several variations of the bear crawl hold, each listed and explained below.
Start by getting down on all fours on a mat or a flat surface. Position your hands directly under your shoulders and your knees under your hips. Your back should be flat, and your core tight.
Lift your knees a few inches off the ground, so your weight is supported by your hands and the balls of your feet
(Difficulty: Intermediate)
Isometric Hold
Week 4-8, Day 1
An isometric exercise is one that requires holding a position with minimal movement, similar to a plank.
Assume a Bear Crawl position, with a flat back and hands directly under the shoulders. Press the toes through the floor so that the knees are slightly elevated.
Hold this position for the specified time, engaging stabilizing muscles in the shoulders, hips, quads, and abs. In the Pregnancy Exercise Program, the time will increase each week!
The bear crawl, and its many variations, is a great exercise for building core strength, stability, and coordination. It engages multiple muscle groups, including the shoulders, arms, core, and legs.
