Exercises You Can Do At Home and That Don’t Really Feel Like Exercising
Dance – It’s as easy as turning on the music and just doing it. Jump around and have fun, if you have kids, they will love doing this with you. Some of my favorite memories with my kids were us dancing around the living room to Alanis Morrissette (inappropriate lyrics and all).
Avoid the close parking spots – We all do it, we drive up and down parking lots looking for the closest spot, and feel like we’ve hit the lottery when we get the best one. But you can really burn a lot of extra calories by just parking a little further away.
Take the steps instead of the elevator – If you work in a building or shop at a mall that has an elevator, try taking the steps instead. Steps are not the enemy; they can actually be our calorie burning friends.
Exercise while watching television – For the most part, watching television is a sure fire way to become a couch-potato. Aside from not watching television at all, the best way to avoid becoming a couch-potato is to do some exercises while you watch. Here are six easy exercises that you can do while you are watching television:
Exercise while watching television – For the most part, watching television is a sure fire way to become a couch-potato. Aside from not watching television at all, the best way to avoid becoming a couch-potato is to do some exercises while you watch. Here are six easy exercises that you can do while you are watching television:
A) With your feet hip-width apart, take a large step forward with your left foot. Plant the foot, then slowly bend the left knee to a 90-degree angle with your back knee lightly touching the ground.
(B) Push up with your front leg to return to the starting position, and then repeat on the other side.
Do 10-20 reps on each side.
A) Lie on your back, knees bent at a 90-degree angle and feet flat on the ground. Place your hands behind your head to support your neck.
(B) Without pushing your head with your hands, contract your abdominal muscles to lift your right shoulder from the ground and bring it to your center.
Do 10-20 reps each side.
A) Lie face up on the floor with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Squeeze your glutes and press into your heels to raise your hips until your body forms a straight line from your shoulders to your knees.
(B) Pause. Then slowly lower back to the starting position.
Do 10-25 reps.
A) Sit cross-legged and stretch your arms out in front of you, with your fingertips touching. Take a breath in.
(B) With your hips square and abs tight, let the breath out and slowly rotate your upper body about 45 degrees to the right. Return to the center and repeat on your left side. Complete 10-20 reps.
Hold your arms straight out to the sides with palms facing up. Circle forward 10 times, then backward 10 times. Flip your palms so they are facing the floor, and repeat the sequence.
Do this 10-20 times.
- (A) Stand with your feet together and your arms straight overhead. Clasp your hands together, with your fingers interlaced and pointer fingers extended. Inhale as you reach upward.
(B) Breathe out as you bend your upper body to the right. Take five slow breaths. Slowly return to the center. Repeat on left side.
Do each side 10-20 times.
*Illustrations by Nicole Petro