Fitness Magazine Workout

I can't take credit for this one.  I saw this in Fitness Magazine and it's a great total body, no equipment needed workout that you can do anytime/anywhere. . . . .

even on your lunch break (hint,hint)

Total Body Recharge: 8 Energy-Boosting, Muscle-Toning Moves

Pick Up Sticks

What you'll need: A mat
Targets: Abs, butt, hips, and quads

• Stand with feet hip-width apart, arms by sides.
• Lunge forward with right leg, bending right knee 90 degrees, left leg extended behind you, and reach right hand to ground beside right foot.
• Return to start, switch sides and repeat. MAKE IT HARDER: Jump up between lunges and switch legs in midair to alternate sides or take shorter steps and lunge faster.
• Do 10 reps per leg.

Trainer's tip: To help support your lower back, keep your core engaged as you reach toward the mat.
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Air Guitar

Targets: Butt, inner and outer thighs

• Stand with feet wider than shoulder-width apart, arms by sides.
• Shift weight onto right leg, bending right knee 90 degrees to lower into a deep lunge, left leg straight, driving bent right elbow back and bent left elbow forward.

• Press through right heel to stand up, lifting bent left knee up to hip height as you drive right elbow forward and left elbow back.
• Do 16 reps. Switch sides; repeat.

Trainer's tip: As you lunge right, push down on the outside of the right foot to help keep your knee aligned.
Watch a video demonstration of this exercise

Charlie's Angel

Targets: Butt and outer thighs

• Stand with feet hip-width apart, elbows bent so that hands are in front of chest, palms pressed together, as in prayer pose.
• Keeping shoulders squared, lunge diagonally forward with right leg, crossing it to the outside of left leg, bending both knees 90 degrees.

• As you lunge, extend arms in front of you at shoulder level, palms pressed together, then rotate torso and arms as far right as you can while keeping hips squared.
• Return to start. MAKE IT HARDER: Do walking curtsies, lunging right leg diagonally in front of left, then sweeping left leg out to side and lunging it diagonally in front of right.
• Do 12 reps. Switch sides; repeat.

Watch a video demonstration of this exercise

Tuck and Extend

Targets: Abs, lower back, butt, and hamstrings

• Stand with feet hip-width apart, elbows bent by sides, hands in front of chest, palms facing each other.
• Bring bent left knee up to hip height, foot flexed, and bend forward at waist to get into tuck position.

• Hinging forward from hips, extend arms in front of you and left leg directly behind you until body is parallel to ground from fingertips to left foot. Make it easier: Start with right hand on hip and left arm by side. Skip tuck position, instead reaching left hand toward mat as you extend left leg behind you as high as you can.
• Return to tuck position.
• Do 12 reps. Switch sides; repeat.

Watch a video demonstration of this exercise

Tadpole to Frog

Targets: Shoulders, triceps, abs, butt, quads, and calves

• Start on mat in full push-up position, balancing on hands and toes, arms extended, body forming a straight line from head to heels.
• Keeping arms tucked close by sides, bend elbows directly behind you to lower chest toward mat.

• Press up, extending arms, and jump feet forward so that they land outside hands. Make it easier: Start with knees on mat and lower chest. Push up and lift knees off mat to press hips up into an inverted V; walk left foot and then right foot to outside of hands. Set up again for a low push-up or triceps push-up.
• Do 12 reps.

Watch a video demonstration of this exercise

Thread the Needle

Targets: Shoulders, abs, obliques, lower back, and butt

• Start on mat in full push-up position, balancing on hands and toes, arms extended, body forming a line from head to heels.
• Lift right hand off mat and reach arm under torso as far to left as possible, turning head to look at fingertips.

• Bring right arm back to right side, then extend it directly up toward sky, rotating torso and lifting left foot off mat to bring left knee toward chest. Extend left leg out to right to briefly touch foot to ground.
• Rotate back to full push-up position. MAKE IT HARDER: Do 10 seconds of mountain climbers between reps when in full push-up, alternately bringing knees into chest as if running.
• Do 12 reps. Switch sides; repeat.

Watch a video demonstration of this exercise

Rock the Boat

Targets: Abs

• Sit on mat with knees bent, feet flat, and arms by sides. Lean torso back 45 degrees, raising arms overhead and lifting feet off mat to extend legs together at a 45-degree angle (this is the boat pose).

• Bend knees and bring them in toward chest as you lower arms to grasp outer thighs with hands. Maintaining tuck position, roll backward onto upper back, curling hips off mat.
• Roll forward and return to boat pose, holding for 1 count. MAKE IT HARDER: As you roll forward, tuck left leg under right and stand up on right leg, reaching arms overhead. Return to roll, then resume boat pose.
• Do 12 reps.

Watch a video demonstration of this exercise

Cross the River

Targets: Abs, obliques, butt, and hips

• Stand to right of mat (lengthwise) with feet hip-width apart, elbows bent by sides, hands in front of chest.
• Leap over mat to left side, pumping arms (right elbow forward, left elbow back) and landing on left leg, knee slightly bent, with bent right leg crossing slightly to the left behind you (in a speed skater's pose).

• Quickly push off left leg and leap back over mat to right side, landing on right leg, to complete 1 rep.
• Do 20 reps.

Trainer's tip: After each leap, reach opposite hand to outside of standing leg's ankle to really work the deep glute muscles.
Originally published in FITNESS magazine, November/December 2010.
Watch a video demonstration of this exercise

 

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