April 22, 2024

Incorporate a Stability Ball

May 2, 2017 By Leave a Comment

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Incorporate a Stability Ball into your Workout!

Exercising on a stability ball adds a challenge to your core muscles. Here are your safety considerations:

To find the correct size: Sit on the ball. Your thighs should be parallel to the floor, or your hips should be an inch or two above your knees.

Don’t leave the ball in the sun, or use on a sharp uneven surface.

Use the ball on a non-skid floor.

Do the exercise first without weight or load to determine your ability to get into and out of the position safely.

The ball should be held stable and not be used to bounce while lifting weights.

 

 

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Take Your Plank for a Walk

January 17, 2017 By Leave a Comment

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Plank Walk!

Once you’ve mastered the plank, add a total core “moving” challenge. Here’s how: Begin in a pushup position, with your arms and legs straight and your torso straight.  Keeping your feet in place, walk your hands to your right 3-6 times. Maintaining proper posture and spinal alignment, walk your hands to your left 3-6 times to complete 1 rep. Drop your knees to the floor and rest 10 seconds. Repeat 3-5 total cycles.

 

*Consult your physician before beginning exercise.

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Total Core Strength

January 12, 2017 By Leave a Comment

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Leg Raises for Total Core Strength.

Lie on your back. Place your arms wherever most comfortable to help maintaining neutral pelvis. Lift your right leg up off the floor about 2 feet, maintaining core stability, slowly lower your right about twelve inches. Immediately lift your left leg and slowly lower. Repeat leg raises 10 times total. This exercise is for intermediate exercisers, without injury concerns.

 

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

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Strength and Balance: All in One Exercise

December 15, 2016 By Leave a Comment

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Strength and Balance: All in One Exercise

Build leg strength, core stability and balance, all in one exercise. Here’s how:

Stand on your right leg only. Hold both arms out to your sides for balance. Bend forward from your hips and keep your spine aligned. Tuck your chin in and look down at the floor. Hold this position for 10 seconds, then release. Stand on your left leg only, and repeat the exercise. Hold for 10 seconds, then release. To progress: Place both arms across your chest and extend the duration of your hold to 20-30 seconds.

 

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

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Challenge Your Plank!

November 29, 2016 By Leave a Comment

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Bird Dog Plank!

Begin in a plank on your hands and toes. Keeping your torso stable, lift your right hand and left foot about six inches off the floor. Without rocking your torso, lower your right hand and left foot and immediately lift your left hand and right foot. Repeat until 10 reps total are complete. The key is not how high you’re able to lift your hand and foot, but maintaining proper alignment and form when transferring from side to side.

 

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

 

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Bored with your Ab Exercises? Try this!

July 12, 2016 By Leave a Comment

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Flutter Kicks for Abs!

Bored with your Ab Exercise? Try this!

Lie on your back on the floor. Stabilize your midsection by pulling your belly button in toward your spine and maintaining neutral lumbar position. Lift both legs up off the floor, alternating. Match each lift and lower with an inhale or exhale. Start with 10 reps.

To progress: Lift both legs up off the floor and cross your ankles in a scissor kick.

 

*Consult your physician before beginning exercise.

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Progress your Ab Plank

June 23, 2016 By Leave a Comment

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Side Plank

Lie on your right side on the floor. Place your right hand on the floor directly below your shoulder. Place the outside of your right foot on the floor, with both legs straight. Lift your body up off the floor and hold your body straight in a side plank position. Release by dropping your hips to the floor. Repeat with your left hand and left foot on the floor. Lift your body up and hold the side plank position. Begin with a ten second hold on each side. Breathe through each plank, hold your belly button in tight and maintain proper spinal alignment.

 

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

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Take your ab workout to the next level

June 17, 2016 By Leave a Comment

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Abdominals…Plus!

Crank your ab workout up a notch with this exercise:

Lie on your back on the floor with your hands behind your ears. Hold both feet up off of the floor with your knees over your hips. Begin by lifting both shoulders up off of the floor. Next lift your right shoulder up toward your belly button, at the same time bringing your left knee toward your belly button. Return to your starting position. Now lift your left shoulder up toward your belly button, at the same time bringing your right knee toward your belly button. Repeat 10 times.

*Consult your physician before beginning exercise.

 

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Isometric Ab Challenge

May 10, 2016 By Leave a Comment

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Isometric Abs!

Isometrics hold muscles under tension for a set period of time. Try this V-Sit for an isometric abdominal challenge. Here’s how:

Sit on the floor in proper spinal alignment. Pull your belly button in and keep your shoulders back and down. Extend both legs straight out on the floor in front of you. With a straight back, lean back slightly and lift both legs up off the floor about 6 inches to start. Extend both arms straight out in front of you. Hold this position for 10 seconds, breathing in your natural rhythm. Lower your legs and rest. Repeat 2-5 times.

 

*Consult your physician before performing exercise. This exercise is for intermediate/advanced exercises, and is not for those with injury concerns.

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Plank for a strong core!

March 1, 2016 By Leave a Comment

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Plank!

Strengthen the many layers of your core musculature by adding Planks into your fitness routine.

From a prone position, place your forearms on the floor with your elbows directly below your shoulders. Tuck your toes under and lift your body up off of the floor so your body is parallel to the floor. Pull your shoulders down into your body. Pull your belly button up. Tuck your chin into your chest to maintain spinal alignment.

From the basic plank position, many options exist for progressions:

Alternate lifting your right foot, then your left foot up of the floor.

Lift and hold one leg up off the floor.

Perform a plank with your hands on the floor instead of your forearms.

 

*Always consult a physician before beginning exercise.

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