Single Leg Bridge for Lower Body Strength

The Bridge is an effective exercise to strengthen your glutes, hamstrings and core muscles. It’s important to maintain proper spine alignment with your belly button in throughout the range of motion. Lie down on the floor on your back. Bend both knees, with your feet flat. Extend your left leg straight up toward the ceiling. Place each arm straight on the floor along side your body. Keeping your back aligned, press through your right heel and lift your hips about 3 inches off the floor, and then lower. Be sure to keep your hips level, and your shoulders down. Do 10 reps, and then return your left foot the floor. Next, extend your right leg straight up, press through your left heel and lift your hips, then lower. Do 10 reps, and then release.

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

Build your Lower Body Strength

Assisted Hamstring Stretch

If the traditional lying down hamstring stretch is uncomfortable for you, use a towel to assist your stretch. Hamstring flexibility is important for function. That means we need a certain degree of flexibility at the hamstring to be able to sit down in neutral posture with correct lumbar spinal alignment. Instead of adding tension to your upper body to move into the correct stretch position, put your workout towel to good use as a stretching aid. Simply wrap a towel around the arch of your foot, then hold the towel with each hand on the side of your body. Having this extra leverage allows you to keep your elbows closer to the floor, decreasing the tension or stretch in your neck.

Assist Your Hamstring Stretch

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Donkey Kick Exercise for Core and Leg Strength

Build total leg and core strength with this floor exercise. Begin on your hands and knees. Keep your back aligned, torso stable and belly button up tight. Lock your shoulders down into your body. Lift your right leg up off the floor, and bend your knee. Push your heel up toward the ceiling about 6 inches, then lower. Do 10-15 reps, then release. Repeat lifting and lowering your left leg.

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

Core and Leg Strength in 1 Exercise

Standing Hamstring and Low Back Stretch!

Begin standing. Place your right foot forward of your left about 2 feet and slightly wider than your hip. Keep both knees slightly bent. Bend forward slowly and place one hand on either side of your right leg for support. Another option is to place both hands on your right thigh for support. Tuck your chin into your chest. Hold for one deep breath, then release and return to a standing upright position. Repeat with your left foot forward.

This stretch is for those without injury or balance concerns.

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

Post-Workout Stretch

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Add an Exercise Band to your Lunge!

Hold both ends of the exercise band securely with each hand. Place your right foot on top of the band, so the band is securely under your arch. Step back with your left foot about 3 feet, so your right knee is directly over your right ankle. Bend both arms and hold the band into your body. Next, bend both knees and lower your body down toward the floor 10-12 inches. Straighten both knees to complete one rep. Do 10-12 reps with your right leg forward. To release, straight both arms and bend forward to put slack on the band, then carefully step off of the band. Repeat placing your left foot on the band.

*This exercise is for intermediate/advanced exercisers without injury considerations.

**Consult your physician before performing exercise.

Add an Exercise Band

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Strong Legs and Core

Build stronger legs and a stronger core with this one move. Begin on your hands and knees. Place your hands directly below your shoulders, and your knees directly below your hips. Keeping your torso stable, lift and extend one leg so it is parallel to the floor. Lower your toes to the floor, then lift about 12 inches. Perform 10-15 reps lifting each leg.

*Consult your physician before beginning exercise.

Build strong legs and core!