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

Side Plank for a Strong Core

Begin lying on your right side on the floor. Place your right hand directly below your right shoulder. Keeping your body and legs straight lift your body up off the floor. Hold for a count of 10-15, and then release. Repeat lying on your left side. Lift and hold for 10-15 seconds, then release. For more of a challenge, hold your top arm straight up, perpendicular to the floor, with your palm forward.

Side Plank for a Strong Core

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

Planks… Plus!

Take your planks up a level by adding in 2 additional moves:

Begin in a plank, on your toes and hands. Keep your body straight. Next, lift up your right leg, bend your knee and pull your knee up toward your chest. Straighten your knee to complete 1 rep. Do 10 reps, then release. Repeat with your left knee. Do 10 reps.

Begin in a plank, on your toes and hands. Lift your right leg up off the floor about 6 inches. Keeping your knee straight, slide your leg out to the side about 10-12 inches, then return to the center to complete 1 rep. Do 10 times, then release. Repeat with your left leg. Do 10 reps.

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

Take Your Planks Up a Level

Ab Tuck and Crunch

If you’re looking to challenge your abs, try this move. Begin lying flat on the floor, next lift up your upper body with your arms in front of you for balance. Then, lift both legs up off the floor to your starting pike position. Next, exhale and pull both knees into your chest while stabilizing your torso in the incline position. Inhale and return to your staring pike position. Repeat 10 times.

*Consult your physician before performing exercise. This exercise is for those without injury concerns.

Ab Tuck and Crunch