Global Courant
Everything you need to tone your problem areas and get fit is right in front of your eyes. You don’t need a gym membership and you certainly don’t need expensive gym equipment. It just takes a little imagination to turn everyday objects into body shaping tools.
1. Hardwood Floors and Socks: When it comes to interior decoration, hardwood floors are all the rage, but if you step on them while wearing a pair of socks, you’ve unknowingly created a brand new piece of fitness equipment that will take your workout to a whole new level. The hardwood floor under your socks creates a slippery surface that tightens more muscles as you try to control your movements. The constant contact with the floor as you slide back to the starting position targets your inner thighs and core in a way a standard fitness routine never will. Side lunges and scissor plank are two great examples:
Side Sliding Lunges:
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Hold your hands in front of your chest to help you balance.
Place your weight in your left leg.
As you slowly bend your left knee and squat down, slide your right foot out to the side.
As you straighten your left leg, slide the right foot back in. Your right foot is in constant contact with the floor. Focus on bringing your leg back with your inner thigh.
Complete three sets of 15 reps on each side.
Scissor shelf:
Start in a full plank position with your hands under the shoulders and arms straight.
Slide your feet apart and spread the legs as wide as possible without lowering your lower back. Squeeze your inner thighs as you slide your feet back together. Complete three sets of 15 reps.
2. Your bank: This multifunctional piece of furniture isn’t just for lying around. Not only does it serve as a great piece of fitness equipment for all levels of exercise and for full-body fitness routines, the different elevations (bench cushion vs. armrest) allow you to work different parts of your muscles that you may find more difficult to strengthen. Placing your legs on the cushion of the bench while doing a push-up makes this upper body exercise advanced. It targets the upper part of your chest while shaping your shoulders and arms at the same time. Beginners practice perfect form while standing over the armrest and leaning into the pushup. Standing allows you to control the amount of body weight you push and gives you the benefits of defined arms and chest.
3. Your groceries: Whether once a week or once a month, every bit of exercise helps. Grocery shopping is a great activity to strengthen your arms. If you don’t want to draw attention to yourself, don’t move. Hold a shopping bag in each arm at a 90-degree angle and keep them there for as long as possible. This exercise is known as an isometric pose. The longer you stay in place, the more muscle fibers you contract, and the more fibers you contract, the nicer your arms will look. It’s that simple.
4. Your Body: your body is the only all-in-one cardio and resistance training tool you own. Some would even say that store-bought exercise equipment is a thing of the past as newer and more creative exercise moves reduce the boredom of exercise. The burpee is a good example of a full-body strengthening and cardio exercise:
Burpee:
Place your feet shoulder-width apart. Lower your body into a squat position while placing your hands on the floor in front of you.
Step your feet back so that you are in a push-up position. Jump back for extra intensity.
Bend your elbows and lower your chest into a pushup.
Step your feet back to their original position. Get up and then jump into the air.
5. The Stairs: Stairs are the best exercise equipment you will ever own. The main muscle in your butt, the Gluteus Maximus, works to extend your hip. Every time your hip is flexed, your gluteus maximus has to work on straightening your leg. That’s why climbing stairs is so effective. The higher the step, the greater the hip flexion and the more your buttocks work.
It doesn’t stop there. At the end of the movement, stand up straight and put all your weight on the leg you’re pushing up. This works another gluteal muscle called the Gluteus Medius. This muscle tones the side of your buttocks as it flexes to keep your hips aligned.
It doesn’t stop here. Almost anything can become your brand new piece of fitness equipment, adding fun and innovation to any fitness routine.
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