Life Designer E - Mag April 2015 | Page 10

Life Designer, April 2015 KEEP FIT Keep fit using your own bodyweight exercise. You don’t need expensive gym equipment or a gym membership. Learn to use your own bodyweight to Keep fit in only 20 min daily. The workout starts with a warm-up jog and then has 8 bodyweight exercises designed to help tone and burn fat. All the exercises are traditional old school fitness exercises that are performed in martial arts clubs, aerobics classes and gyms the world over. This quick home workout routine is designed to improve both cardiovascular fitness and muscular endurance. It is also great for toning the body. Perform each exercise as intensively as possible and then rest for up to 30 seconds before moving on to the next one. Always ensure that you perform the exercises correctly, holding proper form, especially in the hip bridges and squat thrusts. Breath deeply and naturally throughout. This workout targets the whole body, improves cardiovascular efficiency and tones and strengthens the body. This workout is a great way to prepare for a more serious circuit training workout. 1. Jog in one place for 3 minutes Simple light jogging on the spot. This does not have to be intensive, so no high knees or jumping around, it is just to gently warm you up for a few 9 minutes before the main exercises. 2. Jumping jacks: 50 repeats The classic old school cardio burner. Also known as the star jump, start by standing up straight with your feet together, then simply jump the feet out to the sides, just wider than shoulder width apart while lifting you hands upwards. Return to normal standing position. When landing, bend your knees slightly to reduce the impact on knee joints. 3. Crunches: 15 repeats Lie flat on your back with your knees bent. Place your hands at the sides of your head with your fingers lightly touching your temples, with elbows pointing outwards. Try to keep your neck in a straight line with your spine, fixing a point on the ceiling above you is a good idea. Flex your waist to raise the upper torso from the floor so that you are “crunching” your abdominals. Ensure that your abs are engaged (contracted) throughout the movement, hold for a second. Then lower yourself until the back of your shoulders touches the mat before repeating. Muscles worked: Abdominals www.lifedesigner.in