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When should you do these exercises ? |
| Do them before eating; do them until at least 90 minutes
after a meal. Do them on a morning; do them on an evening. Vary the
times so that you do not become bored. Do some of them at work when
you feel stiff, tired and tense.
Total fitness is a defense against
fatigue, depression and stress. It helps strengthen and tone your
entire body, restoring balance, poise and self-confidence. It leaves
you feeling refreshed and revitalized, ready to cope with anything
that life offers. |
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1) CHEST AND BUST FIRMER |
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| To strengthen arms, shoulders, back and
chest. |
Hold your wrists at shoulder-height in front of you. Grip
as if pushing each hand towards the opposite elbow. Hold for 10
seconds then release. Repeat 3 times. |
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2) TRICEPS STRETCH |
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| To stretch and tone the triceps and upper
back. |
Raise arms and bend right elbow so that the right hand
rests on the upper back. Hold right elbow with left hand and gently
pull the right elbow in towards your head until you feel a slight
stretching sensation in the back of your arm and across the upper
back and shoulders. Hold for 10 seconds. Repeat 3 times and change
arms. |
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3) CHEST STRETCH |
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| To stretch out the pectorals and upper arms. |
Stand with your feet apart. Clasp hands behind back then
gently raise them, keeping your elbows slightly bent the whole time.
Hold for 8 seconds. Relax and repeat. |
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4) WALL PUSH-UPS |
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| To strengthen and develop the arm, shoulder and chest
muscles. |
Stand about 3 feet from a wall. Raise arms to
shoulder-height and place on wall. Slowly bend arms as much as you
can to the count of 3. Then return to starting position to the count
of 3 and repeat 10 times. |
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5) PUSH-UPS |
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| To strengthen arms, shoulders, back and
chest. |
Lie face down, palms flat beside shoulders and toes tucked
under. Breathe in, then, breathing out, push up as far as possible.
Breathe in and lower to a couple of inches above the floor. Repeat
5-10 times. |
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6) LOWER BACK STRETCH |
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| To stretch out the hamstrings, inner thighs and
back. |
Lie flat on back, knees bent, feet flat. Pull one knee
towards you gently until you feel a slight stretch in the back of
the thigh. Hold for 15-20 seconds. Repeat with other leg.
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7) CURL-UPS |
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| To strengthen stomach and back. |
a. Lie on back, knees bent with feet and knees
hip-width apart. Place hands lightly on stomach. Press your back to
the floor. |
b.
Slowly curl up from the stomach and raise shoulders and head a couple
of inches, reaching with both hands towards knees. Gently lower.
Breathe out going up, and in going down. Repeat 5 times, pause, then
repeat 5 times. |
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8) ELEVATED SIT-UPS |
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| To strengthen abdomen, back and neck. |
Lie on your back, feet pointing to ceiling, knees slightly
bent, arms by your sides. Using abdominal muscles, raise head and
upper torso, exhaling as you reach forward with hands past your
thighs. Inhale and relax back without letting head touch floor.
Repeat 5 times. |
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9) SCISSORS |
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| To firms up stomach and thighs. |
Lie on back with knees bent, feet flat on floor. Raise one
leg at a time, keeping small of back pressed flat on to floor. Then
make scissor movement in air 5 times. Lower legs one at a time again
and repeat from start 5 times. Don't arch your back, and keep neck
and spine in line. |
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10) LEG LIFTS |
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| To strengthen abdomen, thighs and lower
back. |
Lie on your back, arms outstretched. Slowly raise then
lower each leg alternately, counting 5 to raise, 5 to hold and 5 to
lower. Don't arch your back. Repeat 5 times, relaxing
between. |
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11) LEG RAISES |
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| To strengthen abdomen, thighs and lower
back. |
Lie on your back, legs together, arms behind your head.
Keeping legs straight, raise feet gently from floor a few inches,
keeping small of back pressed down on floor. Hold for 5-10 seconds.
Repeat 5 times. |
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12) BACK PUSH-UP |
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| To strengthen middle of back and shoulders and firm up thighs
and buttocks. |
a. Lie flat on floor, knees bent, arms by your
side. Pull your stomach in and breathe deeply from abdomen for 10
seconds, keeping lower back pressed flat. |
b. Then lift buttocks off floor by contracting them
and using your stomach muscles. Hold for 5 seconds. Repeat 5
times. |
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13) SITTING TOE TOUCHES |
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| To stretch the inner thighs, spine, hamstrings, shoulders and
back. |
Sit on floor, legs straight out in front, feet together,
backs of knees touching the floor. Very slowly reach forward from
the waist as far as is comfortable, clasping the calves, and keeping
the spine and neck long. Hold for 10 seconds. Repeat 3 times.
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14) WAISTLINE FIRMER |
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| To tone and strengthen inside and outside thighs, back and
abdomen. |
a. From legs together position, slowly raise top leg
as far as you can. Hold for count of 5, then slowly lower. Repeat 5
times. |
b. Keeping legs together, slowly raise them. Hold for
count of 5 then slowly lower. Repeat 5 times. Turn over and repeat
both movements, 5 times each. |
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15) INNER THIGH STRETCH |
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| To stretch out the groin area. |
Sit with the soles of your feet together and as close to
you as is comfortable. Keep your back straight. Hold your ankles and
press your knees downwards. Hold for 10 seconds then release. Repeat
3 times. |
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16) LOWER BACK STRETCH |
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| To stretch out the lower back, and inside and back of
thighs. |
Sit up with left leg straight and right leg bent. Gently
lean over the left leg from the hips until you feel a slight
stretching sensation down the back of the outstretched leg. Hold for
10 seconds. Repeat 3 times, alternating legs. |
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17) SPINAL STRETCH |
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| To stretch out lower back and side of hip. |
Sit, legs outstretched. Place right foot over left leg,
then place right hand behind you and left hand across your body for
support. Slowly twist to right. Stretch body and turn head gently to
side. Do 3 twists then change over legs; left foot over right leg
and repeat exercise. |
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18) BACK STRENGTHENER |
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| To strengthen the lower back. |
Lie face down on floor with hands under thighs. Gently
lift head a couple of inches, hold and relax. Don't arch your back.
Repeat 5 times. |
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19) THE COBRA |
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| To mobilise the spine and strengthen the
back. |
Lie face down, palms flat on the floor at shoulder-height
with elbows tucked into sides. Gently push up until you are resting
on your elbows. Keep your spine and neck in line, still watching the
floor so that you don't twist neck. Hold for 10 seconds then relax.
Repeat 5 times. |
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20) BACK STRETCH |
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| To stretch out the centre of the back, and tone and
strengthen the thighs, buttocks, shoulders, arms and
abdomen. |
Lie on back with knees bent and feet flat. Raise arms out
to shoulder-height and bend at elbows so that the backs of the hands
are flat on the floor. Don't arch your back. Bring your right leg
over the left, lowering the knee towards the floor. Hold for 10
seconds. Repeat on other side. |
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21) TOTAL RELAXATION |
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Lie flat on back, knees bent, arms at sides and support
the back of head with books piled to a height of about 4 inches.
Breathe deeply from abdomen and concentrate on relaxing every part
of the body. Start with the toes and say to yourself, my toes are
completely and totally relaxing. Work up through the rest of the
body: the legs, stomach, chest, back, shoulders, to the head, using
the same relaxing words, but using your own version. A total
relaxation session can last form 5 to 15 minutes or
longer. |
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