Standing up straight will do more for you than get your Mom off your back for slouching. Good posture decreases back pain, increases confidence and makes your silhouette appear slimmer. But the computer-based work and school atmosphere today does not make proper posture easy. Strengthening your back and core muscles, however, can help the act of standing up straight be much easier and more natural.
I have four core-focused exercises that are great posture perfecters. You will need a medium to heavy pair of dumbbells (or a barbell) and a resistance band. The band can actually be used in lieu of the weights for the row if necessary—just loop the band around your feet and pull one end with each arm.
Do you find that you naturally have admirable posture or do you have to work at it? Do you have any tips for all of us if you fall in either camp?
While experts have touted the benefits of Tai Chi and Pilates for balance, there are many strength and cardiovascular exercises that test, challenge and build your stability as well. Today, we tackle three moves that will work your core while strengthening your lower body and getting your heart pumping a bit!
To complete these exercises, you’ll need one medium weight set of dumbbells and about a six feet square of open space. Grab your concentration as well—you’ll need it to keep steady throughout these moves!
If you’re looking to spice up your traditional strength moves while boosting balance, try standing on one leg during upper body moves like bicep curls and overhead presses. You can also grab a BOSU ball or stability disk and stand on them (with one or two legs) during your weight workout. And here are a few other strength exercises to try!
Do you have any tips for maintaining good physical balance or any favorite exercises that build body stability?
Medicine balls are terrific tools that can be utilized in nearly any workout (arms, legs, core, even extra resistance/balance tools during particular cardio moves) and for nearly every athlete. Today, I’m giving you a few medicine ball-assisted moves to try that will tone all areas of your core.
Grab a medicine ball—or a dumbbell will work for the first and third exercises—and join me for three waist whittling moves! Feel free to keep your arms on the floor near your lower back to support you, as a beginner, during the weighted reverse crunch (exercise #2). (And feel free to laugh at me when I allow the ball to slip out during this move…my Mom was giggling behind the camera and cracking me up! :) )
Do you have any favorite tools that you keep in your home exercise room or that you gravitate to at the gym?
