23-Oct-2014
Comments Off on Stability Ball Exercises Part 4
Stability Ball Exercises Part 4
Category : Exercise
16-Oct-2014
Comments Off on Stability Ball Exercises Part 3
Stability Ball Exercises Part 3
Category : Exercise
Two for You!
Here are two stability ball exercises you can do anytime, anywhere to strengthen your core, glutes and hamstrings. That’s the purpose of our exercise blog…to introduce new and fun exercises that you can do at home with little or no equipment because we know you can’t always get to the gym! Exercise #1: Bridge with feet on ball Begin lying on back with feet resting on ball. Lift your body off of the mat so you are in a straight line from your shoulders to your heels. Hold for 5-10 counts; lower down and repeat. More Challenge: Lift your hands off the floor so that your core has to work harder to stabilize you. Add waving your hands in the air to make it even more difficult. Exercise #2: Leg Curl Begin lying on back with feet resting on ball. Lift your body off of the mat so you are in a straight line from your shoulders to your heels. Bend knees rolling ball toward you; then straighten legs rolling the ball away. You may need to return to the floor after every rep when you first start. Build up to 5 at a time and eventually to 10 in a row. More Challenge: Make it a single leg curl…lift one foot off the ball! Want more exercises like these? Contact us! info@xofitness.com09-Oct-2014
Comments Off on Stability Ball Exercises Part 2
Stability Ball Exercises Part 2
Category : Exercise
Two for You!
Here are two stability ball exercises you can do anytime, anywhere to strengthen your core, glutes and balance. That’s the purpose of our exercise blog…to introduce new and fun exercises that you can do at home with little or no equipment because we know you can’t always get to the gym! Exercise #1: Seated Single Leg BalanceBegin in a seated position. Sit tall with shoulders directly over hips and spine in neutral. DO NOT let your hips tuck under into a pelvic tilt. Lift one foot from floor and hold it there while you count to five (or ten). Switch feet. Repeat five times with each leg. Exercise #2: BridgeBegin in a seated position and then walk your feet away from the ball until your head and shoulders are resting on the ball as shown on video. Feet should be about hip distance apart. Shoulders, hips and knees should be in one straight line. Next, lower hips toward the floor 6-8 inches and squeeze glutes to lift back up into a straight bridge. The ball should remain stationary. Repeat 15x More Challenge: Hold hand weight resting on your upper leg while you perform this exercise. Want to learn more stability ball and core exercises? Contact us! info@xofitness.com02-Oct-2014
Comments Off on Stability Ball Exercises Part 1
Stability Ball Exercises Part 1
Category : Exercise
Two for You!
Here are two stability ball exercises you can do anytime, anywhere to strengthen your lower back and glutes. That’s the purpose of our exercise blog…to introduce new and fun exercises that you can do at home with little or no equipment because we know you can’t always get to the gym! Exercise #1: Back ExtensionPosition yourself with your belly on the ball and your toes on the floor so you are balanced by three points: your toes (1 & 2) and the ball (3).Lift your upper body away from the ball slightly arching your back. This is great for strengthening your lower back. Repeat 10x For more challenge: Try holding your arms out to the sides or extending them even further forward. Exercise #2: DolphinAgain, position yourself with your belly on the ball, but move your weight further forward over the top of the ball so that your hands are supporting some of your weight and your feet are not helping you balance. Your three balance points will be your hands (1 & 2) and the ball.With your feet together, lift legs up until your body is in a straight line (or a little higher if you can) do this slowly without momentum. You’ll feel this in your glutes, low back and even inner thigh. Repeat 10x Want to learn more exercises like these and train with a personal trainer? Contact us! info@xofitness.com30-Sep-2014
Comments Off on Halloween Candy vs Burpees
Halloween Candy vs Burpees
Category : Healthy Eating
It’s the first week of October,
stores are well-stocked with trick-or-treat candy,
but does that mean you need to stock your pantry?!
Be realistic, if you buy Halloween candy now will it actually be around on October 31st when the kids come knocking?Leave the candy in the store until just a few days before Halloween….
otherwise, stepping on the scale might get a little scary!
Burpee Calculator source: saratogamama.com
This might help put things in perspective you love burpees, right?
24-Sep-2014
Comments Off on Balance and core strength
Balance and core strength
Category : Exercise
Two for You!
Here are two exercises you can do anytime, anywhere for improved balance and core strength. That’s the purpose of our exercise blog…to introduce new and fun exercises that you can do at home with little or no equipment because we know you can’t always get to the gym! Exercise #1: Figure 8 with handsBalance on one foot and clasp your hand together with arms extended in front of you. Draw a figure 8 which is lying on its side as shown in the video.Repeat 10x while balancing on each foot For more challenge: Hold a small hand-weight while drawing your figure 8 Exercise #2: Figure 8 with toeBalance on one foot and extend your other leg straight out in front of you with your toe at about knee height. Draw a figure 8 (again, lying on its side) with your toe. Place your hands on your hips and concentrate on keeping your hips motionless while doing this exercise. Do you want to learn more core and balance exercises like these? Contact us info@xofitness.com17-Sep-2014
Comments Off on Core and Upper Body Strength
Core and Upper Body Strength
Category : Exercise
Two for You!
Here are two exercises you can do anytime, anywhere for core and upper body strength. That’s the purpose of our exercise blog…to introduce new and fun exercises that you can do at home with little or no equipment because we know you can’t always get to the gym! Exercise #1: Alternating Reverse FlyStart on hands & knees with hands on dumbbells. With elbow slightly bent, lift one arm out to side until it is parallel to the floor then lower the weight slowly to the floor and repeat with the other arm. Be sure to keep your shoulders square to the floor and abdominal muscles braced as you lift and lower the weight. Repeat 10x per arm alternating For more challenge: Extend opposite leg straight out behind you as you lift the weight so that you are balanced on one hand and one knee. Exercise #2: Alternating Chest FlyStart lying on your back with knees bent and feet on the floor and hold the weights straight up above your shoulders. With elbow slightly bent, slowly lower one weight out to the side until your elbow touches the floor…then lift back up to starting position and repeat with the other arm. Repeat 10x per arm alternating For more challenge: Lift feet off of floor…hold legs up with knees & hips at right angles. Want to learn more core exercises like these? Contact us! info@xofitness.com11-Sep-2014
Comments Off on Core Exercises you can do
Core Exercises you can do
Category : Exercise
Two for You!
Here are two core exercises you can do anytime, anywhere to strengthen obliques, rectus abdominis and transverse abdominis. That’s the purpose of our exercise blog…to introduce new and fun exercises that you can do at home with little or no equipment because we know you can’t always get to the gym! Exercise #1: Heel tapsStart by lying on your back. Lift your knees so they are directly above your hips. You should have a right angle at both your hip and knee as shown. Then hinge from your hip and slowly lower one leg down to tap the floor with your heel. Slowly (I repeat,slowly) return to the starting position and then repeat with the other leg. You can make this more challenging by straightening the leg. Be sure to keep your spine in neutral and don’t let your pelvis tip as you lower your leg. Exhale as you lower your leg & inhale as you lift it back up. Do 10 alternating (5 on each side) Exercise #2: Knee DropsStart in the same position as Exercise #1 except place your arms straight out from your shoulders. Keeping knees and feet together, slowly lower legs over to one side twisting through your torso. Keep your shoulder blades in contact with the floor even if that means limiting how far over you lower your legs. Inhale as you twist to the side and exhale as you pull your legs back to center. Repeat on the other side. You can make this more challenging by changing the position of your arms as shown in the video. Do 10-20 alternating side to side. Want to learn more core exercises like these? Contact us! info@xofitness.com04-Sep-2014
Comments Off on Tone your legs and glutes
Tone your legs and glutes
Category : Exercise
Two for You!
Here are two kickboxing drills you can do anytime, anywhere to improve balance and tone your legs and glutes. That’s the purpose of our exercise blog…to introduce new and fun exercises that you can do at home with little or no equipment because we know you can’t always get to the gym! Exercise #1: Step back lunge and front kickStep straight back…make it a BIG step so that you can drop down into a lunge. If your front knee is over your toes you need to take a bigger step. Then drive rear leg forward leading with the knee and extend the leg out straight. Repeat 10 on each side. Exercise #2: Curtsy squat and side kickStep one foot behind the other and drop down into a curtsy squat as shown. Then execute a side kick bringing the leg up and out to the side. The knee should be bent as you bring the leg up, and finish by kicking the leg out straight and parallel to the floor. Knee cap and toe should be pointed straight ahead NOT at the ceiling. Repeat 10 on each side. If you are struggling with your balance and unable to perform these use a chair for balance so that you can effectively tone your legs and glutes. Want more exercises like these? Contact Karin! karin@xofitness.com28-Aug-2014
Comments Off on Side Plank Exercises
Side Plank Exercises
Category : Exercise
