Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) as a Fun Exercise Program

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544

Summary:
People may quit an exercise program due to a lack of motivation and goal setting. An exercise program may feel like too much work. However, with Dance Dance Revolution (DDR), kids, teens, and adults can find a way to exercise and have more fun.

Keywords:
dance dance revolution, ddr

Article Body:
One of the main reasons people quit an exercise program is a lack of motivation and goal setting. You may start an exercise program in hopes of losing weight and becoming fit. However, as you continue exercising, you may feel that you’re putting in so much effort but gaining so little. You become unmotivated because it’s not worth it.

With Dance Dance Revolution (DDR), kids, teens, and adults can find a way to stay motivated, exercise, and have more fun. Dance Dance Revolution is a music game available on both console and arcade. You can choose from a variety of energetic dance songs. As the song plays, you have to step on a specific pattern of arrows in response to the song’s beat.

Like most games, learning Dance Dance Revolution takes practice. There is a range of tempos, song genres, and step difficulties, so there is something for everyone. Beginners can start off with easy slow-paced songs. To get better, simply practice, practice, and practice. Become familiar with the songs. As you progress you can gradually choose faster songs and more difficult step patterns. With enough practice and persistence you’ll gain stamina, become better at foot-eye coordination, and have a better sense of rhythm.

Since the game grades you on how well you’ve played each song, it is easy to set goals and stay motivated. For example, if you achieved a ‘D’ rating on a song, you can set a goal to get a ‘C’ rating in a certain timeframe. If you failed a song, you can set a goal to pass that song in a certain number of tries. Also, with a partner, you can both play the same song and participate in some friendly competition. This competition adds a great deal of fun. It helps you strive to improve and keep playing so you can beat your dance partner.

To play Dance Dance Revolution, look for your local arcades and see if any of them has a Dance Dance Revolution arcade machine. If they don’t, or you don’t want to travel to an arcade, you can get a Dance Dance Revolution game for a console like Playstation, Playstation 2, or XBox. Of course, you could play with a regular controller but then you wouldn’t be exercising (unless you consider finger manipulation exercising). To experience the game the right way, you’ll need a dance pad.

There are three main types of dance pads: soft thin pads, ignition pads, and metal pads. Soft thin pads are flexible, made of plastic, and wear out quickly. They tend to slip around a lot. I have to constantly realign my soft thin pad while playing harder songs. If you simply want to test out DDR, soft thin pads are great. Ignition pads are soft pads which have a foam insert. The foam insert provides weight, durability, and comfort. It feels different from the arcade but is easy to adapt to. Like the soft thin pads, ignition pads will wear out. The best pads for expert players are the metal pads. They have been designed to give more of that arcade feel. They have greater durability and accuracy.

Do You Visualize Whilst You Are Doing Breathing Exercises?

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231

Summary:
Q. I find breathing exercises very boring is there anything I can do to make less boring?

Keywords:
breathing,breathing technique,health,fitness,yoga.

Article Body:
Q. I find breathing exercises very boring is there anything I can do to make less boring?

Have you ever used visualization when you are doing your breathing exercises, a lot of people think that breathing exercises are only a manner of sitting down and concentrating as they inhale exhale, which to the outsider can seem as being very boring and monotonous but here’s a few things you can try out the next time, try?

? concentrating on a particular colour on inhalation and another colour on exhalation (for example some colour you link with calmness or purity, and another colour for stress or impurity)

? having a picture in your mind of your body and as you breathe in, think of all the extra parts of your lungs that have been under used because of bad breathing habits.

? Taking a breath and picturing the air coming into your body from different areas (such as the soles of the feet for example.)

It can especially seem complicated for beginners when starting out to do breathing exercises as you can’t see the muscles that they are working on but by visualizing their lungs in action in their mind it makes it all the easier to do?and remember when you’re doing your breathing exercises you’re not really learning anything new but undoing all the bad habits you’ve picked up over the years.

Warming Up & Cooling Down

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470

Summary:
Before you begin exercising or lifting any weights at all, it’s important to take a few minutes to warm up your muscles. Doing some light exercises actually warms up your muscles and makes them more flexible. This way, you’re less likely to injure yourself during a workout.

Some warm-ups include exercise bike riding, walking, jogging, or even basic calisthenics. Don’t start at the pace you hope to keep during your workout; start slowly, building up momentum and energy as y…

Keywords:

Article Body:
Before you begin exercising or lifting any weights at all, it’s important to take a few minutes to warm up your muscles. Doing some light exercises actually warms up your muscles and makes them more flexible. This way, you’re less likely to injure yourself during a workout.

Some warm-ups include exercise bike riding, walking, jogging, or even basic calisthenics. Don’t start at the pace you hope to keep during your workout; start slowly, building up momentum and energy as you go. Set a stopping time and then move on with the rest of your workout.

When you begin lifting weights, start with lower poundage to warm up those muscles. Then you can add more weight and start lifting. This way, you won’t be as apt to strain a tendon or muscle-group-your muscles will be more limber and ready to handle the strain of a more exertive workout.

While you’re lifting weights or doing any sort of exercise, you need to breathe. People have the oddest habit of holding their breath during hard physical exertion or times of discomfort/pain. When you exercise, if you hold your breath, you can actually raise your blood pressure and put a larger strain on your heart and blood vessels.

Breathing sounds simple enough, but in order to make it intentional during a workout, breathe in through your nose, taking a long, deep breath. Then exhale through your mouth. Don’t reverse it-you’ll end up hyperventilating if you do it wrong or too quickly. Inhale on the ‘lift’ of an exercise, and exhale on the ‘release’ of the same.

Some gyms will have step exercises or jogging boards in between the weight machines to help you keep your heart rate up during your workout. This lets you rest your muscles a little between each machine, as well as keeping your heart rate at an optimum level. You don’t want to lose the benefits of your exertion between stations at the gym-that defeats the purpose!

After you’ve completed your strength-training workout, you want to allow yourself four or five minutes of light aerobic exercise to relax your body and give you a chance to breathe easier. Just walk around at a normal pace, then stretch lightly. You’ll be amazed at your flexibility and the ability you have to extend arms and legs further than before!

Before you think about exercising or doing weight training 6 or 7 days in a row, consider this. When you do weight training to bulk up, your muscles are strained. In order for them to become stronger and larger, they need some time to repair themselves. So let your muscles rest a day in between workouts. Do some walking or aerobics instead on those days and you’ll maximize your workout!

Features Of Home Gym Equipment

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316

Summary:
Home gym equipment is a great way for you to stay in shape, stay healthy and keep and build muscle tone. There are many home gym equipment reviews online that tout the benefits of the home gym. You can exercise at home in relative ease. The equipment allows you to work muscles productively that you normally would have trouble exercising and the equipment is usually more effective in helping you exercise. It helps you to maintain proper posture and follow through in the correc…

Keywords:
home gym equipment site

Article Body:
Home gym equipment is a great way for you to stay in shape, stay healthy and keep and build muscle tone. There are many home gym equipment reviews online that tout the benefits of the home gym. You can exercise at home in relative ease. The equipment allows you to work muscles productively that you normally would have trouble exercising and the equipment is usually more effective in helping you exercise. It helps you to maintain proper posture and follow through in the correct motions.

Many users of home gym equipment have or use multistation pieces that allow them to workout on several types of machines in one. The multistation home gym will often allow you to work out your arms, legs, abs and buttock or thighs.

Its usually composed of a pulley or sliding bar system that ‘transforms’ into different positions when you wish to change your workout routine. The multistation home gym increases tension using these pulleys which equate to measures of five or ten pound increments.

You may wish to check out some home gym equipment reviews to find which multistation gyms people prefer. It is very important to find the right ones. Your workout routine will undoubtedly place a lot of stress on the machine and you want to look for the machine that will stand up to the abuse. In a worst case scenario your multistation home gym will break while you are using it and may cause you an injury.

All home gym equipment must have a steel or aluminum frame in order to be strong enough to support you during exercise. It should come with a warranty because it is a big purchase and you need to get your monies worth. Also its important to make sure that this home gym equipment works when you get it and that it has a return policy that the company will honor.

Strength Training With Weider Fitness Equipment

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452

Summary:
If you are looking for an all-in-one strength training workout, Weider fitness equipment may be the answer that you have been searching for. Whether you do not have a lot of room for multiple pieces of strength training equipment or simply prefer the convenience of an all-in-one unit, there is a simple solution. Many strength training experts prefer to work out in the comfort of their own home and wish to avoid spending money on a gym membership. These are just a few of the r…

Keywords:
strength training

Article Body:
If you are looking for an all-in-one strength training workout, Weider fitness equipment may be the answer that you have been searching for. Whether you do not have a lot of room for multiple pieces of strength training equipment or simply prefer the convenience of an all-in-one unit, there is a simple solution. Many strength training experts prefer to work out in the comfort of their own home and wish to avoid spending money on a gym membership. These are just a few of the reasons that Weider strength training fitness equipment is gaining in popularity.

The Advantage by Weider is a unique product. Offering over 65 club-quality exercises is not the only quality this strength training equipment promises, but this Weider fitness product also guarantees to tone up your muscles in 6 weeks or less.

The Weider fitness equipment strength trainer is a separate unit, which is designed to increase muscle and improve the overall tone of the entire body. This 16.6 strength trainer offers an upper-body station, butterfly arms, pull-up station, high and low pulleys, 225 lbs. of weights. The entire unit is designed on a sturdy steel frame. The Weider Pro 3750 strength trainer features two full-body workout stations, which are combined into one single machine. It offers 212 lbs. of resistance and aids in building muscles throughout every part of the body. Weider offers a variety of strength training units, each of which features many of the same characteristics, but may differ slightly in resistance or other option.

If your ultimate goal is strength training, the Weider fitness equipment that you may want to consider using is called a strength station. This strength training unit allows you to work on the abdominal muscles, chest, back, triceps and arms. It features a vertical knee raise station, dip station and a pull-up and push-up station .

In addition to the aforementioned strength training units, Weider fitness equipment includes a wide variety of weight benches and weights, exercise mats and other accessories. Among the more affordable units offered by Weider fitness equipment are a step machine, a genuine leather jump rope, latex resistance bands and a sit-up bar. The sit-up bar is especially interesting because it is used as a stand alone product that attaches to any standard door while providing the user with secure foot support needed for doing sit-ups.

The contents of this strength training article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered, or used as, professional medical advice or recommendations. Before beginning any training or fitness routine, you should consult a licensed physician to learn what risks, if any, exist. He/she will be able to recommend a quality strength training exercise regimen, which will be personalized to fit your needs.

Combat the Fat and Tailor Your Supermarket Habits For the New You!

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315

Summary:
Your local grocery store is laid out to actually SIDE TRACK you from choosing the right foods to build muscle! Here’s how to maneuver the obstacle course to avoid the mistakes most people make!

Keywords:
you’ll, protein, store, right, soy, news, bodybuilding, build, lose, products, cross, diet, lean, left, lean

Article Body:
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is the perfect body.

The weightlifting’s going great. You have a challenging, but not completely sadistic trainer.

You’ve carved time out of your schedule hit the gym. (You even remember to run your workout clothes through the wash…hopefully!)

You’ll grow huge, buff, and polished in no time? unless you eat junk.

Everyone’s got to eat. And if your goal is to build lean muscle without the fat, YOU have to eat wiser than the rest.

Get sloppy and you’ll be fighting on both sides in the battle of the bulge.

Restrict your diet too much and yeah, you’ll lose fat; but, you’ll also probably lose interest and head right for some greasy fries and a chocolate shake.

Let’s look at what you can get at your friendly neighborhood supermarket.

Frankly, there are a few aisles no self-respecting bodybuilder will be seen in. (And I don’t mean the adult diaper aisle.)

The bad news? Cross off your list the following aisles: sodas, chips, cookies, candy, pasta, and kiddie cereals.

The good news? Well, you can also cross off the catfood and dogfood aisle. Protein is great, but you don’t have to get crazy.

What’s left? Lean proteins, including fish, turkey, and chicken. Eggs are a great source of whole protein, as is skim milk and low-fat cottage cheese.

Tofu ? the mystery “meat” of champions is another great option, especially for vegetarian bodybuilders.

These are all found around the perimeter of the store, which is great because you’ll get some walking in, too.

Now, head down the organic or health food aisle.

If you have a great store, you’ll find some products here that are mainstays of the ultimate bodybuilding diet: whey protein and soy protein products, nuts, whole grain cereals, and soy beans.

Trying To Get Back In Shape?

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414

Summary:
If you have taken a layoff from your exercise program it’s tough to get motivated to start back into your training regimen again. What you have to do is set some realistic attainable “written”goals to help push you.

Keywords:
sports equipment

Article Body:
If you have taken a layoff from your exercise program it’s tough to get motivated to start back into your training regimen again. What you have to do is set some realistic attainable “written”goals to help push you.

The reason I have emphasized “written” is because if you don’t write your goals down they are merely wishes. Studies have proven over and over that writing your goals down is powerful.

Let’s look at some examples. If you want to get back into running, walk first. Depending upon your level of fitness you may only start with fifteen or twenty minutes. If you have some level of fitness start with 30 minutes and gradually increase it.

Once you have been walking for a couple of weeks ease back into running by alternating walking and running. Walk for ten minutes and run for five and so on. As you increase your level of fitness and your soreness lessens increase the running until you get back to running for thirty to forty five minutes at a time.

If you have been involved in weight training in the past and have taken a layoff of more than a couple of months you really need to take it slow coming back.

With weight training, if you push to hard to early you can end up damaging supporting tendons and ligaments. The key is not to rush in trying to use the same weights you were using and do less sets.

What I do after a long layoff is go to the gym and ride the stationary bike for 15-2o minutes first to warm my body up. Next, I will choose only one body part per day to exercise. If you are an older person or have a larger frame you may want to continue this type of program even after your initial break in period.

Let’s look at working the chest for example. If I were bench pressing 300 pounds prior to my layoff I will begin my first work out with 135 pounds and do 3 or 4 sets of high reps in the 15-20 range. Adjust your weights accordingly. Then I may do 3 sets of flat dumbbell flyes again with higher reps so as not to place to much stress on my tendons and ligaments.

Follow these same guidelines for all body parts and increase the weights and reps slowly and within a month you will be right back to hard training again and working towards your goals.

When Buying A Used Treadmill

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442

Summary:
Try a used treadmill before you buy! Try it again before the buy! Think again, list all the negative points, why you should not buy this particular treadmill, and then finally decide whether to buy it or not!

Before that, are you psychologically ready to buy a second hand product- the one used by others? This issue is very important. Hundreds of people are going to ask you this in the future, why you bought this secondhand treadmill. Every time, you need to give them a sor…

Keywords:
buying used treadmills, buying treadmills

Article Body:
Try a used treadmill before you buy! Try it again before the buy! Think again, list all the negative points, why you should not buy this particular treadmill, and then finally decide whether to buy it or not!

Before that, are you psychologically ready to buy a second hand product- the one used by others? This issue is very important. Hundreds of people are going to ask you this in the future, why you bought this secondhand treadmill. Every time, you need to give them a sort of mini-discourse and convince them, as to what made you go for a used treadmill purchase! If you have made the buy against the wishes of your wife, she is not going to pardon you for lifetime! Take it as a guarantee!

There is, however a difference between a used treadmill and the refurbished treadmill. By buying a refurbished treadmill, you have actually bought a new treadmill. In the process, you have saved thousands of dollars as well. But you need to know the art of buying a used treadmill, and you need to take some basic, unfailing precautions.

By buying a used treadmill, you have already saved the gym fees. Perhaps a few months fees would equal the cost of the treadmill you have bought. Some used treadmills are sold with a limited warranty as well.

Before buying a used treadmill, think of some import parts first. Do not make compromise on the motor. If motor is defective, no amount of assurances is going to save you from immediate future troubles. Have a trial run, and watch whether any additional vibrations are created by the treadmill. And the console of the treadmill needs to give you the correct indications about the speed at which you run the distance and the time. Some consoles have pre-generated workouts.

As for the body, look for the treadmill with a long deck. You need to walk or run at full stride that will give you total exercise freedom. Of what material the frame is made? If it is steel, it is better and will have long-term advantages. The minimum size of the deck should be 52.

Look out for two important safety features in the used treadmill you intend to buy. First is the automatic stop button. The reason for this facility is obvious. Second is provision for the safety key that locks the treadmill. Let the children use it in your presence and with your permission, till such time they have mastered the procedure well.

Again to remind you about the motor, it needs to be a quiet motor! With the grumbling motor, the whole treadmill will grumble!

The Home Buyers Guide to Choosing a Treadmill

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1192

Summary:
This artcle covers everything a buyer needs to know when heading out to purchase a new treadmill. The Treadmill Sensei gives you the knowledge you need to navigate the confusing waters of treadmill buying.

Keywords:
treadmill, review, treadmill sensei

Article Body:
Moshi Moshi!

Hello again from the Far East on the West Coast, and greetings from the DOJO. This week, before I get in to the nuts and bolts of the treadmills and the ellipticals I work on, I’m going to start with a quick guide to how to choose a treadmill — well, how to choose a residential / home grade treadmill. Choosing a commercial treadmill tends to be a bit easier — go Star Trac, Matrix, Landice or Life Fitness and, in spite of their great ellipticals, avoid Precor treadmills. Precor is a great company, they just don’t quite have treadmills down as well as the other companies. With the commercial treadmills it’s kind of like choosing between a BMW, a Mercedes and a Lexus. It’s all about bells and whistles more than performance…they’re all great machines and we’ll talk about them another time.

Home treadmills are a tough sea to navigate for most buyers — there are so many different brands and they all look alike to outsiders. Luckily, over the past 20 or so years, I’ve had to repair just about every treadmill ever made. In other words, my pain will be your salvation!

My first piece of advice is: avoid anything and everything from Icon Health and Fitness. They’re the manufacturer of the units you’ll find at places like Sears — nothing against Sears, but the treadmills they sell tend to be on the lower end of the quality scale. Their treadmills seem to have specs that are too good to be true for their cost and, truth be told, they are. The old proverb, “you get what you pay for” comes in to play with them. Small motors with high RPMs to give them a perceived higher horsepower (most of their motors should really be rated at under 1.5 HP regardless of what they tell you — a motor the size of a soda can should not be powering a full sized treadmill!), lots of plastic pieces, tiny rollers, and generally unstable machines are par for the course for the Icon brands like Proform, Weslo, Healthrider and Image. Just stay away from them! There are better treadmills even at the more affordable prices that Icon tempts the unlearned consumer with.

On with translating the arcane lore that is treadmill purchasing for the lay person.

Let’s start with the motor. The first thing you want to do is make sure the motor is rated with “Continuous Duty.” Any sales person or manufacturer who gives you a “Peak” rating is trying to sell you a bag of magic beans. Peak is best described as the maximum a motor will perform at before it breaks down. What’s more imporant is: how the heck is that motor going to perform when you’re actually using it? Another thing a shady salesperson might mention is that a common home circuit (120v/15amps) will only let you run about 2.5 HP and any motor larger than that is a waste of money. Technically that is true (about the amps vs. HP, not the waste of money), but the larger motors will tend to last longer as they are not running at the higher RPMs of a smaller motor. And, if nothing else, the larger the motor, the smoother the “ride.” A bigger motor will allow you to run or walk on it without slipping.

The next thing to look at is the size of a treadmill’s rollers. The bigger the rollers, the longer your belt will last and the better the running experience.

Next, and this is my favorite thing — especially when recommending cardio equipment to my in-laws — the warranty. Like anything else, the better the warranty the more piece of mind you will have. The 5 year parts warranty on Spirit treadmills, for example, is one of the best in the business. For me, the more faith a manufacturer has in its own product (i.e. the warranty), the more faith I have in that product. Of course, doing repairs I absolutely love the lower end warranties as it means more paying work for me!

What’s next? The weight and stability of the machine. There is nothing worse than getting on a treadmill and having it move back and forth, or shake, or, even worse, creak as you run on it. The heavier the unit the longer it will last. If you’re used to running on a treadmill at your local gym and then get on most home units, you’ll immediately notice the difference. You don’t want to be running around on something that feels like it is going to fall apart now do you? Don’t answer, that was a rhetorical treadmill question.

The tread and the deck are where most problems for treadmills happen. When the friction from your running builds up between the deck and the tread, the badness begins. Stick with the 4-ply belts/treads that help to reduce the amount of friction, and look at units with reversable, phenolic wax coated decks. Reversable decks let you flip over your running surface to use the opposite side when the original wears down. It’s like having a free second deck if you wear out the first one.

Programs. Don’t be fooled by this. Most people only wind up using 3-4 programs. If the treadmill has 20, that’s cool, but you’ll rarely use them. If you do heart rate training, then heart rate control is great. If not, it’s just an extra you’ll never use…like the clock you’ve never set on your VCR.

Speed and Incline are worth talking about. Most treadmills can go up to about 10 miles per hour and a 10 degree incline. Don’t let speed or incline become a deciding factor unless you’re doing a lot of high speed or high incline training. Obviously, electronically controlled speed and incline are the way to go. If those feature are manual just move on.

Finally, test out the shock absorbtion. You want to make sure you aren’t running on a hard surface. This is a “feel” thing more than a “scientific” one. If the deck is bouncy, move on. If the deck feels like running on concrete, move on. If the deck moves from side to side, move on. You want to find a deck that feels good, with just enough give and little to no lateral motion.

Beyond that fans, speakers, cup holders, magazine racks and even television sets on the treadmill’s console are all just icing on the cake. It’s better to get a good treadmill without a fan or TV and spend $50 to buy your own than to get a crappy, fully loaded treadmill which will eventually just become an expensive coat rack for dirty clothes.

Now, I know I alread typed “finally” but there is one last piece to consider: PRICE. You can only get what you can get but don’t be fooled into buying a lemon. There are decent (and some downright Great) treadmills at just about every price point. I’ll go over some of the best, at least in my experience, treadmills in the under $1000 range in the next week.

Don’t despair, there is a good treadmill out there you can actually afford!

-The Treadmill Sensei

Summer Fitness for Busy Women: 4 Quick Exercises To Stay Firm During Bikini Season

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695

Summary:
It’s summertime, and the living is easy ? except when you have to think about putting on an itsy-bitsy-teeny-weeny yellow polka dot bikini! But don’t worry, there’s still time to get in shape to strut your stuff on the beach or the boardwalk!

Keywords:
fitness, exercise, busy moms, busy parent, pregnancy workout, pregnancy fitness,yoga, pilates, workout, pilates instructor, fitness expert, personal fitness trainer

Article Body:
It’s summertime, and the living is easy ? except when you have to think about putting on an itsy-bitsy-teeny-weeny yellow polka dot bikini! But don’t worry, there’s still time to get in shape to strut your stuff on the beach or the boardwalk!

These tried-and-tested exercises can give you quick results with just 10 minute focused workouts every other day. (If you’re on a serious mission and feeling really motivated, feel free to go for it every day!) And don’t forget to mix up these moves with some cardio work, even if it’s a game of soccer with the kids or a brisk walk to the park. Take advantage of the extra quality time you’re spending with the kids, family or friends this summer – whether at home or on vacation – and put the fun things you do to work to stay active. Every calorie counts!

And after a few weeks with these exercises, you can look your best in the season’s latest teeny-weeny bikini fashions! Have fun in the sun ? but don’t forget the sunscreen!!

Dolphin Kicks

For this exercise you want to balance your weight on your forearms with your elbows directly underneath your shoulders. Make sure to pull your shoulder blades down towards the hips (away from your ears) ? this will keep the stress off your shoulders. Extend your hips and spine, pull in your abs (this supports your torso) and bend your right knee slightly off the floor for more support. First Inhale, and then as you exhale extend your left leg straight out to hip height, contracting the glutes and hamstrings. Your hips should be facing forward at all times. With a slight bend, return the left leg to meet the opposite supporting leg.

Reps:
Repeat up to 20 repetitions, keeping the torso still, then switch to the other side.

Muscle Focus:
Glutes, hamstrings, abs, and lats.

Super Butt Kicks

Lay down on your back, placing your arms down by your side. Lift your hips off the floor in a bridge position. Your right knee should be bent with the heel in line with your sit bone, and your left leg should be extended straight up. As you inhale, lower your left leg to the floor. Be sure to keep your hips still and maintain the bridge position. Exhale and bring the leg back up to the start position

Reps:
Repeat up to 20 reps, then lower your left leg to the floor in the same bent position as the right. Lower your butt to the floor, rest, and change over to the other leg.

Muscle Focus:
Glutes, hamstrings, abs

Dead Bug

Lay down on your back with knees bent at a 45-degree angle. Head, neck and shoulders should be off the floor and hands resting on your knees. On an exhale, draw in your abs and simultaneously extend your left leg out and your right hand over your head. Repeat this move, alternating your arms and legs. Keep your eyes focused on your belly button at all times, and if you start to feel tension in your neck, lower your head down to the floor. (This will get easier as you build more strength in the abs.)

Reps:
Build up to 20 repetitions completed twice with a 30-second to 1-minute break. Make sure not to sacrifice form.

Muscle Focus:
Abs

Side Plank Leg Lifts

Lay down on your side, balancing on your right hip and resting on your right forearm. Your right elbow should be directly underneath your shoulder and your knees bent and stacked on top of each other. While exhaling, contract your abs, and lift your hips off the floor. At the same time, extend your left arm and leg out to the side of your body, making sure to keep the knee and toe facing forward.

Reps:
Try for 10-15 reps, then turn over onto your other side and repeat.

Muscle Focus:
Glutes, abs