Make your workouts safe and effective with these useful tricks and tips from trainers across the country.
Use a Band for Shoulder Press
Dumb-bells are often used while doing a shoulder press. Use a resistance band instead. Stand on the band with legs apart, clasp the ends and pull them to your shoulder level as you exhale. Further lift arms overhead as you exhale. The band makes the moves smooth and controlled and keeps your shoulders safe
Get More Out of a Lunge
Make your lunges more effective: place a plastic coated paper plate on the balls of the foot. While lunging, push the paper plate back and while returning to the starting position pull it towards you. This way you will get more out of the same exercise as you engage more muscles in your legs and hip. This exercise should be done on a smooth surface
Pain-proof your Squats
If you are a beginner, keep a low stool behind you while doing an overhead squat with a dowel (short cylindrical rod). Imagine you are lowering yourself on the stool slowly. This will make sure that you push your hips back and low keeping your butt and knee at the same level, instead of pushing your knees ahead of your toes. Thus your knees will be saved from excessive compression force
Tone your Thighs as you Crunch
Use a rubber ball (about the size of a football) while doing your crunches. Place it between your knees as you lie on your back with your hands behind the head. Every time you lift your upper back off the floor to crunch, breathe out and squeeze the ball with your legs. This will give you a pair of toned thighs
Courtesy: Prevention
