Apartment-Friendly Exercises – Get Moving!

Can’t quite afford that expensive gym membership?  Feel like you don’t have enough time in the day to fit in that hour-long workout video?  No worries!  With just a few simple exercises, you can stay home, save time, and still get fit.  These space-saving, apartment-friendly work outs are sure to get your heart going.

The Ten:
Start out doing one push-up, followed by 10 squats.  Continue with 2 push-ups, followed by 9 squats, 3 push-ups and 8 squats, etc. until you’ve reached 10 push-ups and 1 squat.  This full body workout might not sound like much, but you’re sure to feel it the next day.

Prison Cell Workout:
Hopefully you’ll be trying this for the first time from the comfort of your own home, however, it is the perfect workout when you’ve got limited space.  Start out standing and then squat down, dropping your hands to the ground.  Jump or move your feet back so that you’re in a push-up position.  Do a push-up and bring your feet forward between your hands.  Jump up, reaching your hands to the sky and bringing your knees to your chest.  Repeat 15-20 times.

Chair Exercises:
Grab a sturdy chair (nothing with wheels!) for these next few exercises.  Place your hands on the seat edge, your back to the chair, with knees bent and feet out in front of you.  Dip your body down towards the ground to work your triceps.  Different variations like straight leg or one leg lifted can make this work out more difficult.

Next, face your chair in a standing position.  Step up onto the seat and then back onto the floor, alternating legs.  This one will really work the glutes!

Then, work your abs by placing your feet up on the chair seat, placing your elbows on the floor in front of you.  Make sure your back is straight, not arched, and keep your core tight as you stay in a plank (table) position.  Hold for at least one minute.

Voila! A fast, fun, full body workout.  You can do all of these exercises from home, without a gym membership, DVD to follow, or community weight center, so no more excuses!  You’ll look and feel great in the end if you really stick to it.