30 Jul Back to basics: six old-school exercise tips

You’ve really moved on since you were a kid, constantly learning better ways to do things in everyday life.
When it comes to exercise hopefully you’ve increased your knowledge as well, but this is one area in which it’s also good to re-trace some of the steps of your youth.
If you’re looking for a fun way to spruce up your workouts, or want to keep in shape while you’re traveling then get back to the basics of fitness.
Here are six back to basics exercise tips. Many of these things you probably did in a school gym class and none of them take much time, space or equipment to do:
Jumping jacks – These are a great, fun way to get loose and are just about guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
Jump rope – This classic gym class exercise is one of the best cardio workouts you can do.
Pushups – A great strength training exercise that can be done just about anywhere.
Wall sits – Sit against a wall like there’s an imaginary chair under you. This is an excellent way to work your quads.
Planks – Ab workouts are one area in which it is important to move beyond your old school gym teacher and ditch situps in favor of planks.
To get started, lay face down on the floor or use an exercise mat or other flat surface. You can do them comfortably most places.
Place the elbows and forearms underneath your chest. Prop yourself up to form a bridge using your toes and forearms and keep your back flat and hips parallel to the ground.
It’s important to keep your back in a flat alignment – don’t let it sag or prop up too high. Looking straight ahead will help you keep your back straight
Basically, you’re lifting yourself up to a parallel position and supporting yourself.
It doesn’t sound that hard, but try holding that position for 1-2 minutes at a time. It will give your abs a great workout.
The Plank not only works strength, but will help build your muscle endurance.
To make this even harder, try side planks in which you prop yourself up from the side on one arm, using similar principles of the flat plank.
Run stairs – If you have access to somewhere to run stairs, such as a high school stadium, it’s a way to add some cross training into your normal run.

At Home Fitness consultant Aaron Dorksen’s blog deals with a variety of fitness topics, ranging from workout tips, motivational ideas and feature stories on how exercise impacts people’s lives. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.com