Do your days consist of endless meetings, whether via Zoom or in-person at your office? Though important meetings with coworkers and higher-ups may be good for your career, they’re not so great for your body. All of that sitting (particularly if you’re in front of a screen) means that you’re staying sedentary for most of the day when you should be working a bit more movement into your 9-to-5. Get moving in between your tasks with this short, minutes-long workout that consists of 3 simple exercises that, when performed together, work your body all over.
Squats (Quads, glutes, hamstrings, and hip flexors)
Step 1: Stand with your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Sit back and down as if you were sitting in an imaginary chair. Send your butt back while keeping your chest up and your gaze forward.
Step 2: Lower down until your thighs are parallel to the floor, bringing your arms out in front of you for balance. Press your weight back into your heels making sure your knees don’t extend past your toes. If they do, widen your stance.
Step 3: Push through your heels to return to the starting position and repeat.
Pushups (Abs, hips, glutes, upper back, pectoral muscles, shoulders, and biceps)
Step 1: Begin in a plank position with your arms directly below your shoulders, legs extended back and feet slightly narrower than hip-width apart.
Step 2: Lower your body until your chin almost touches the floor. Keep your arms in close, sending your elbows back rather than out.
Step 3: Pause slightly, push yourself back up to the starting position, and repeat. Engage your legs and core throughout this motion to maintain proper form and alignment.
Side Plank with Leg Lift (Core, upper back, shoulders, and biceps)
Step 1: Begin in a side plank position, with your left shoulder stacked on top of your left elbow. Extend your top leg out straight while keeping your lower leg on the floor, knee bent at a 90-degree angle. Lift your right arm up straight.
Step 2: Lift your top leg up as high as you can while keeping your hips square, toes flexed forward, and core engaged. Lower in control and repeat.
Step 3: Switch sides halfway through your time or rep amount and repeat.
Physical activity and nutrition are an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. At Oxford at Medical Center Apartments in San Antonio, Texas, we do our best to provide our residents with resourceful tips, exercise routines, and even recipes to help you reach your fitness goals.