Body Positive

The pandemic might have locked us in, but many of us still haven’t given up on our fitness goals. The good news is that there are many fitness routines that you can still follow for a great body. In fact, many of these workout routines have become a rage now. So, start with these emerging training routines for your next workout videos on social media!

Functional training

Functional training has become the new buzzword, especially, after Covid-19 locked us all inside our homes. It is a form of exercise that involves working out while doing your daily activities. And it’s easy; all you must do is get better at your daily activities.

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How: You can do start with suitcase squats that involve using a dumbbell in each hand and doing squats. Make sure your arms are resting; bend your knees and push your hips back as you go down on a squat position. You can also do deadlifts with the dumbbells. Stand with your feet apart. Bend your knees slightly and push your hips back. Lower the dumbbells along your shin gradually.

High Intensive Interval Training—HIIT

HIIT is perhaps one of the most popular workouts across the globe right now. HIIT is for the ones who want to stay fit but do seem to have enough time in their hands due to their grueling working hours. HIIT involves high intensity workouts within short periods of time and includes doing multiple exercises within 15-30 minutes.

How: You can start with jumping on your high knees; bring one knee up and then the other one. Do it for 1 minute. Then move to free-weight squats. Next, is Push Ups. Lie by the support of your hands and toes. Then push into a plank position. Next up is Burpee. From your plank position, push up, and then jump. Now move to Ab and lower lift. Lie down on your back. Lift your legs up together then lower them but do not put them on the ground. Keep lifting your legs up and lower them only up to a few inches from the ground.

Pilates

No workout is complete without focus on your core. The core includes the obliques, lower back muscles and the abs of your body. Pilates help in engaging your core in new and interesting ways. Best part is that you don’t need any expensive equipment for doing Pilates.

How: Start with a leg circle. Lie with your face up and your arms resting by your side. Bend your knees up and put your right foot on the floor. Now bring your right leg up so that it is perpendicular to the floor. Slowly circle the right leg, going down and up as you go. Next is One Hundred. In the same position, raise both your legs up halfway. Raise your head up and pump your arms up and down for 100 times. Move to Single Leg stretch. In the same position, bring both your knees up to your chest, one after the other, holding your shin as you bring your knees close to yourself.

Tabata Yoga

This idea of Tabata yoga developed in Tokyo and has become a rage worldwide. Basically, it involves cardio-intensive workouts of HIIT along with body stretching techniques from Yoga. Yoga HIIT is focused on doing high intensity workouts within short durations like 15-30 minutes.

How: Start with lunge to hop by stepping back with your left foot into a right foot lunge. Now jump on the left foot and jump back to a right-foot lunge. Rest for 10 seconds. Then get into a plank pose and do a push up. Take your chest away from the floor and bend your knees. Keep your arms straight. Go back to the plank position. Then move to a side plank position. Lift your right arm above your head; your biceps should touch your ear. Lift your right leg up and bring your arm and leg together to tap each other. Repeat with your left leg.

The tree workout

This workout involves using a tree as a prop in your workout regime. In fact, trees can become your best workout buddies once you realize how much you can get done. And the best part of it is that you can do it outside—at a park or at your garden if you happen to have a tree—while breathing in beautiful fresh air.

How: Start with stand-up push-ups. You can place your palms on the tree, get on your top toes and push against the tree. Do it 20 times and rest. Another interesting exercise is to face a tree and lean against it. Raise your left foot behind you while keeping the other leg straight. Now repeat the exercise with your right foot.

From the August 2020 issue of FHM India.