LIFE+ Blog

1. To begin, lie flat on your back (preferably on a firm surface) with your knees bent and a neutral spine.
2. Bring your ribcage down and tighten/brace your core. Make sure you aren’t holding your breath!
3. While maintaining the abdominal brace, slowly bring one knee up toward your chest, then slowly return the foot to the floor. Alternate sides.

Progression: If the above becomes easy, you can start with both legs in the air with your knees bent (in a tabletop position). Then alternate lowering one leg and tapping the foot on the floor without arching your back. Bring that leg back into the air before lowering the opposite leg to the floor. Keep alternating back and forth.

1. Start by lying on one side with your knees bent and your elbow directly underneath your shoulder.
2. Tighten your core and lift your hips off the floor, balancing on your knee and forearm. Make sure to keep your torso in a straight line from shoulder, hips to the knee (as shown). Don’t allow your butt to stick out behind you or your back to arch.
3. Hold this position for 30 seconds, then switch sides. Perform 2 sets on each side.

Progression: If the above becomes easy after increasing the hold time, you can extend your legs straight and balance on your feet rather than your knees.

1. Start by sitting toward the front of a standard height chair with your feet on the floor hip width apart and slightly behind your knees.
2. Keep your core tight and back straight. Bend forward from the hips to get your “nose over your toes”.
3. Begin standing up, focusing on bringing your hips up and forward at the same speed as the knees straighten. You should feel your butt muscles working to help you stand up. Do not allow your back to arch as you stand up.
4. As you go to sit back down, tighten your core and push your hips back, reaching for the chair with your buttocks. Slowly lower yourself back to the chair keeping your back straight.

Progression: If this becomes easy, instead of sitting all the way back down in the chair, lightly tap your butt on the chair, then immediately stand back up without taking a break. This will increase the challenge to your core and gluteals.

1. Begin on a firm surface on your hands and knees. Your hands should be directly under your shoulders and your knees directly under your hips.
2. Tighten your core and slowly bring one foot out behind you, preventing your torso from rotating. Do not allow your low back to sag or arch.
3. Hold leg in the air for 5 seconds before lowering back to the starting position.
4. Alternate legs.

Progression: When this becomes easier, you can increase the challenge by adding arms into the mix. Tighten the core and lift one leg out behind you (as seen above) while at the same time lifting the opposite arm out in front of you (e.g. left arm and right leg).