Skip to main content

Work That Core!

Got five minutes?  Got a band?  Try adding these five core exercises to your next workout.  You will want a band that is challenging but not so tight that it restricts your range of motion.  Perform 2-3 sets of 12-15 reps of each exercise.

Banded Bicycle Crunch

This is a great variation of the standard bicycle crunch.  Adding the band increases the challenge for the hip stabilizers.  Keep your knees separated through the entire movement to add extra challenge to the gluteus medius.


Banded Dead Bug

Similar to the bicycle crunch, adding the band encourages extra activity in the hip stabilizers.  Keep your knees separated throughout the movement, and make sure your lower back stays softly connected to the mat.


Banded Side Plank with Abduction

This is a great exercises for the side body.  It works shoulder stability, obliques, and gluteus medius on both legs.  





Banded Bridge with Abduction

Make sure you keep your hips lifted when you abduct the the legs!  The butt wants to drop as the knees open.  Don't let it.  This exercise is great for all of the glute muscles.


Banded Bird Dog

This movement works the cross connection between opposite hip and opposite shoulder which is great for spinal stability.  Adding the band creates extra work for the glute.




Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Heavy

  I keep wondering if I'm approaching my breaking point.  What does that look like? It's too much.  But I've been saying it's too much for a while now.  So when is it actually too much? I pushed "Send" and my text whooshed off to my best friend, Denise.  Three dots immediately popped up on my screen.   You're stronger than you think.  Tell your brain to shut up.  You got this! I smiled at her reply, even if I doubted her confidence. In August, my husband of 17 years died.  One day, he was alive, healthy, vibrant, and strong.  The next day, he was dead.  Just like that.  No warning.  No preparation.  In an instant, my world crumbled into a million tiny bits that flung themselves to the far corners of the solar system.  I couldn't fathom how to get through that day, or the next, or the next.  I remember thinking, What does November even look like?  Or next summer?  How do I even get there? ...

Delivery

  I met a friend at a coffee shop yesterday afternoon for our monthly catch-up.  I arrived first, and while I was placing my order, I saw a former client of mine.  We hadn't seen each other in quite a while, and greeted each other with smiles and a hug.   I know what's coming. We exchanged pleasantries and small talk.   Any minute now... She asked a few questions about how my work was going and told me about her workouts and what she had been doing.   Any second now... And then she asked it.  The question I knew was coming.   "How's your husband doing?" "My husband died."  No hesitation.  No preamble.  No introduction.   She recoiled, took a step back, hand on her chest, jaw wide open. "Oh my God," she stammered.  "I'm so sorry.  I don't...I can't...I'm so sorry." I gave her a sympathetic smile.  "I'm sorry," I offered.  "I'm still working on my delivery.  I'm not quite sure how...

Signs

  It was Tuesday, March 10, last week.  It was my 47th birthday.  It was the first birthday since Scott died.  It was the first birthday since my mom moved into memory care.  Shannon was in Oregon working.  The alarm went off that morning at 4:00 am.  I had to be out the door for dog walk by 4:45 to get to my first clients by 6:30.  At 4:30, I started getting ready.  Put on my walking clothes, layering appropriately.  Put on the glowing green dog collars.  Grabbed my flashlight so I could see where I was going in the heavy darkness that is 4:45 am.   The dogs and I headed across the pasture on the same route we've done nearly every day since Scott died, the same walk he had done nearly every day since we moved into our house.  We made our way along the creek, up the switchbacks, onto the bench behind the house.  As we walked, I was throwing myself a pity party.  Here I was, once again walking in the darkness...