Fall fitness: Exercise at the park

Sep 21, 2009 4:23 AM by Michele Borboa, MS

Posted in Health & Wellness / Diet & Fitness / Exercise & Fitness

Hit The Park
To Get Fit

The sweltering days of summer have gone and the crisp, cool climate of autumn is in the air. Though fall means back to school, chauffeuring kids to and from, and a jam-packed family schedule, fall also lends itself to outdoor activities and opportunities for busy moms to fit fitness into their day. Instead of fretting over a childcare opening at the gym, take your kids to the nearest park and tackle the following outdoor workout while your kids romp around the playground.

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2. Park Bench Lunges with Rotation

A multi-muscle exercise that will also improve your balance, lunges primarily work the lower body while the rotation targets your core muscles. If you haven't performed lunges on a raised platform before, start with a stair step then, as you get more fit, graduate to a park bench.

Start position: Find a stable park bench, or even a set of stairs, and stand 2 to 4 feet in front of the bench or step, arms folded in front of your chest.

Movement: Keeping your upper body erect, lift your right knee and place your right foot flat on the bench or step, moving yourself into a lunge position, keeping your right knee above your right ankle. As you are lunging, rotate your torso to the left, tightening up your obliques and abdominal muscles. Bring your upper body to center and step back to the original position and switch legs.

Perform 10 to 12 repetitions, take a 30-second break and repeat for 2 to 3 sets.

Five fun exercises for fabulous legs

Next page: Hanging Abdominal Crunches

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