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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3. Hanging Abdominal Crunches

This core exercise targets abdominals and upper body muscles, particularly your arms.

Start position: Grab a chin up bar (you can also use the monkey bars) with your hands, positioning your arms shoulder-width apart, and let your entire body hang. Engage your back muscles, pulling your shoulder blades down, so you don't feel like your arms are being pulled out of your shoulders.

Movement: Without swinging your lower body, pull your knees to your chest, sucking your belly button back to your spine, tightening up your abdominals. Lower your legs slowly back down and repeat.

Perform 5 to 10 repetitions, take a 15- to 30-second break, and repeat for 2 to 3 sets.

Advanced abs exercises from ACE

Next page: Slide and Plyometric Jump

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